8 Nights / 9 Days
Perhaps because the scenery is so spectacular with a wonderful variety of flora and fauna, this steeper route option for a Kilimanjaro trek is very popular. Over half of 鈥淜ili鈥檚鈥 climbers prefer this path to the summit.
Great for acclimatization, with the option of taking a different trail down for the descent, the Machame Route offers climbers a strong chance for a successful summit. Called the Whiskey Route because of its challenges, don鈥檛 be put off 鈥 this route will have you trekking through stunning forests, plus it boasts an unusually high success rate.
Emerging from those thick forests you鈥檒l hike up through alpine moors to the Shira Plateau and then enter a moonscape in the Southern Ice Fields, ultimately making your final push to Uhuru Peak, the summit.
Already a well-modulated route, climbers can add another day to further increase their chances of success.
Along your climb, you鈥檒l be staying in tents, which our porters will carry and set up for you. You鈥檒l need appropriate gear plus a good sleeping bag and we鈥檝e got a complete list for you below.
The truth is the Machame is a very scenic and popular trek but it can be challenging. However, if you are fit, the route鈥檚 great acclimatization properties offer the opportunity for a fantastic and successful climb.
Tour Highlights
Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa鈥檚 tallest peak (Roof of Africa)
World鈥檚 tallest free standing mountain
You鈥檒l arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport where an Africa Kenya Safaris driver will greet you and bring you to the Springlands hotel (or similar) in Moshi. Dinner will be served and you鈥檒l rest up on the first night of your Kilimanjaro adventure.
It鈥檚 climb day! We鈥檒l be up early for a briefing about our climb, what your expectations should be, safety factors, and the general business of how the climb is organized. This will be followed by breakfast and then a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910 m/3,018 ft) to Machame village (1490 m/4,888 ft).
There, you鈥檒l see the guides and porters busy prepping the expedition鈥檚 supplies. Then it鈥檚 either a 3 km/1.8 mi walk or drive to the Machame Gate. You鈥檒l complete the registration paperwork and set off on your ascent 鈥 our destination is the Machame Camp, a hike of about 5 鈥 6 hours.
We鈥檒l soon enter a lush rainforest with ferns, large trees, and possible sightings of black and white colobus monkeys. Don鈥檛 be surprised if it gets rainy here in the rainforest and the trails become muddy. That鈥檚 what a rainforest does.
Arriving at your camp, the porters will have warm water for washing and the cook will have a delicious dinner waiting. Time to rest for tomorrow鈥檚 adventures but do bundle up as the nighttime temperatures can drop to freezing.
We鈥檙e on 鈥淜ili鈥 now so the trick is to rise early and get our day going. We鈥檒l have breakfast and begin our climb. After about an hour we鈥檒l leave the forest and then enjoy a gradual ascent through scenic heathland.
We鈥檒l take a lunch and short rest, then continue up a rocky ridge to the Shira Plateau. Now opening up in the east, you鈥檒l see the western mountain range with the glaciers of Kibu reflecting the sun鈥檚 light.
Just a short hike to go and you will reach the Shira campsite at 3,840 m/12,598 ft. Warm water awaits and dinner will be prepared for you. Tonight鈥檚 temperatures may well drop down to below freezing.
Today is all about acclimatization. You鈥檒l climb about 700 m/2,296 ft today but tonight we will sleep at an elevation not too much higher than last night. This 鈥渉ike high, sleep low鈥 strategy will greatly help you adjust to the elevation.
We鈥檒l head out after breakfast onto a semi-desert stretch of rocky landscape, aiming for Lava Tower at 4,430 m/14,534 ft. The hike will be challenging and some climbers may feel the effects of the thinning air, becoming breathless, and possibly accompanied by headaches.
After about a 5-hour walk, we鈥檒l break for lunch near Lava Tower. And then we will actually descend some 680 m/2,230 ft to the Barranco camping area. This hike will take about 2 hours and along the way, you鈥檒l enjoy the unique desert flora of lobelia plants and giant senecios. Great vistas of the Western Breach will open up providing lots of chances for some beautiful photos.
We鈥檒l arrive at Barranco Camp in a valley below the Breach and the Great Barranco Wall. Get ready for what should be a memorable sunset as you await a well-deserved dinner and rest.
