7-Day Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climbing
The most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro
This tour, also referred to as the whiskey route, is rightly regarded as the most beautiful on Kilimanjaro. It is particularly varied in landscape and offers great views of Mount Meru and the Kibo. Next to the Marangu route, it is the most popular route on the mountain. The varied height profile allows for good acclimatization, the number of summit successes is therefore high. However, the route is steeper and at the Barranco Wall a simple climbing passage has to be overcome. The route requires you to be in good condition and is less suitable for inexperienced mountain walkers than the Marangu route. Accommodation is at camping sites in tents. The descent is via the Mweka route.
The Machame route is recommended by us as a 7 day tour. This includes an additional acclimatization day, which significantly increases the success to reach the summit. For experienced and very fit mountain hikers, the 6 day tour is also suitable. The fourth day of the shortened tour walks directly from the Barranco Camp to the Barafu Camp, as the intermediate stage over the Karanga Camp is omitted.
Highlights:
- Most scenic route at Kilimanjaro
- Climbing passage in the Barranco Wall, surefootedness required
- Ascent over the Machame route and descent over the Mweka route
- Height profile has a positive effect on acclimatization
- Total distance about 65 km
Daily stages / walking times:
Day | Overnight stays in tents | Hours | Kilometers |
1 | Machame Gate (1790m) – Machame Camp (3010m) | 5-6h | 9 |
2 | Machame Camp (3010m) – New Shira Camp (3845m) | 4-6h | 7 |
3 | New Shira Camp (3845m) – Lava Tower (4640m) – Barranco Camp (3960m) | 6-7h | 10 |
4 | Barranco Camp (3960m) – Karanga Camp (4035m) | 3-4h | 6 |
5 | Karanga Camp (4035m) – Barafu Camp (4640m) | 3-4h | 4 |
6 | Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m) | 10-14h | 19 |
7 | Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka Gate (1630m) | 2-3h | 10 |
Itinerary
Day 1 Transfer from the hotel to Machame Gate (1790m) – Machame Camp (3010m)
After breakfast and a general briefing for your upcoming tour (including equipment check), the drive first goes to the National Park gate, which takes about an hour. While your guide does the necessary formalities, you can relax and watch the various mountain teams in their preparation. As soon as everything is done, your adventure begins. In short time you will be immersed in the magnificent mountain forest with its huge jungle trees, ferns, moss carpets and lianas. With luck, you will observe the black and white colobus monkeys in the tree tops. After about 5 – 6 hours, you will reach the day’s destination – Machame Camp. This is just above the tree line at about 3010 meters above sea level. After dinner, you will spend your first night on Kilimanjaro.
Lunch; Dinner
Day 2 Machame Camp (3010m) – New Shira Camp (3845m)
After an early start, you will begin the day’s walk through heath and moorland before the trail becomes steeper and the landscape more open. Soon you will glimpse the summit region of Kilimanjaro. Today’s stage is shorter and you will soon arrive at the New Shira Camp, where the view of Kilimanjaro with its rock faces and hanging glaciers is something you should not miss – particularly at sunset. An early night will be needed tonight as tomorrow the trail becomes more strenuous.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 3 New Shira Camp (3845m) – Lava Tower (4640m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)
Today you will ascend approx. 800 meters, but the night is spent only slightly higher than the previous night at Shira Camp. This allows your body a better acclimatization for the further climb. The hike begins with a long ascent over the Shira Plateau to the Lava Tower. Here the vegetation becomes barren and turns into an alpine desert landscape. The path then leads through the extensive Barranco Valley, with its lobelias and the huge senecios. After approximately 6-7 hours you will reach the Barranco Camp, which many claim is the most beautiful camp on the mountain.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 4 Barranco Camp (3960m) – Karanga Camp (4035m)
Today we will lead you through the Barranco Wall and it is another day to help with acclimatization. The climbing is relatively easy, although sometimes you need to use hands to hold on. Enjoy the amazing views before you reach Karanga Camp after approx. 3-4 hours.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 5 Karanga Camp (4035m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)
After a leisurely breakfast, you will set off for today’s destination, the Barafu Camp. The hike leads you through a barren landscape, and after 3-4 hours you reach the camp. For the rest of the day you can relax because tomorrow is summit day! After dinner, we will have a very early bedtime as tomorrow will be
exciting, but also exhausting and very long. Try to sleep a bit!
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 6 Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)
You will be woken around midnight. To strengthen yourself, you will first have a hot coffee or tea and a small snack. Using the light of your headlight, the next few hours are steadily upwards. After approximately 5-7 hours, in the early morning light, you will reach the crater rim at the Stella Point. After a short rest you will continue for about an hour to the highest point, the Uhuru Peak. Finally, it is done, and the rewards are fantastic views in all directions. The shadow that the Kilimanjaro casts over Mount Meru in the morning is a special experience. After you have enjoyed the summit, and taken a few memorable photos, it is time for the descent. At the Barafu Camp you have a short rest, where your mountain team will greet you with a hot drink and snacks. Afterwards, you will slowly go to Mweka Camp, where you will spend the last night at the
mountain.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 7 Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka Gate (1630m) – Transfer to the hotel
After breakfast, and strengthened by the increasingly oxygen dense air, you will begin a leisurely walk
towards the Mweka Gate. The trail continues through the dense rainforest, and after about 2-3 hours you will reach the gate. At this point it will be time to say goodbye to your team. Once you arrive at the hotel, you can finally enjoy a well-deserved shower and celebrate your summit success.
Breakfast; Lunch
Discounted Price per person 1660 USD when a group of 2 people travel together
Services included:
- Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
- Professional, English-speaking guide
- Mountain crew (cook, summit porter & porters)
- Overnight stays in tents
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, tables, chairs, etc.)
- Meals according to the itinerary
- Drinking water, tea & coffee
- Oxygen tank and oximeters
- All national park fees
- Transfer from the hotel to the National Park gate and back
Not included services:
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- Sleeping bag
- Flights
- Visa fees
- Tips
- Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
- Travel insurance
Day 1: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Machame Gate, Hike to Machame Camp (LD)
Drive from Arusha or Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (30-45 minutes). The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We depart the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations, 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.
— Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3050m/9950ft
— Distance: 11km/7mi
— Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
— Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Machame Camp
Day 2: Hike Machame Camp to Shira Camp (BLD)
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.
— Elevation: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft
— Distance: 5km/3mi
— Walking Time: 4-5 hours
— Habitat: Moorland
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Shira Camp
Day 3: Hike Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp (BLD)
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
— Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
— Distance: 10km/6mi
— Walking Time: 5-6 hours
— Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Barranco Camp
Day 4: Hike Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (BLD)
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
— Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
— Distance: 5km/3mi
— Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
— Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Karanga Camp
Day 5: Hike Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (BLD)
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, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
— Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
— Distance: 4km/2mi
— Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
— Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Barafu Camp
Day 6: Hike Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp (BLD)
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel 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.
— Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
— Down to 3090m/10,150ft
— Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
— Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
— Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Mweka Camp
Day 7: Hike Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Arusha (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). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha (about 30 minutes). Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters.
— Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
— Distance: 10km/6mi
— Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
— Habitat: Forest
Meals included: Breakfast