Kilimanjaro On Foot

Machame Route 6 Days

Price from USD 1620

6 Days Machame Route

Machame Route 6 Days Kilimanjaro Climbing, the Machame or (Whiskey Route) at a total length of 65km, is one of the most popular for Kilimanjaro climbers. We, at Kilimanjaro On Foot, would recommend the short 6-day program only to those with climbing experience, a reasonable level of fitness, and a yearning for a challenge.

The main difficulty lies in an altitude gain of over 2,000m (6,600 feet) in 24hrs including summiting, resulting in a 7% drop in success rates. If you are planning to take Machame Route in November, April, or May, the path may be eroded by rain making the climb more difficult. The 7-day program, on the other hand, offers success rates of 85% due to gradual acclimatization and will suit anyone aspiring to climb Kilimanjaro.

Machame Route 6 Days

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Day 11 hour drive

Arrival - Drive to Moshi

Welcome to Tanzania: Meet and greet at arrival point by our transferring driver who will escort you to the waiting vehicle for loading your luggage then drive you to the Hotel in Moshi town. After checking in the hotel you will get a briefing about your next day's trek then your mountain guide will check your gears. The rest of the day can be spent relaxing at the pool or exploring the town of Moshi.

Meals
Dinner
Accommodation
Keys Hotel
Day 218 km

Drive from Moshi to Machame Gate 1490m - Hike to Machame camp 2980m

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Moshi and driven to the Machame gate. At the gate, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while you and your waiting lounge registering with the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). You will then begin your ascent into the rainforest. During this section of the hike, you should expect rain, mud, and fog. Also, be on the lookout for wildlife, including Colobus monkeys! About halfway up the trail, you will have a lunch break and you will reach the Machame Camp (2980) in the late afternoon or early evening. The porters and chefs who move very fast up the mountain will reach camp before you and set up your tents, boil drinking water, and prepare snacks for your arrival. After washing up, a hot dinner will be served followed by overnight.

The Machame Route 6 Days starts here.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
Machame camp
Day 39 km

Machame camp 2980m to Shira camp 3840m

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast, you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike, you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Meals
Full Board
Accommodation
Shira Camp
Day 415 km

Shira 3840m to Lava Tower 4630m to Barranco camp 3950m

The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner.

Meals
Full Board
Accommodation
Barranco Camp
Day 513 km

Barranco camp 3950m - Barafu camp 4550m

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome-looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut.

The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick, and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

Meals
Full Board
Accommodation
Barafu Camp
Day 67 km up and 23 km down

Summit attempt from Barafu camp 4550m to Uhuru Peak 5895m then down to Mweka 3100m

You will wake up around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers, this 6-hour walk to Stella point is 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. 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.

Summit attempt of Machame Route 6 Days.

Meals
Full Board
Accommodation
Mweka Camp
Day 76 km

Mweka camp 3100m - Mweka Gate 1980m. Drive to Moshi

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). You will be served a hot lunch then you will drive back to Moshi for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

End of Machame Route 6 Days.

Meals
Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation
Keys Hotel
Day 81 hour drive

Departure

After breakfast, you will be transferred to your departure point for your flight back home.

You can extend your stay by going on a Tanzania safari or relaxing on Zanzibar beach.

Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
None

Rates including VAT

Price Per person Nº of persons Traveling together
$2,810 1
$2320 2
$2260 3
$2230 4
$2120 5
$2080 6
$1940 7+

Items included:

  • Transport from the arrival point to Moshi

  • Transport from Moshi to the Departure point

  • Accommodation before climb

  • Accommodation after climb

  • All accommodations in tents on the mountain

  • Park fees on Kilimanjaro

  • Rescue fees on the mountain (by car)

  • 3 meals daily on the mountain

  • Sleeping tents and dining tents (all camping gear)

  • Guide and porters

  • Cooks and waiters

  • First aid kit

  • Service of an English-speaking mountain guide

  • Transportation to the mountain

  • Transportation from the mountain

  • All government taxes

  • Oximeter on the mountain

Items not included:

  • Extras in the hotel
  • Drinks rather than water
  • Tips to mountain Crews
  • Meals in Moshi
  • Personal gear like sleeping bags, hiking poles, etc.
  • Flights
  • And all not listed above

Please contact our trek expert

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