Machame Route
8 days / 7 nights
The Machame Route up Kilimanjaro is known as the "Whiskey" Route and is one of the most popular routes up the mountain. 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 climbers, 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.
Itinerary
DAY 1 :
ARRIVAL IN ARUSHA
& OVERNIGHT
You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and driven to your accommodation in Arusha. Participants will be given a briefing for the climb that starts the next day. We’ll help you thoroughly check your kit and equipment. We also encourage you to get a good night’s sleep in the comfort of the SG Resort.
Meals: dinner
DAY 2 :
ARUSHA TO MACHAME HUT CAMP (2835M)
After breakfast at your hotel, we’ll drive to Machame Gate for registration. Here you will meet the rest of the crew and we all prepare for the climb. We will start the climb through the rain forest and the giant heathers for 6 hours until we reach our first overnight stop where we will set up camp.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 3: MACHAME HUT
CAMP (2835M) TO SHIRA
CAMP (3500M)
This will be a short day but rather a steep and rocky 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. You will cross many ridges and see the first of many Senecias. Once again we will camp for the night - this time at Shira Camp
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4: SHIRA CAMP (3500M) TO LAVA TOWER #(4690M) TO BARRANCO CAMP (3900M)
Today the route takes us over large boulders as we trek steadily uphill to Lava Tower. Here we stop for lunch around noon. Those who have the energy can climb the Lava Tower. You may start to get a mild headache due to altitude change. From Lava Tower we will travel down a rocky trail to the Barranco Camp where we will camp for the night.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP (3900M) TO KARANGA VALLEY CAMP (4100M)
After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall, we make our way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley to our camp site where we will spend the night.
Meals: breakfast, lunch dinner
DAY 06: KARANGA VALLEY CAMP (4100M) TO BARAFU CAMP (4673M)
The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp. After breakfast, we leave Karanga and continue up to the Barafu Hut. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare to start the summit later that night
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 07:
BARAFU CAMP (4673M)
TO UHURU PEAK (5895M)
TO MWEKA HUT (3100M)
At midnight we start our journey to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. We head in a northwest and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point, you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your one hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a short rest before heading down to Mweka hut. 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. This is our last night on the mountain so enjoy the last dinner and a well-earned sleep.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 8:
MWEKA CAMP (3090M)
ARUSHA (1500M)
It will be a short 4 to 6 hour scenic hike back to the Park gate. where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village where vehicle awaits us here to drive us back to our hotel in Arusha for a long overdue, hot shower, our celebratory dinner and a very comfy bed.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
