8 Days
Machame Route
Tour Overview
Machame, known as the “Whiskey” route, is a popular route to the mountain and the best route for climbing Kilimanjaro for charity. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. It is considered a difficult route, better suited for more adventurous folks, and those with some hiking or backpacking experience. Machame approaches from the southwest and descends using Mweka, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Airport pick-up- Drop off at Hotel
You will be picked up by the staff of Rijay Africa Travel from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and driven to your accommodation in Arusha. Participants will be given a short briefing for the climb the next day. Kits and the necessary equipment will be checked as well.
Accommodation and meals: Ilboru Safari Lodge.
Day 02: Arusha- Machame Gate (1,800m/5,905ft)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your Hotel in Arusha and drive for 1 hour to Machame gate (10,000 ft) for registration. Here you will meet the rest of the crew (Cooks and Porters) and we shall all prepare for the climb. We will start the climb through rain forest and the giant heathers for 6 hrs. until we reach our first overnight camp.
Accommodation and meals: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,200 meters/ 3,935 feet
Hiking Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Day 03: Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft)
This will be a short day but rather a steep rocky and dusty trail. It’s a slow hike with plenty of breaks and enough time to acclimatize. Most of the route is rather bare of vegetation providing little shade from heat.
Accommodation and meals: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft)
Elevation Gain: 840 meters/ 2,760 feet
Hiking Duration: 6 to 8 hours
Day 04: Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft)
We will start climbing over boulders and very few rocks, then make our way to a steady uphill climb to Lava tower and there we stop for lunch around noon. For those interested, we may climb up the Lava tower, which is 14850ft (you may start to get a mild headache due to altitude change). From Lava tower we will go down for about 2 hrs through dusty and rocky trails to the Barranco Camp at 13000ft.
Accommodation and meals: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft)
Elevation Gain: 690 meters/ 2,264 feet
Hiking Duration: 6 to 8 hours
Day 05: Karanga Valley Camp (4,200m/13,780ft)
We start scrambling up the Barranco wall for an hour and half. As this is steep, you will be using your hands to reach and steady yourself like rock climbing, although not as challenging. At the top of the wall you can see the Barranco valley and the campsite you spent at the night before. You will walk up and down the greener valley, which is the last water point to the mountain.
Accommodation and meals: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft)
Elevation Gain: 250 meters/ 820 feet
Hiking Duration: 3 to 5 hours
Day 06: Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)
This will be a short but steep uphill climb across barren landscape with lots of boulders and shattered rocks. You will see the decken glaciers on your left. We will keep going through a very steep ridge until we reach a rocky section for more scrambling, which will last for about an 1.5 hrs. Our next camp will be on large rocks with very steep cliff faces. We will cap off the night early as we need to wake up at 11:00 pm for the summit.
Accommodation and meals: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft)
Elevation Gain: 400 meters/ 1,320 feet
Hiking Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Day 07: Summit Day to Mweka Camp (5,895m/19,340ft)
We will start the climb at around midnight. We will start with very steep rocks for 1 hour and enter a snow-covered area where you can see glaciers above. If it’s a moonlit night, you may turn off your headlamp and continue a moon lit guided walk; indeed, a wonderful experience. The next 2 hours is headed towards Stella Point and we will take a break every 15 minutes as the climb gets more mentally and physically challenging.
Afterwards, we will make our way to Stella Point where the Lava fields are like loose sand. It’s a rather enjoyable and frustrating experience because you will take a step up and slide back gaining 0 distance and if you’re not careful, you will slide back 2 steps and gain negative 2 steps.
After breakfast, we will climb to Uhuru peak for 1 hr just as the sun appears over the Mawenzi peaks. We will be at Uhuru peak (19370ft) around 6-7 am. We will start our descent, which is steep and rigorous via Stella Point to Barafu Hut Camp.
Accommodation and meals: Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft)
Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters/ 9,170 feet
Hiking Duration: 6 to 7 hours to the rim, 1 hour to Uhuru peak, 3-4 hous descend back to barafu camp rest and lunch then 4 hours down to Mweka camp
Day 08: Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) Descent and transfer back to Arusha
Today’s hike will take us about 4 to 5 hours to make the 4,500 feet descent to the park gate. We will check out and receive Kilimanjaro climbing certificate at the park gate office, then eat our lunch and say goodbye to our mountain staff. After lunch, we will drive through very beautiful coffee plantations and small villages of the Chagga people back to Arusha. There you will be dropped off and is the perfect time for you to take a nice swim, a hot shower, and a well-deserved celebration!
Accommodation and meals: Ilboru Safari Lodge (3,000m/9,840ft)
Elevation Loss: 1,600 meters/ 5,250 feet
Duration: 4-5 hours
Inclusions:
- Kilimanjaro park fee permits, camping fees,
- Fresh, nutritious meals on the mountain
- Expert guide, assistant guide, cook and porters
- Bottled Oxygen Cylinder and Pulse Oximeter for rescues only
- Hypobaric chamber (PAC)
- Comprehensive first aid kit
- Private portable private toilets only
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- 2 nights’ accommodation before and after the climb
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfers
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water on all days
- Camping equipment including mountaineering, mess and sleeping tents Four season, 3 people tent, double occupancy, sleeping mattress and pillow, hot water bottle during sleeping, table and chairs
- Baggage porterage
- Rescue Fee
Not Included:
- International flights (from/to home)
- Gratuitiesfor the crew after the service
- Cigarettes
- Healthy evacuation insurance
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcohol drinks
- Laundry
- Climbing Gears
- Sleeping Bag