7 Days Kilimanjaro Treks Machame Route
Overview
The Machame Route, often called the Whiskey Route, is renowned for its challenging terrain compared to the easier Marangu Route, known as the Coca-Cola Route. While the Marangu Route offers a gradual ascent with hut accommodations, the Machame Route features steeper trails, longer distances, and tent camping. Climbers typically spend a minimum of six days (five nights) on the mountain, though the route is often completed over seven days (six nights) for improved acclimatization.
The trek starts at Machame Gate on the southern base of Kilimanjaro, within its lush rainforest. From there, the route ascends towards the Shira Plateau, then takes a southern circuit around the mountain, providing stunning panoramic views. The final ascent to the summit is approached from the east, and the descent is made via the Mweka Trail.
Tour Itinerary
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) by Kermali Tours representative and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Your guide will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
Your adventure begins at Machame Gate, where lush rainforests teeming with vibrant birdlife and playful monkeys greet you. Hike amidst this captivating scenery as your expert guide unveils the region’s unique flora and fauna. After a captivating day, set up camp amidst the rainforest’s mystical aura, ready for your incredible Kilimanjaro journey.
- Elevation: 1,800m to 2,835m
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
- Distance: 11 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Habitat: Rainforest
Day 2 leads you towards the historical Shira Plateau, a collapsed volcanic crater steeped in history. Witness panoramic views of the majestic Kibo peak, your ultimate summit goal. As you ascend, the landscape transforms, offering a glimpse into the mountain’s diverse ecological zones. Reach new heights and experience the thrill of camping on Shira Plateau, surrounded by breathtaking vistas.
- Elevation: 2,835m to 3,850m
- Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
- Distance: 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Habitat: Moorland
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.
- Elevation: 3,850m to 4,600m (Lava Tower) to 3,900m
- Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
- Distance: 10 km
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley, which is our last stop for fresh water before the summit. Scree now forms the terrain as we walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu camp.
- Elevation: 3,900m to 3,995m
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Distance: 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.
- Elevation: 3,995m to 4,673m
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Distance: 4 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
- Elevation: 4,673m to 5,895m (Uhuru Peak) to 3,100m (Mweka Camp)
- Hiking Time: 10-14 hours
- Distance: 19 km
- Difficulty: Very Challenging
- Habitat: Arctic Summit / Alpine Desert / Rainforest
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome hot shower.
- Elevation: 3,100m to 1,640m
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Distance: 10 km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Habitat: Rainforest
Say goodbye to the extraordinary Kilimanjaro trek. We’ll transport you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. Alternatively, extend your journey with a thrilling wildlife safari or a peaceful vacation to Zanzibar.
Tour Route Map
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Tour Includes & Excludes
- Transport from our base hotel in Moshi to the Mountain gate and back to our base hotel in Moshi.
- Park fees.
- Fees of national park approved guide and porters.
- 18% VAT.
- 4 Season mountaineering tents (On camping routes only).
- Comfortable mess tents (On camping routes only).
- Foam camping matress (On camping routes only).
- Camping chairs (on camping routes only).
- Camping tables (On camping routes only).
- Solar lighting in dining tent.
- Daily health monitoring (Twice a day with an oximeter).
- Delicious food on the mountain depending on the dietary requirements of the clients (B/L/D).
- Hot water for getting fresh in the morning and once you reach camp.
- Altitude sickness checklist.
- Full trip and safety briefing.
- Fully stocked first aid kit.
- Wash basin for each climber at camp.
- Three delicious and hearty meals per day.
- Snacks upon arrival in camp.
- Drinking water and fruit juices.
- Experienced cooks, guides and porters.
- 2 Nights hotel in Moshi HB (B/A the climb) in either Park View Inn OR Sal Salinero Hotel depending on availability.
- Tips.
- Visas.
- Airline tickets.
- Airport transfers.
- Airport taxes.
- Laundry.
- Insurances.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Other beverages apart from fruit juices and mineral water given on the first day of the climb and boiled water given during the climb.
- Other equipments on the mountain. (other than tents, camping table and chairs). (Mountain gear)
- Transport from our base hotel in Moshi to the Mountain gate and back to our base hotel in Moshi.
- Park fees.
- Fees of national park approved guide and porters.
- 18% VAT.
- 4 Season mountaineering tents (On camping routes only).
- Comfortable mess tents (On camping routes only).
- Foam camping matress (On camping routes only).
- Camping chairs (on camping routes only).
- Camping tables (On camping routes only).
- Food resupply (Once on trek).
- Solar lighting in dining tent.
- Daily health monitoring (Twice a day with an oximeter).
- Oxygen cylinder (1 cylinder per every 4 pax).
- Hyperbaric presuure bag (1 per every 5 pax).
- Chemical toilet (1 per every 5 pax).
- Delicious food on the mountain depending on the dietary requirements of the clients (B/L/D).
- AED heart saving machine.
- Hot water for getting fresh in the morning and once you reach camp.
- Altitude sickness checklist.
- Full trip and safety briefing.
- Fully stocked first aid kit.
- Wash basin for each climber at camp.
- Three delicious and hearty meals per day.
- Snacks upon arrival in camp.
- VHF radios.
- Drinking water and fruit juices.
- Experienced cooks, guides and porters.
- Food resupply (once on trek).
- 2 Nights hotel in Moshi HB (B/A the climb) in either Park View Inn, Sal Salinero Hotel OR Panama Garden Resort depending on availability.
- Tips.
- Visas.
- Airline tickets.
- Airport transfers.
- Airport taxes.
- Laundry.
- Insurances.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Other beverages apart from fruit juices and mineral water given on the first day of the climb and boiled water given during the climb.
- Other equipments on the mountain. (other than tents, camping table and chairs). (Mountain gear)
- Private transport from our base hotel in Moshi to the Mountain gate and back to our base hotel in Moshi.
- Park fees.
- Fees of national park approved guide and porters.
- 18% VAT.
- 4 Season mountaineering tents (On camping routes only).
- Comfortable mess tents (On camping routes only).
- 2 Foam camping mattresses for each client (On camping routes only).
- Camping chairs (On camping routes only).
- Camping tables (On camping routes only).
- Hot water bottle for sleeping bag.
- Personal porter for carrying day packs.
- Bottled water throughout the climb.
- Food resupply (Once on trek).
- Solar lighting in dining tent.
- Solar lighting in sleeping tent.
- Kilimanjaro Map for each client.
- Daily health monitoring (Twice a day with an oximeter).
- Oxygen cylinder (1 cylinder per every 4 pax).
- Hyperbaric pressure bag (1 per every 5 pax).
- Chemical toilets (1 per every 5 pax).
- Delicious food on the mountain depending on the dietary requirements of the clients. (B/L/D).
- AED heart saving machine.
- Souveniers for each client after the climb.
- Hot water for getting fresh in the morning and once you reach camp.
- Altitude sickness checklist.
- Full trip and safety briefing.
- Fully stocked first aid kit.
- Wash basin for each climber at camp.
- Three delicious and hearty meals per day.
- Snacks upon arrival in camp.
- VHF radios.
- Bottled drinking water and fruit juices.
- Experienced cooks, guides and porters.
- 2 Nights hotel in Moshi HB (B/A the climb) in either Park View Inn, Sal Salinero Hotel OR Panama Garden Resort depending on availability.
- Tips.
- Visas.
- Airline tickets.
- Airport transfers.
- Airport taxes.
- Laundry.
- Insurances.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Other beverages apart from fruit juices and mineral water given on the first day of the climb and boiled water given during the climb.
- Other equipments on the mountain. (other than tents, camping table and chairs). (Mountain gear)
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