Trekking 6 Days Machame Route Kilimanjaro

7 Days Machame Route

MOUNT KILIMANJARO MACHAME ROUTE

There are six established routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai and Umbwe. The Marangu, Machame and Umbwe routes all approach from the south side of the mountain. The Lemosho and Shira routes approach from the west. The Ronga route approaches from the north near Kenya. Except for Marangu and Rongai, all routes descend through Mweka.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame route

The Machame Route, also known as the Whiskey Route, is one of the most scenic and recommended routes on Kilimanjaro. This popular route leads through magnificent forests to a ridge that leads through the fens to the Shira Plateau. It then passes under the frozen chasms of the southern ice fields to join the Barafu route to the summit. Since this can be done over a longer period of time and the slope is more manageable, the summit success rate is much higher.

Duration: 6 or 7 days
Difficulty: Medium
Scenery: Excellent
Traffic: High

Upon arrival, you will be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Panama garden hotel 4 stars B&B for one night. Your guide will meet you for your orientation, equipment check, and arrange for you to rent any equipment you may need.

TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1: MACHAME GATE – MACHAME CAMP: 10.75k /7mi | 5-6 hrs | Rainforest

DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAMP: 5.3km/3mi | 4-5hrs | Moorland

DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP – LAVA TOWER – BARRANCO CAMP: 10.75km/6mi | 5-6hrs | Semi-Desert

DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP: 8.5km/5mi | 6-8hrs | Alpine Desert

DAY 5: BARAFU CAMP – SUMMIT: 4.86km /3mi up | 5-7hrs | – MWEKA CAMP: 11.5km /7.2mi down | 5-6hrs | Glaciers, Snow Capped Summit

Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1233m
Descent to 3106m/10,190ft
Altitude lost: 2789m

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

We continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.

Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!

After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.

DAY 6: MWEKA CAMP – MWEKA GATE – MOSHI: 9.1km/6mi |3-4hrs | Rainforest

Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
Altitude lost: 1473m

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles.

From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!

Overnight Panama Gurden Hotel B&B. before being transferred to your journey home, safari or a relaxing trip to Zanzibar.

Cost Includes

2-way airport transfer by private vehicle
All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
2 nights accommodation in Moshi & breakfast while at the hotel
Professional, experienced, mountain guides
Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
Sleeping Mattress
Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
All meals while on the Mountain
Clean, purified drinking water
Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
Conservation fees (part of park fees)
Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
Rescue fees (part of park fees)
VAT (18% charged by the Government)
Kilimanjaro summit certificate

Cost Does Not Include

Tanzania Visa
International and domestic flights
Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
Tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance (5% on each payment)