7 Days Machame Route

Machame Route - overview

If Marangu is the “Coca Cola” route, then the Machame Route is the “Whiskey” route. It is the second most popular and one of the most scenic routes on the mountain. All climbers sleep in tents (tents are included) and meals are served in a dinner tent or on a blanket outside.

It is done over 6 days, so acclimatization is easier, and the success rate is fairly high. It is for physically fit people with some hiking experience. Descent is down the Mweka trail staying at the Mweka or Millenium camp the final night on the mountain.

Machame Route Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Moshi town to Machame Gate – Machame camp

Acclimatization Trek

Change in Elevation:

Moshi
Machame Gate (1490m)
Machame camp (2980m)

Hiking time:

7 hours

Distance:

About 18 km’s

Habitat:

Montane forest

Early in the morning the guide of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will be with you for briefing after breakfast around 9:00 am drive to Machame gate which takes about 40 to 45 minutes. With your picnic lunch climbers will do registering at the gate office, thereafter you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. 

There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Tents and other belonging will be take care by porters and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro guide. Most of the time porters and cook happens to reach to the camping site before you for preparation of meals as well as erection of tents for your accommodation. Sometime weather condition in the night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at Machame campsite.

Day 2: Machame camp – Shira campsite

Acclimatization Trek

Change in Elevation:

Machame camp (2980m)
Shira campsite (3840m)

Hiking time:

6 hours

Distance:

About 9 km’s

Habitat:

Moorland

Early in the morning after breakfast, the day is spent to reach Shira campsite (3840 m) with our picnic lunch. The night at this bare camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing. 

The trail take us for an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for about two hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a picnic lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. Hiking to this point you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its spectacular glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite.

Day 3: Shira – Lava Tower – Barranco camp

Acclimatization Trek

Change in Elevation:

Shira (3840m)
Lava Tower (4630m)
Barranco camp (3950 m)

Hiking time:

6 hours

Distance:

About 15 km’s

Habitat:

Semi desert

Early in the morning the guide of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will be with you for briefing after breakfast around 9:00 am drive to Machame gate which takes about 40 to 45 minutes. With your picnic lunch climbers will do registering at the gate office, thereafter you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. 

There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Tents and other belonging will be take care by porters and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro guide. Most of the time porters and cook happens to reach to the camping site before you for preparation of meals as well as erection of tents for your accommodation. Sometime weather condition in the night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at Machame campsite.

Day 4: Barranco Hut to Karanga Valley Camp

Acclimatization Trek

Change in Elevation:

Barranco Hut (3950 m)
Karanga Valley Camp (4200 m)

Hiking time:

3 hours

Distance:

About 7 km’s

Habitat:

Alpine desert

The morning starts with a scramble up the almost vertical Barranco Wall to an altitude of about 4,200m. After lunch the climbers are advised to take a rest at this point. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Valley camp.

Day 5: Karanga Valley to Barafu camp

Acclimatization Trek

Change in Elevation:

Karanga Valley (4200 m)
Barafu camp (4600 m)

Hiking time:

3 hours

Distance:

About 6 km’s

Habitat:

Stone scree and ice-capped

From here there is no water, so take care to stock them for there is no water at Barafu Hut. It is recommended that the climbers must familiarize with the camp before dark because of this camp is situated on an exposed and dangerous ridge. Dinner and overnight at Barafu camp.

Day 6: Summit Attempt, Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka

Acclimatization Trek

Change in Elevation:

Barafu camp (4550m)
Uhuru Peak (5895m)
Mweka (3100m)

Hiking time:

6 hours to reach Uhuru Peak. 5 – 7 hours to descend to Mweka

Distance:

About 7 km’s ascent – 23 km’s descent

Habitat:

Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You will wake up around 2330hrs, and after some tea and biscuits you start climbing to Uhuru peak into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walks to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route.

 At Stella Point (5685m) 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 will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. 

Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared.

Day 7: Mweka camp – Mweka Gate

Acclimatization Trek

Change in Elevation:

Mweka camp (3100m)
Mweka Gate (1980m)

Hiking time:

4 hours

Distance:

About 15 km’s

Habitat:

Forest

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. 

Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. At the Mweka Gate, meet Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Officials gives you the Certificate of Achievement. You now drive back to Moshi for a long over due hot shower.

The price includes

  • Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents:
  • Professional, experienced, mountain guides:
  • All Park fees
  • Rescue fees
  • All meals while on the Mountain
  • Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
  • Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
  • Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food
  • Clean, purified drinking water
  • Crisis management and safety procedures
  • Fair and ethical treatment of porters

The price does not include:

  • Airport transfers
  • Accommodation in Arusha
  • Tanzania Visa
  • Gratuity
  • Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
  • Meals not listed above
  • Optional Tours (short safari after your climb etc)

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