6 Days Machame Route
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Overview
The Machame Route is typically done over 6 or 7 days, with the 6-day itinerary being a more challenging and faster-paced option. The Machame Route, also known as the Whiskey Route, is better suited for the more adventurous hiker and is one of the more scenic routes up Kilimanjaro. Here’s an overview of the 6-day Machame Route itinerary.
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 0: Welcome to Tanzania
When you arrive at the airport you will meet our driver with sign bearing your name. He will pick you and driver to Tulia hotel in Arusha. In the afternoon or evening, your mountain guide will meet you for a Kilimanjaro climb briefing and an equipment check.
Dinner on your own, overnight at Tulia hotel
Day 1: Machame Gate (1800m) to Machame Camp (2835m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
On the way to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park the journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once you leave the park gate you will walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until you reach the Machame Camp.
Day 2: Machame Camp (2835) to Shira cave Camp (3750m)
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Shortly after leaving the Machame camp you will leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path to a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather. The route then turns west onto a river gorge onto the Shira Campsite.
Day 3: Shira Cave Camp (3750m) to Barranco Camp (3900m)
Hiking Time: 7 hours
From the Shira Plateau, you will continue to the east up a ridge eventually passing the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, you come to the second junction which brings you up to the Arrow Glacier and continuing on to the Barranco campsite.
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3900m) – Barafu Camp (4673m)
You leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing up the Barranco Wall and through the Karanga Valley. From Karanga head up a moraine ridge where views can be spectacular. The final stage to Barafu is quite steep, and as always it’s taken it very slowly. In the evening your guide briefs you for the final ascent. (See Machame Route 7 dayes for optional Allimatization Day: Stay a night at Karanga Camp (3995m) before continuing the next day to Barafu Camp.
Dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp (4673m).
Trekking time: 6-7 hours walking
Day 5: Summit attempt Barafu Camp (4673m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)
We start our ascent at about midnight to 1 am, depending on the fitness and speed of the climbers, so that we can be up on the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree and nice graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5756m), in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. For those are still feeling strong we will continue with the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5895m), passing close to glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. Following ample time for pictures at the summit, we begin the descent back to Barafu for lunch, and after some refreshments, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite at Mweka Camp.
Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp (3100m)
Trekking time: 11-15 hours walking (it is a very long day!)
Day 6: Mweka Camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1640m)
A sustained descent on a well-constructed path takes us through a lovely tropical forest alive with bird-song, Our route winds down to Mweka gate at 1640m. We will have lunch at the Gate, a ceremony with the porters congratulating you as you receive your certificate, issued at the gate. We will then drive back to Tulia Hotel for a well-deserved shower.
Dinner on your own, overnight at the Tulia. Trekking time: 2-3 hours, Drive: 2-3 hour.
Day 7: Departure or Start Safari
Join us on safari, we will be there for your safari departure or transfer to the airport ready to catch your flight back home
Included/Exclude
- National park permits
- Camping / hut fees
- Rescue service
- All meals while on the mountain
- Guides and Porters wages
- Round trip airport transfers between Arusha and JRO
- Round trip transfers between Arusha and mountain gates
- Hotel stays in Arusha for pre and post trek (2 nights in total) on bed and breakfast
- Sleeping mats 2-inch form
- Private portable toilet
- Wash basins with hot water each morning and evening
- Treated drinking water 3L or more everyday
- International or Local flights
- Rental gears
- Tips for guides, porters and other staff
- Meals and drinks at the hotel in Arusha
- Travel Insurance, Visa and Medical Insurance
Walter + Jasmin2022-12-14Just the best 😊😊🏔️😊😊 Very excellent guides for the Kilimanjaro and the Safari. We recommend mosha tours. Brilliant, excellent, they make the best job... Just the best. Thanks a lot for working togetherPaul-Sebastian2019-06-30Mosha Climbing Tours Kilimanjaro Feb 2019 We climbed the Kili in February on the Lemosho route. Seraphin and his team did a great job: tasty food, some detours where there were no other tourists, no headache, and amongst the first on the peak that day. Since the ascent took us one day less than planned, Seraphin arranged a short-trip to Ngorongoro national park for us, too. Very happy with Mosha Climbing Tours, highly recommendable, especially if you plan to summit in the least “touristic” way possible.Navigate4633322018-10-12Unvergessliches Erlebnis! Unserer Tourguides waren von Anfang bis Ende immer stets Bemüht! Wir wurden wie vereinbart vom Flughafen abgeholt. Unsere Begleiter waren sehr freundlich, pünktlich und zuvorkommend. Wir sind ein älteres Ehepaar (Anfang 60) und hätten diese Tour ohne Hilfe der tollen Guides nicht geschafft. Nach der ersten Nacht merkten wir das wir viel zu dünne Schlafsäcke mitgenommen haben, nach kurzer Rücksprache mit unseren Guides haben sie wie selbstverständlich Ihre sehr guten und warmen Schlafsäcke mit unseren getauscht!! Unsere Guides sind auch immer auf unsere Sorgen und Bedürfnisse so gut als möglich eingegangen und haben uns geholfen. Wir würden diese Tour jedem Weiterempfehlen und freuen uns schon auf unsere nächste Reise (Safari Tour) mit unseren Mosha Freunden! Liebe Grüße aus Wien Marianna & TomaszArmando F2018-02-22An amazing safari trip We had a safari trip to tarangire and manyara national park. It was an amazing trip. Or tour guide abu was very professional kind and informational. Thank a lot for a beautiful experiencediggaditch2017-12-27The Best Guides on Kilimanjaro We climbed Kilimanjaro and hit the summit after 5 days, our guides were second to none they were brilliant they kept us alive on the mountain for sure. I can thoroughly recommend Moshi Climbing Tours, if you are serious and want to summit listen to these guys and do what they say and you will have the thrill of a lifetime..Corrine M2017-12-26Mosha Climbing Tours Jan 2017 Mosha Climbing Tours is a very professional and informative touring company. I had an experience of a lifetime during safari as well as hiking Kilimanjaro and felt safe, informed and very much watched after during the trek. Plus my entire group of 10 friends reached the summit under Seraphin's guidance. I'd highly recommend all my friends/family to sign up with Mosha Climbing Tours.Pablo P2017-11-22Excellent experience Excellent experience with this company. Mountain, Safari and beach in Tanzania. Really kind people who did all what they said before booking the tour.Alexandru V2017-11-21Climbing Kilimanjaro Climbing Kilimanjaro is a must for everyone who wants to test his abilities in mountaineering. There are so many things you need to know, plan and do in order to be successful and still nothing is guaranteed. Must say we were afraid of so many do's and don'ts and prepared accordingly. But then when it all started we had the most interesting experience. Mosha Climbing Tours guys were awesome, from the moment we landed till we left we were taken care of, advised in every matter, supported and trained. But most of all our communication was great so we haven't felt lost in any way. If we would knew all that it would've made everything much more simpler, starting with all the food we carried, equipment, etc. Our experience was absolutely amazing and that's why I can only recommend Mosha Climbing Tours for the professionalism and incredible experience they offered us. Thank you Seraphin and all the team. See you next time at Safari ;) AlexLoad more