6 Days Machame Route

Overview

The second most popular option among the routes on Kilimanjaro is the Machame route, also known as “the Whiskey Route”. This route offers a wide variety of views, landscapes and experiences. Located on the southern slope of Mt Kilimanjaro, Machame Gate will lead you to the top of Kilimanjaro along the exciting footpath which starts at the tropical forest, then runs through all the climate zones and finishes with the Arctic desert in the summit area.

Camps along the trek are favourably located for a smooth and gradual acclimatization transition process. On the 3rd day Machame Route converges with Lemosho and Umbwe at Barranco camp.

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport

After arriving at the Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Moshi. Later, your guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear.

Day 1 – Machame Gate (1800m) to Machame Camp (2835m)

• Distance covered: 11 km
• Approximate time taken: 7 hours
• Habitat: Montane forest
• Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

After breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel around 8:00 am and transferred to Machame gate. On the way you will see coffee and banana plantations grown by Chagga people. After arriving at Machame gate you will go through some park formalities such as registration then you will start your Mount Kilimanjaro climbing at the Machame gate. Your first day hike is through a tropical rain forest up to Machame camp (2835 m). On the route you will have a picnic lunch. Overnight at Machame camp.

Day 2 – Machame Camp (2835m) to Shira Cave Camp (3750m)

• Distance covered: 5 km
• Approximate time taken: 3 hours
• Habitat: Moorland
• Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

You start to hike around 8:00 am. You will climb for an hour to the top of the forest and then 1 hour at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch (snacks) and break, you continue up a rocky ridge, the Shira plateau. At this point you will be able to see an eastern direction, the western breach with its stunning glacier. Overnight at Shira Campsite (3750m).

Day 3 – Shira Cave Camp (3750m) to Barranco camp (3900m)

• Distance covered: 10 km
• Approximate time taken: 6 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert
• Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

To take advantage of acclimatization, we will hike to high altitude and then descend to a lower altitude. The trek will take us into the alpine desert up to lava tower (4600 m) before descending to Baranco Camp (3900 m). This descent to Barranco Camp takes about 3 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful pictures of the Western Breach and Barranco wall. The campsite is situated in a valley below the Barranco wall which should provide you with a memorable sunset while waiting for dinner. Overnight at Barranco Camp (3900m).

Day 4 – Barranco Camp (3900m) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

• Distance covered: 8 km
• Approximate time taken: 8 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert
• Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Today our Kilimanjaro trek takes us from Baranco Camp, famous for its giant groundsels. We will ascend the great Barranco wall, which divides us from the southern slopes of Kibo. Climbing the Barranco wall it’s a climb over rocks. The route is not technical, but long and tiring and it will take us to Karanga Camp where we will have lunch and our last stop for water before the summit. Afterwards we will continue to walk through the alpine desert towards Barafu Camp (Base Camp, 4640 ).

Day 5 – Barafu Camp (4637m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) then down to Millennium Camp (3950m)

Pure triumph! Reaching Uhuru Peak (5,895m) at sunrise.

• Distance covered: 15 km
• Approximate time taken: 12-15 hours
• Habitat: Glacier/Moorland
• Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

We will wake up very early, at around 00:00, some light tea with cookies will be ready for you. We will climb scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The view is spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella point (5756 m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Then it will take us 1 hour from Stella point to Uhuru peak (5895 m) where you take some photos for a few minutes before we start descending to Barafu Camp for lunch and some rest, and then walk down to Millennium Camp (3950 m) for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – Millennium Camp (3950m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

• Distance covered: 14 km
• Approximate time taken: 6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland/Rainforest
• Meal: Breakfast, and lunch included

After breakfast you continue the final descend, it’s a couple of hours further now from Millennium Campsite to Mweka Gate, where you will collect your certificates. After completing park formalities and receiving the certificates, a private car will take you back to your hotel where you can have a warm shower. It’s definitely time to celebrate!

Then – Depart Tanzania/ other destination in Tanzania.

Later in the evening or the next day you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to board your home-bound flight. Also, we can organize an affordable safari trip to one of the best wildlife parks in Tanzania such as Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater or Serengeti National Park.