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This is probably the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. All your equipment and supplies are porter and a cook prepares all your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only. This makes Machame(also referred to as the “Whiskey route”), better suited to the slightly more adventurous hiker, however rewarding him with a scenic splendor such as not seen on the Marangu route, from late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, the Machame route is normally completed in a minimum of 6 days. There is an added benefit to this, as you are afforded the most valuable commodity on the mountain – acclimatization. The Machame route takes you high to Lava Tower (4630m) on day 3 and brings you down by nearly 700m for an overnight at barranco Camp (3950m). This is the secret to successful acclimatization.
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Accommodation in Moshi for your overnight.
Meals: Dinner Included.
Day 2
Machame Gate (1500m) to Machame Camp (3000m), distance is about 18 km.
It is approx. 45 minutes drive from Moshi to Machame gate. All your equipment and supplies are taken over by porters; a cook will prepare all your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers tents only. After all, formalities have been taken care of at the gate, head into the forest, and begin the 7-hour ascent to the first camp on the mountain, Machame camp (3000m).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 3
Machame Camp (3000) to Shira Camp (3840), distance is about 9 kms.
Breakfast is served early in the mess tent and, weather permitting; you could take in your first view of the Western Breach of Kilimanjaro. The lunch stop will be reached at about 3600m and after this short lunch and an equally limited rest you'll continue up the rocky ridge to the next camp on the mountain, Shira camp (3840).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 4
Shira Camp (3840) to Barranco Camp (3950), distance is about 15 km.
The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky environment where you reach an altitude of 4600m after a 5-hour walk to Lava Tower. As you ascend from the Shira camp (3950m), there are good views of the Shira Plateau to the west, Oehler Ridge to the northeast, and the Western Breach to the east. On this day you will climb high and sleep low.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 5
Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karanga Camp (4200m), distance is about 6 kms.
The morning starts with a scramble up the almost vertical Barranco Wall to an altitude of about 4200m and after approx. For 3 hours, the path now crosses through the southern slopes to reach the Karanga Valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 6
Karanga Camp (4200m) to Barafu Camp (4600m), distance is about 7 kms.
After breakfast, you continue in a southeasterly direction to the junction before turning north to reach Barafu Camp (4600m) after about 4 hours. Here you take a long rest and prepare for the midnight ascent to the summit.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 7
Barafu Camp (4600m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m), distance is about 7 km.
At around midnight, you'll head in a northwesterly direction up the southeast valley towards Stella Point on the crater rim. The 6-hour-long walk to Stella Point is a mental and physical challenge with the steep face just below Stella posing the ultimate challenge. The time you spend on the summit is determined by the weather and wind conditions. The walk back to Mweka Camp from the summit can take over 7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 8
Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (2000m), distance is about 15 kms.
You will camp for the night at Mweka Camp (3100m) before departing for the Mweka Parks Gate the next morning where your driver will pick up and take you back to the Moshi Bus stand.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
- Accommodation before and after the climb
- Qualified guides with mountain crew
- National park fees
- Hut/camping fees and tents
- Tents foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and (Cutlery / Crockery) eating utensils.
- Rescue fees (required by the National Park)
- Pulse oximeters
- First aid kit
- Guides, porters, cook, waiter salaries
- Boiled water on the mountain
- Airport transfers (JRO – Kilimanjaro International Airports)
- All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Guides, porters, waiter, cook accommodation and entry fees on the mountain
- Gear for your climb, Some equipment is available for rent!
- Items of personal nature (expenses)
- Guides, Porters, Cook & Waiters tips
- Meals and drinks not specified
- Mountain equipment (eg sleeping bags)
- Emergency Oxygen
- Additional nights beyond the two standard hotel nights included
- Extra activities (waterfall tour, cultural village visit).
- Visa fees & travel insurance.
- Flight tickets.
Yes. The price also contains the salary of a porter, who is assigned to carry the oxygen tanks during your summit attempt.
The climb to Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb. No mountaineering equipment is require to summit Kilimanjaro. Anyone in good physical condition can reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Our mountain crews are in constant radio communication with us via ICOM radios so if anything goes wrong on your trekking we are informed. Also, the cell reception on the mountain has improved so we can effectively communicate with our teams using mobile phones.
Yes we do have a kit list of all the items you will require for your climb. You can rent sleeping bags, parkas, gaiters, trekking poles, etc. Just e-mail us your list of needs, and we will reserve these items for provide you upon your arrival.
Anybody who are able to run for at least half an hour without feeling shortness of breath. You should also be able to walk for at least 2 hours in hilly terrains without feeling overly exhausted. No one with a sore throat, cold of breathing problems should go beyond 3000m. However, anybody with heart or lung problems should consult his/her physician before attempting to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the dry season, i.e., from June to early November and from December to end of March. However with changing weather patterns, the chances of getting a clear sky during your climb in November and April is rare.
No, you are not required to bring filtering systems or purification tablets, our climbing staff will provide you with plenty of purified drinking water during your trek.
The symptoms of altitude sickness can appear while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, in all climbers irrespective of their age and/or fitness level. Due to which, most climbers choose to use Diamox (Acetazolamide), a medication that diminishes headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath which occur when climbing to high altitudes. Side effects include a tingling sensation in fingertips and on the face, and frequent urination.
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