Machame Route 6 Days

Itinerary Briefing

The Machame route, also known as the “Whiskey” route, is one of the most popular routes with the highest climbing rate to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Please find the day-by-day itinerary details for the 7-day Machame trekking:

Itinerary Day Description

Day 0: ARRIVAL in Arusha at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your driver guide will meet you and drive to your hotel in Arusha town there you will be meet by our Kilimanjaro expert, who will provide you with a trekking briefing.

Enjoy great views of Mt. Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped Uhuru Peak; while you settle in over dinner have a good rest.

Standard Accommodation: Ilboru Safari Lodge  or similar (meals on half board basis)

Day 1: Arusha – Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame Camp (2980m)

• Hiking time: 7 hours
• Distance: Approximately 18 kilometers
• Habitat: Montane forest
• To the Mountain

After breakfast you’ll head to the Machame Park Gate (5,870 ft./ 1,790 mt.), where you’ll register with the park authority and begin the climb through the lush forest. Trekkers will likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above, and may even see black & white colobus monkeys, as well as sykes monkeys as they hike along the knotted roots. After 5-7 hours of walking you’ll stop for the night at Machame Camp (9,875 feet), just above the forest zone. The trek is quite long, but not steep.

Standard Accommodation: tent at Machame camp (all meals included).

Day 2: Machame Camp (2980m) – Shira Camp (3840m)

• Hiking time: 6 hours
• Distance: Approximately 9 kilometers
• Habitat: Moorland
• Magnificent Views of Uhuru Peak

Today’s segment of the ascent will continue across beautiful heathland and afro-alpine moorland with magnificent views of Kilimanjaro Peak. You’ll begin up the steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, and trees of Giant Heather and Erica. Scrambling around large boulders, you’ll enter the moorland zone, marked by lobelia and senecia plants, and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards, which protect wild alpine flowers growing at their bases. Tonight will then be spent at Shira Camp (12,615 feet, 4-5 hours of walking).

Standard Accommodation: tent at Shira camp all meals included.

Day 3: Shira (at 3840m) – Lava Tower (at 4630m) – Barranco camp (at 3950m)

• Hiking time: 7 hours
• Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
• Habitat: Semi-desert
• The Route to the Great Barranco Valley

Drawing nearer the peak, the trek becomes a bit more strenuous. The trail steepens on the approach to the Lava Tower, a 300 foot tall volcanic plug which marks an exposed pass at 15,000 feet. In the afternoon, you’ll descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set on a col (flat area) enclosed on three sides by steep valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants, such as the giant groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjaro), and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Then we slowly ascent to our overnight stop at Barranco Camp (12,990 feet, 5-6 hours of walking)

Standard Accommodation: tent at Barranco camp all meals included.

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) – Barafu Hut (4600m)

• Hiking time: 6-8 hours
• Distance: Approximately 9 kilometers
• Habitat: Alpine desert
• The Equatorial Anomaly

After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. This is an ideal hiking day for acclimatization.  Following breakfast, you will leave Karanga Camp (3959m). The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!

Day 5:  Barafu Hut (Camp) – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp

• Barafu camp (4600m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)
• Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
• Distance: Approximately 7 kilometer ascent and 23 kilometer descent
• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours.

At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have a dinner, wash, and rest soundly at camp.

Day 6:  Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m) – Arusha town

• Hiking time: 3 hours
• Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
• Habitat: Forest
• Back to the Bottom

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate.

The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). You will be served a hot lunch then you will drive back to Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

Standard Accommodation: Ilboru Safari Lodge  or similar, (meals on half board basis)

Day 7:  Depart Arusha – Kilimanjaro International Airport

You Can Leave Tanzania, but Tanzania Will Never Leave You!

After breakfast it’ll be time to begin saying goodbye to Tanzania, as you drive from Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your international flight. Farewell and welcome back to Tanzania!

—- End of service — *** routing subject to changes if necessary——