7 Days Machame Route Package

7 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE PACKAGE

1 Night in Moshi & 6 Days Machame Climb

7 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE PACKAGE

1 Night in Moshi & 6 Days Machame Climb

The Machame Route, also known as the Whiskey Route, is one of the most popular and scenic routes for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It is often chosen by trekkers for its breathtaking views and relatively high success rate. Climbers on Machame trek steeper trails, for longer distances, while sleeping in tents, in comparison to the gradual incline of the Marangu Route. You can climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 6 days using the Machame Route however, the 7 days are often more preferred due to better acclimatisation and higher success rates. This package includes one night in Moshi prior to your climb with a 6 day climb. You can also combine your package with a night after your climb or even with a safari in the northern circuit and/or Zanzibar.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN MOSHI

DAY 2: MOSHI – MACHAME GATE – MACHAME CAMP

DAY 3: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAMP

DAY 4: SHIRA CAMP – LAVA TOWER – BARRANCO CAMP

DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP – BARAFU CAMP

DAY 6: SUMMIT DAY – BARRANCO CAMP – UHURU PEAK – MWEKA CAMP

DAY 7: MWEKA CAMP – MWEKA GATE

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 (ARRIVAL IN MOSHI):

You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and get transferred to a hotel in Moshi for your overnight stay. Before dinner, you will have a briefing about your upcoming climb.

Day 2 (MOSHI – MACHAME GATE – MACHAME CAMP):

After an early breakfast you will depart from the hotel and drive to Kilimanjaro’s Machame Gate on the southwestern side of the mountain. Your guide will handle your registration before you begin the hike. Once you start your ascent, you immediately enter the rainforest. The trail ahead is often muddy and slippery due to the heavy rains on this side of the mountain so trekking poles and gaiters are recommended. You will stop at the halfway mark for lunch, and then continue your hike towards the Machame Camp. The camp will be set up for you ahead of your arrival, giving you time to unpack and relax.

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevation: 1640m to 2850m

Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

Day 3 (MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAMP):

After breakfast you will make your way for your second day on the mountain. You will leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The Shira Plateau comes into sight and you will follow the path towards the Shira campsite. Rest, unpack, and prepare for dinner.

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Elevation: 2850m to 3810m

Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Day 4 (SHIRA CAMP – LAVA TOWER – BARRANCO CAMP):

On today’s hike you will walk on a steady ascent with great panoramic views. You will go past Lava Tower at 4600m and then after lunch you will descend back down to Barranco Valley at 3950m where the camp is located.

Shira Camp to Barranco via Lava Tower

Elevation: 3810m to 4630m

Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Semi desert

Day 5 (BARRANCO CAMP – BARAFU CAMP):

After breakfast you will start your hike on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Breach Wall through the Karanga Valley and head towards Barafu Camp. Here you will be able to see the summit from a distance. Dinner, rest, and prepare for the summit climb.

Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: 3976m to 4640m

Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

Day 6 (SUMMIT DAY – BARRANCO CAMP – UHURU PEAK – MWEKA CAMP):

You will wake up at midnight, have a light breakfast and prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to reach Uhuru Peak around sunrise. You will leave the camp around 1am where you will start the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree towards Stella Point located on the crater rim. Continuing, you will ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. You will take a memorable picture at the summit to remember this great accomplishment. You will then descend to Mweka Camp, where you can rest and get some well-deserved sleep! Please note that we will be doing the beginning of this climb in the dark with headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek. Slowly, slowly, or, “pole, pole,” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!

Summit Day – Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

Elevation: 4673m to 5895m to 3068m

Distance: 4 km up, 11 km down
Hiking Time: 13-16 hours

Habitat: Stone scree/ice capped summit

Day 7 (MWEKA CAMP – MWEKA GATE):

After breakfast you will make your way down to Mweka Gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3pm. At this point you’ll say goodbye to the guides, cooks, and porters. We’ll transfer to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha or take you straight to the airport, where it is definitely time for celebration!

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation: 3068m to 1640m

Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

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