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7 Days Machame route

Description

The Machame route, also referred to as the Whiskey route, was one of the most popular routes on Kilimanjaro. But now many people have been choosing Lemosho as an alternative to avoid crowds which makes the route less populated compared to Lemosho. This is one of our favorite route due to its scenery and success rates. Machame route is one of the highest summit success rates given the topography and nature of the route which allows climbers to “trek high & sleep low,” hence making it a more favorable route for acclimatization. This route offers some of the most spectacular scenery while on the mountain. The Machame route starts in the southwest side of the mountain and proceeds steeply north, traversing the Shira plateau and eventually joining the Shira and Lemosho routes just after the Shira cave camp. The Machame route can be done in minimum 6 days but a 7-day trek is recommended to allow climbers been well rested and acclimatized before making the final ascent to the summit.

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Itinerary
Arrive to Tanzania
Day 1: Machame Gate (1790m) to Machame Camp (3010m) 
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You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Parkview Inn Hotel or Weru Weru River Lodge 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. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day. Overnight at the Hotel.

One hour’s drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot. 

Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi
Approx. time taken:
6 hours
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

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Day 2: Machame Camp (3010m) to Shira Camp (3845m)
Day 3: Shira Cave (3845m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)
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Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance.

Distance covered: 5.4km / 3.4mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.

Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi
Approx. time taken: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

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Day 4: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 5: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up between 11 pm and 12 pm to start the climb to the summit. 

Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
Approx. time taken: 3hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 7: Trek Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
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Day 6: Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Mweka Camp (3100m)

We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.

Distance covered: 16.4km / 9.6miles
Approx. time taken: 13 hours - 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower then celebrate with cold drinks. Overnight at the Hotel in Moshi.

Distance covered: 9.1km / 7.5miles
Approx. time taken: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast

Depart Tanzania

This day left for your next destination. If you have safari, then it might be used to begin your safari or fly to Zanzibar or fly back home. Our vehicle will be ready to take you to the airport at your time.
Meals: Breakfast

Includes
  • Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport.

  • Pre & Post Trek accommodation at Parkview Inn or Weru Weru

  • Park fees, camping fees, rescue fees, and 18% VAT on tour fees & services which
    Cost nearly 55% of the total cost charged.

  • 4 Season mountain tents

  • Sleeping Mats

  • Transportation to & from the mountain gate

  • Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters

  • 3 meals daily while on the mountain

  • 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)

  • A portable flush toilet can be provided for free upon the client’s request.

Excludes
  • International Air Fare

  • VISA charges

  • Tipping for Mountain Crew

  • Personal Insurance

  • Doctor for the Group

  • Laundry

  • Items of personal nature 

  • Alcoholic & Soft drinks

Notes
  1. Tipping is like a “tradition” on every Kilimanjaro climb, we recommend contribute tip on Mountain Kilimanjaro and it is for group sharing as following: 
    Guide $15 - $20/guide/day
    Cook $10 - $15/day
    Porters $8 - $10/porter/day.

  2. We recommend you to carry tour own personal gear such as backpacks, 

  3. Please pack some snacks for climbing Kilimanjaro as follows

    • 1-2 bars per day

    • Few packs of jerky and pepperoni sticks

    • Few packs of gummies, candy and/or chocolate

    • Energy chews & gels for summit night

    • Enough juice crystals for 2L+ per day

  4. Please let us know in case you want us to check out the other routes then please let us know and we will get back with revised quotes accordingly.  

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