Route Highlights
- Trek Duration: 6 Days, 5 Nights
- Difficulty: Very High
- Scenery: Very Good
- Traffic: Very Low
- Start & End: Moshi, Kilimanjaro
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Route Overview
The Machame route was voted as the most beautiful climbing route in the world, has a great success rate and is really attractive, as a result a busiest route on the mountain! It has the stunning views of Mount Meru, the impressive ascent along the Barranco wall and other highlights to see when climbing, and has also well maintained hiking trails. Can also see well more of Kilimanjaro features when trekking, because the route takes the Machame route to the summit and descent through Mweka trail.
The route takes a total of six days for experienced mountaineers, and highly recommended for seven days, so that the body acclimatize properly. This extra day increases chances to reach the summit successfully.
The Machame route, nicknamed the ‘Whisk Route’ as it is considered more difficult than the ‘Coca Cola Route’, the Marangu route nickname, in reality is not technically difficult, but is longer and in places steeper. The longer distance and the opportunity to ‘walk high, sleep low’ offer much better acclimatization and as a result a very high success rate.
Trekking Itinerary
Day 1: Machame Gate (1,800M) to Machame Camp (3,000M):
Transfer from your hotel to Machame national park gate for check in registration formalities. Your porters prepare and pack your supplies and luggage before you start your ascent along the forest trail to Machame Camp at 3000m. You will spend your overnight here.
- Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours,
- Distance: 5 km/3 mi
- Ascent: 1,200 m/3,937 ft,
- Altitude: 3,000 m/9,843 ft,
- Accommodation: Budget/Machame Camp,
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Habitat: Rainforest
Day 2: Machame Camp (3,000M) to Shira Camp (3,840M):
After breakfast you start walking, leaving the rain forest behind, and continue your descent, crossing a small valley and up to steep rock ridge, covered with heather. Your route now turns west into a river gorge until you reach Shira Camp. It will be colder tonight than the previous night with temperatures possibly falling below freezing.
- Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours,
- Distance: 5 km/3 mi
- Ascent: 850 m/2,723 ft,
- Altitude: 3,840 m/12,600 ft,
- Accommodation: Budget/Shira Camp,
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Habitat: Moorland
Day 3: Shira Camp (3,840M) to Barranco Camp (3,960M) via Lava Tower (4,630M):
Today you will climb up to 4,600m to the base of Lava Tower for acclimatization. This will be your toughest day so far and you may for the first time feel the altitude. After lunch you will descend again by almost 650m to Barranco Camp, following the walk high, sleep low golden rule of acclimatization. The descend to Barranco Camp takes about two hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach Wall. The camp situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall.
- Hiking time: 7 – 8 hours,
- Distance: 11 km/7 mi
- Ascent: 750 m/2,723 ft,
- Descent: 650 m,
- Altitude: 3,960 m/12,960 ft,
- Accommodation: Budget/Barranco Camp,
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Habitat: Moorland,
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,960M) to Barafu Camp (4,604M):
After breakfast depart Barranco Camp and hike towards Barrance Wall. This part is challenging but enjoyable, and for many people it is their favourite part of the climb due to its stunning views. Once reaches the top of Barranco wall, have a spectacular view of the Kibo volcano to the left and to the right of the distant Mount Meru.
Now a difficult hike starts towards Karanga Camp, with many ascents and descents, but the guides are experts in choosing the right path and pace for climbers. Barafu Camp is the last cmp before the summit, where will be served a hot meal. Make sure to take the enough time to relax and sleep, while around midnight will start the final ascent to the summit!
- Hiking time: 8 – 10 hours,
- Distance: 11 km/7 mi
- Ascent: 680 m/2,231 ft,
- Altitude: 4,604 m/15,223 ft,
- Accommodation: Budget/Barafu Camp,
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Habitat: Alpine Desert,
Day 5: Barafu Camp (4,640M) to Uhuru Peak (5,895M) to Millennium Camp (3,820M):
Tonight depart from Barafu Camp to ascent to the top of Kilimanjaro (Uhuru Peak)! The climb leads over good trails, the most challenging part in the high altitude, where each personal guide take care of only two climbers in order to closely monitor each climbers’ physical and mentally wellbeing. Once reaches the summit can enjoy a beautiful sunrise, which is quite impressive at this height. After brief moment at the top can descend to the nearest if wishes, before returning to Barafu Camp and start descent to Millennium Camp after two hours’ rest.
- Hiking time: 8 – 12 hours,
- Distance: 15 km/9 mi
- Ascent: 1,255 m/4,117 ft,
- Descent: 2,075 m/6,807 ft,
- Altitude: 5,895 m/19,340 ft,
- Accommodation: Budget/Millennium Camp,
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Habitat: Arctic,
Day 6: Millennium Camp (3,820M) to Mweka Gate (1,650M):
The Millennium Camp is located in a tropical rainforest! When wake up will experience a pleasant feeling due to the reduction in altitude and the satisfaction of reaching the summit.
After breakfast descent to the park exit point of Mweka, where will be awarded official certificates for standing in the highest point of the Africa Continent, Mount Kilimanjaro! And after the descent the whole group comes together to congratulate each other.
- Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours,
- Distance: 12 km/7 mi
- Descent: 2,170 m/7,119 ft,
- Altitude: 3,820 m/12,532 ft,
- Accommodation: Budget/Bristol Cottages Hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Habitat: Rainforest,
Total Cost Covers:
Cost does not Cover:
| No of Clients | Price(per person) |
|---|---|
| 2-3 | $ 1,550 |
| 4-5 | $1,450 |
| 6+ | $1,400 |