6 Days Trekking Machame Route

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Overview

Duration:6 days 5 nights
Tour Type:Daily tour
Language:English, French, German, Italian

Route Description

The Machame route, also known as the Whisky Route, is one of the most scenic and recommended routes on Kilimanjaro. This popular route with paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Ice fields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. Because it can be done over longer periods and the incline is more manageable, it has a much higher success rate of reaching the summit.

Duration: 6 Days Difficulty: Medium Acclimatization: Medium Traffic: Medium Scenery: Excellent

Highlights

Diverse landscapes: rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, glaciers
Stunning views of Mount Meru and Kibo Peak
Challenging but rewarding route with good acclimatization profile
Overnight at Barafu before a midnight summit push
Descent via the Mweka Route

Includes/Excludes

All taxes and VAT applicable.
All National Park entry fees, camping fees, crew permits, and VAT.
Professional, English-speaking, and experienced mountain guides.
Porters to carry all personal and group equipment (max 15kg per person).
Specialist tent crew to service and erect all camp equipment and tents.
Trained and experienced mountain cook and waiter.
All meals during the trek and all eating utensils.
Transfers from hotel to park gates and from park gates to your hotel in Moshi.
Crew transportation to park gates.
Boiled drinking water on trek (from first camp onwards).
Daily health check with guide with high-grade medical oximeter.
Tents, chairs and table for camping routes.
1x sleeping mattress per person for camping routes
Fair and sustainable crew wages.
Pre and Post climb accommodations (2 nights on Bed and Breakfast basis in a sharing room).
Airport Transfers.

Tips/Gratuities (Tips for porters and mountain crew).
Visa.
Flights.
Medication.
Energy food & beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks.
Additional lodge night if early descent from the mountain or extra night after the trek.
Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.

Day to Day Section

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Day 0: Arrival and Pre-climb Briefing

Program Summary: Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport JRO (time to be confirmed) , you will be met and transferred for overnight accommodation – B&B. Your head guide will meet you for your briefing, and gear check, and arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.
- Accommodation: La Mama Hotel or Panama Hotel

Day 1: Machame Gate - Machame Camp

Program Summary: Departing from Moshi a 45-minute drive will take you through the Village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.
Elevation: 1,800m/5,905ft to 2,835m/9,301ft
Stats: Duration: 5 hours. Altitude gained: 1,035m. Distance: 11 km. Zone: Montane Forest.
Accommodation: Machame Camp

Day 2: Machame Camp - Shira Camp

Program Summary: After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite. Views of Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks can be seen in the distance. Temperatures begin to drop.
Elevation: 2,835m/9,301ft to 3,750m/12,303ft
Stats: Duration: 6 hours. Altitude gained: 915m. Distance: 5 km. Zone: Moorland.
Accommodation: Shira Camp (Camping)

Day 3: Shira Camp to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower

Program Summary: Today is a very important day for acclimatization we ascend 850m to Lava Tower for lunch before descending 690m to Barranco Camp. The total trek time is around 6 - 8 hours. The saying of 'climb high, sleep low' makes today a crucial part of our route.
Elevation: 3,750m/12,303ft to elevation 4600m/15,091ft to 3,950m/12,960ft
Stats: Duration: 6-8 hours. Altitude gained: 890m. Altitude lost: 690m. Distance: 10 km. Zone: Alpine Desert.
Accommodation: Barranco camp

Day 4: Barranco Camp - Barafu Camp

Program Summary: We begin the day by scrambling up the great Barranco wall (using your hands and feet). The view from the top is spectacular. We continue to the Karanga camp (stopping for lunch) and then ascend to Barafu Camp for the summit night.
Elevation: 3900m/12795ft to 4673m/15331ft
Stats: Duration: 8 hours. Altitude gained: 773m. Distance: 10 km. Zone: Alpine Desert.
Accommodation: Barafu camp

Day 5: Barafu Camp - Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp

Program Summary: We wake at 11:30 PM for tea/biscuits and begin the steep climb passing Stella Point to Uhuru Peak. After a brief photo opportunity, we descend back to Barafu Camp for a rest and lunch, then continue down to Mweka Camp.
Elevation: 4,673m/1533ft to 5,895m/19,341ft to 3,100m/10,200ft
Stats: Duration: 10-14 hours. Altitude gained: 1,222m. Altitude lost: 2,795m. Distance: 5 km up / 12 km down. Zone: Arctic/Alpine Desert/Moorland.
Accommodation: Mweka camp

Day 6: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate – Moshi

Program Summary: After a good night’s rest and a hearty breakfast, we make the final descent to Mweka Gate. We will sign out, and a certificate of achievement will be given to you by the National Park. We then drive back to Moshi.

Elevation: 3,100m/10,200ft to 1640m/5830ft
Stats: Duration: 3-4 hours. Altitude lost: 1460m. Distance: 10 km. Zone: Montane Forest.
Accommodation: La Mama Hotel or Panama Hotel