Today鈥檚 challenge is named Barranco, specifically, the Barranco Wall. This will also be a day for further acclimatization with lots of ascents and descents. Scaling the Barranco Wall will require some scrambling, using handholds for gripping and stability. This is still not a technical climb and we鈥檒l be with you every step of the way to ensure your safety and success.
You鈥檒l reach the mountain ridge and witness panoramic landscapes of desert and forest below. After 3 鈥 4 hours we鈥檒l arrive at Karanga Camp at 4,035 m/13,238 ft, with lots of time to rest and reflect on our journey. Your tents are pitched on a narrow, stony ridge, so please familiarize yourself with the terrain before sundown to avoid any mishaps.
Enjoy a high-fuel breakfast before setting out for today鈥檚 goal: Barafu Camp. We鈥檒l walk through a high-desert landscape with Kibu visible off to our left. After a 3 鈥 4 hour trek, we鈥檒l reach Barafu Camp at 4,640 m/15,223 ft, where we鈥檒l have an early dinner and get ready for the next section of the climb: the push to the summit.
Before bedtime, you鈥檒l prepare your gear and clothing for the summit ascent. Some practical notes: replace your headlamp and camera batteries now and bring along a spare set. Also, to prevent your water from freezing, make sure it鈥檚 in a thermal flask.
We鈥檒l crawl into our sleeping bags around 19h00/7:00 pm and get a few hours of rest before awakening in about 5 hours for our push to the top.
We鈥檒l make sure you are awakened at about 23h30/11:30 pm and get ready for the final ascent with tea and biscuits. And then, we head off into the night with only the moon and our headlamps to guide our way toward Stella Point on the crater rim.
It will take us 5 鈥 7 hours to reach the Point and for many, this is the moment when they鈥檒l be most tested physically and mentally. But finally, reaching Stella Point at 5,685 m/18,651 ft, we can take in perhaps the most glorious sunrise (weather permitting).
From here on to the summit, expect snow for the next 2 hours on your way up to Uhuru Peak. And then鈥. you鈥檝e arrived at the top of Africa; you鈥檝e realized your dream, you鈥檝e made it to the top of Kili. Take plenty of photos and savor this very special moment.
We can鈥檛 linger too long as cold and fatigue might set in, so we鈥檒l begin our descent back down to Barfu. This trek will take about 3 hours and we鈥檒l enjoy a short rest there, have some refreshments, pack up the rest of our gear, and head down to Mweka Camp at 3,100 m/10,170 ft for dinner, rest, and our final night on the mountain.
You鈥檙e certain to enjoy your final breakfast on the mountain after all you鈥檝e accomplished. We鈥檒l head down to the Mweka Gate, again trekking through the rainforest with more opportunities to spot colobus monkeys. We鈥檒l reach Mweka Gate in about 2 鈥 3 hours.
Then we鈥檒l continue to Mweka Village where your Africa Kenya Safaris team will bring you to the Springlands Hotel for a warming and delicious hot lunch.
You鈥檒l overnight at the Springlands Hotel where you鈥檒l appreciate a nice, hot shower!
Tips are very much appreciated after your challenging ascent and we have a tipping guide below to advise on how to tip your guides and porters.
This is also the moment when your climbing prowess is recognized. Those who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates. And those who reached the summit at Uhuru Peak receive their appropriately colored gold certificates.
Fly back home or embark no wildlife safari
Your Africa Kenya Safaris driver will bring you to the international airport. If you have decided to continue your safari with us in Tanzania then we鈥檒l be on our way to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, or one of our other colorful wildlife parks.
Kilimanjaro 鈥 There were probably some moments trudging up that hill when you had your doubts鈥 but you made it. You鈥檝e got the photos, the certificate, and the stories to prove your success. There will never be another moment like this. Congratulations!
Unique World Destinations International is a premier travel and tours company dedicated to offer all our guests unique and exotic travel experiences. Whether travelling locally or internationally, our trips are culturally rich and community focused. They include safari tours in the most emblematic parks in Kenya, hiking experiences, beach relaxation as well as day tours and excursions. We do all the heavy lifting for you so that you can have peace of mind and a great travel experience. As purveyors of unparalleled travel experiences, we never forgo an opportunity to visit the locations we suggest to you. Our unwavering commitment to firsthand exploration guarantees that we possess a unique understanding of what lies ahead, solidifying our position as the premier authorities on travel destinations
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