6 Days Mt.Kilimanjaro Climbing Machame Route

Machame Route the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. All your equipment and supplies are portered and a cook prepares all your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only.

 

Customize Your Safari

6 Days Mt.Kilimanjaro Climbing Machame Route

6 Days Mt.Kilimanjaro Climbing Machame Route

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing, Mount Kilimanjaro Trek, Mount Kilimanjaro Trek Tours

Machame Route the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. All your equipment and supplies are portered and a cook prepares all your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only. This makes Machame (also referred to as the “Whiskey route”) better suited to the slightly more adventurous hiker, rewarding him with a scenic splendor such as not seen on the Marangu route. From late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, the Machame route offers the adventurous hiker a stunning scenic “slide show” over 6 days. The Machame route is normally completed in a minimum of 6 days.

There is an added benefit to this, as you are afforded the most valuable commodity on the mountain – acclimatisation. The Machame route takes you high to Lava Tower (4630m) on the day 3 and brings you down by nearly 700m for an overnight at Barranco camp (3950m). This is the secret to successful acclimatisation.

Safari Highlights:

  • Climb up Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route.
  • Enjoy a thrilling mountaineering adventure in Tanzania.

Itinerary Details

After breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel and taken to the entrance gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. While your guide is busy with the registration forms, you can watch the mountain team prepare for the climb and once this is all done, your Kilimanjaro adventure will begin. In no time you will be deep within the magnificent mountain rainforest with ancient trees, primeval ferns, liana, lichen and moss that carpets the ground and drapes from the trees.

You will hear and with a little luck, even spot the beautiful black and white colobus monkeys in the treetops. After 5 to 6 hours, you will reach today’s destination – the Machame Camp which is situated just above the tree line. Here, at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro, you will have your first dinner followed by an overnight stay in tents.

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.

Today you will climb about 800 m but you will be camping at an elevation only slightly higher than the previous night. This will allow your body to acclimatise as a height of over 4,500 m will be reached over the next two days. The trek begins with a long ascent above the Shira Plateau in the direction of the Lava Tower. The vegetation becomes sparser as the landscape changes to an afro-alpine desert. The route passes through the sweeping Barranco Valley with its lobelia and giant senecio plants. After 6 to 7 hours, you will arrive at the most beautiful camp on the mountain – the Barranco Camp.

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall, through the Karanga Valley (lunch at 4200m / 13,779 ft), and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. 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. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), 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 (5685m / 18,652 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting).From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.

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 hotel in Arusha.

Included in the Safari Cost

  • Arrival & Departure airport transfers complementary to all our clients.
  • Transportation as per itinerary.
  • Accommodation per itinerary or similar with a request to all our clients.
  • Mount Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees
  • Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summiting aid)
  • Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only)
  • Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters and cook
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as hot drinks on the mountain
  • Camping equipment (tents, camp chairs, tables & sleeping mattress
  • Water for washing up daily
  • National park & game reserve entrance fees as per itinerary.
  • Excursions & activities as per itinerary with a request
  • Mount Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt
  • A comprehensive Climbing Mount Kenya travel info pack
  • Flying Doctor Evacuation Service

Excluded in the Safari Cost

  • Visas and related costs.
  • Personal Taxes.
  • Drinks, tips, laundry, telephone calls and other items of a personal nature.
  • International flights.
  • Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store in.

Related Itineraries