6 Days Machame Route
6 Days Machame Route: Known as the “Whiskey” route, the Machame route is now the most popular route on the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days in Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. The Machame route is considered a difficult route and is better suited for more adventurous folks and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.
The route begins from the south, then heads east, traversing underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern ice field before summiting. The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is recommended.
The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. However, due to the heavy crowds, it loses some of its spenders.
Day 0: Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
- Elevation (ft): (3,000 m): 5-. 6,000 ft / 1,830 m to 10,200 ft / 3,100 m.
- Distance: 11 km.
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours.
- Habitat: Montane Forest.
- Camp: Machame Camp.
The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
- Elevation (ft): 10,200 ft / 3,100 m to 12,600 ft / 3,840 m.
- Distance: 9 km.
- Walking Time: 4-6 hours.
- Habitat: Moorland.
- Full Board Shira Cave Camp
After breakfast we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.
Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Valley.
- Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3,950 m.): 5-7 hours walking.
- 12,600 ft / 3,840 m to 12,700 ft / 3,860 m.
- Distance: 15 km.
- Walking Time: 5-7 hours
- Habitat: Semi-desert.
- Full Board Barranco Camp
Today we walk on a gentle ascent and panoramic views. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and after hot lunch the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m.) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,950 m.).
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
- Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp {4600m} 6-8 hours.
- 4000m/13,000ft to 4700m/15,350ft
- Distance: 9km/
- Walking Time: 6-8 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Full Board at Barafu Camp.
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall (elves 4250m/13,900ft), through the Karanga Valley (elves 4050m/13,250ft) to the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp with views of the summit in the distance.
Day 5: Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp
- Elevation (ft): 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,343ft Down to 3090m/10,150ft
- Distance: 6km up / 13km down
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Reitzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Arusha or Moshi.
- Elevation (ft): 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
- Distance: 10km/6mi
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Forest
- Meals: B
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
Day of departure: Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport.
SILVER ACCOMMODATION | PRICE | HINTS INCLUSIVE | |
Silver package for private hiking | Kilimanjaro White House Hotel (Bed and breakfast) before and after the climb in Moshi town | USD ($) 1950 per person | Sleeping tent Mattress |
Silver package for-Joining-Group hiking | Kilimanjaro White House Hotel (Bed and breakfast) before and after the climb in Moshi town | USD ($) 1750 per person | Sleeping tent Mattress |
NB: For the group, sharing won’t be any additional charges in the case of the group member canceling or changing the route. The office will encore that cost and we will take you privately | |||
Included
- Park fees,
- Camp fees
- Rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Filtered water throughout the trek
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides, Cook, and Porter
- All Park fees Airport transfers Rescue fees
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Oximeter
- Medical Kit
- Emergency oxygen
- Crisis management and safety procedures
- Fair and ethical treatment of porters
- Pick up and drop off to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Pre and after – trek accommodations at the hotel in Moshi town with bed & breakfast (BB) Meal plan
Not Included
- Both National and International flights
- Medical / Travel Insurance
- Visa cost which is $50 except for Canadian and USA passport holders which is 100$
- Tips to mountain crew
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry Services
- A doctor for the group
- Alcoholic beverages
- Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra ($150 per toilet + toilet tent)