Climbing Kilimanjaro: Machame Route
Climbing Kilimanjaro: The Machame Route
Known as the “Whiskey Route”, the Machame Route is one of the most popular and scenic ways to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. Traversing lush rainforest, moorlands, alpine desert, and glacial landscapes, this trek offers incredible variety and breathtaking views throughout.
The journey typically takes 7 days, allowing time for gradual acclimatization and a higher success rate at reaching Uhuru Peak (5,895m), Africa’s highest point. Trekkers enjoy stunning panoramas from iconic spots like Shira Plateau, the dramatic Barranco Wall, and the summit approach via Stella Point.
With professional guides and carefully paced itineraries, the Machame Route is ideal for those seeking a challenging yet rewarding climb, combining physical adventure with an unforgettable sense of achievement.
7 nights / 8 days Climbing Kilimanjaro: Machame Route
MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAVE – BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP – MWEKA CAMP
DAY 01 – ARRIVE IN ARUSHA
On arrival climbers are collected from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Lake Duluti Lodge for the night.
Bronze, Silver & Gold: Lake Duluti Lodge
DAY 02 – MACHAME CAMP
After breakfast, you are driven to Machame village on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro where you begin the climb.
Today is spent trekking through giant fig and rubber tree forests, where you may catch glimpses of Colobus and blue monkeys as they chatter and swing through the branches above you as if championing you on. The dense forest is alive with other creatures and many of Kilimanjaro’s unique and mystical plants. As you emerge from the forest and begin to peep over treetops to extensive plains below, you reach the day’s destination: Machame Camp.
Start: 5906 ft/1800 m | End: 9302 ft/2835 m | Distance: 7 miles/11 kilometres | Time: 5 – 7 hours
Bronze: Lite Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Silver: Luxury Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: VIP camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 03 – SHIRA CAMP
You are awakened at 6am with a hot drink and, weather permitting, a stunning view of Uhuru Peak. Today, you trek out of the forest and up into heath and moorland – the abrupt change in landscape a clear demonstration of Kilimanjaro’s famed ‘4 seasons in 4 days’. This Hagenia zone is savannah carpeted with tall grasses, bearded heather and rugged terrain of volcanic lava, caves and foamy streams, all flanked by the mountain’s famous giant groundsels. The day’s destination is the rocky Shira Plateau, where you will spend the night at Shira Camp.
Start: 9302 ft/2835 m | End: 12304 ft/3750 m | Distance: 3 miles/5 kilometres | Time: 4 – 6 hours
Bronze: Lite Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Silver: Luxury Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: VIP camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 04 – BARRANCO CAMP
This morning, as you cross the Shira Plateau, a spectacular view of Kibo peak rears ahead. Eventually, you’ll meet the Lava Tower – a freestanding rock that rises 325 feet into the sky – and begin your descent through the immense Grand Barranco canyon. Winding through the gorge you’ll encounter more enormous groundsels, their strange fingered-trunks stretching far taller than the climbers, as well as several miniature waterfalls fed by mountain streams. The night is spent at Barranco Camp, the most picturesque camp on the route, tucked beneath the snow-capped Great Barranco Wall and enveloped by lush landscape.
Start: 12304 ft/3750 m | End: 12796 ft/3900 m | Distance: 6 miles/10 kilometres | Time: 6 – 8 hours
Bronze: Lite Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Silver: Luxury Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: VIP camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 05 – KARANGA CAMP
Today, is intended as a short, acclimatization day. At first, you are confronted with ascending the Great Barranco Wall, and then the path winds down into pretty Karanga Valley, where malachite sunbirds can be seen amongst the flowers, their green plumage brilliant in the sunlight. You spend the night at Karanga Camp, which has no increase in elevation to allow for lots of acclimatisation time.
Start: 12796 ft/3900 m | End: 13108 ft/3995 m | Distance: 3 miles/5 kilometres | Time: 4 – 5 hours
Bronze: Lite Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Silver: Luxury Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: VIP camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 06 – BARAFU CAMP
Today, is another short day, spent trekking through strangely-beautiful lunar desert with views of both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks towering – intimidating as well as encouraging – ahead. You overnight at Barafu Camp, also known as Base Camp, and spend the afternoon resting and preparing for the much-anticipated summit day.
Start: 13108 ft/3995 m | End: 15332 ft/4673 m | Distance: 2.5 miles/4 kilometres | Time: 4 – 5 hours
Bronze: Lite Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Silver: Luxury Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: VIP camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 07 – MWEKA CAMP
On summit day, you are woken up at around midnight to start one of the most physically difficult challenges of your life. The group will ascend the path, flanked by Ratzel and Rehman glaciers, step by step, ensuring that everyone goes at a safe, slow pace – pole pole (slowly, slowly) the guides will softly urge in Kiswahili, on careful watch for signs of altitude sickness.
After about 6 hours you reach Gilman ’s Point which lies on the rim of Kilimanjaro ’s crater. From here you can watch as the sun rises majestically above snow and clouds – a truly extraordinary sight. From Gilman’s Point, it takes another 2 hours, and lots of willpower, to push through to Uhuru Peak. Uhuru means ‘freedom’ in Kiswahili – named after the moment Tanzania gained its independence in 1961. From here, you can finally admire Africa from her highest vantage point and revel in the enormous challenge you have just conquered. After taking photos and soaking up as much of this spellbinding, spilling view as you can, the descent begins. Stopping at Barafu Camp for breakfast, continue to Mweka Camp in the upper forest where you will spend your final night on ‘the Roof of Africa’.
Start: 15332 ft/4673 m | End: 10171 ft/3100 m | Distance: 11 miles/18 kilometres | Time: 14 – 16 hours
Bronze: Lite Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Silver: Luxury Camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: VIP camping – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 08 – DEPART
On your last day, you hike mainly through forest, trekking downhill – a pleasant change after summit day. At Mweka Gate you pick up your well -deserved certificate before being transferred by an Akorn driver to your hotel. Here you will relax in the day room and enjoy a hot shower and lunch. In the evening, you are driven to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight.
Dayroom: Lake Duluti Lodge
TANZANIA
MONEY MATTERS
Tanzania’s currency is the shilling. Notes are issued in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000 shillings. Coins are issued in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 shillings, although the first two are seldom used. The local currency you may need during your stay in Tanzania should be obtained at authorised facilities such as banks and foreign exchange bureaus. US Dollars and British Pounds can also be exchanged at the airport on arrival. It is very difficult to exchange the shilling outside of Tanzania so we recommend that you change only as much as you will need. Major credit cards are accepted at most outlets in Tanzania. At some of our Sanctuary Retreats camps in Tanzania, we accept Visa, MasterCard or Amex, as well as cash.
TIPPING
If you enjoyed your stay with us the guidelines below can be used as a reference. Tipping is a very personal matter and it is not included for staff at our lodges and camps.
- Porter – US $1 per bag
- Driver-guide – US $5-7 per traveller per day – this is normally paid on the last day and is based on 4-6 travellers in the vehicle. If there are only 2 or 3 travellers you may consider increasing this amount to US $6-8 per traveller per day
WEATHER
Tanzania has a tropical climate which is mainly characterised by warm days and cool evenings. December to March are usually the warmest months of the year, while June to August are the coolest. April and May often see intermittent rains, and from September to November the days are warm with short scattered rains falling in November.
TIME ZONE
GMT + 3 hours.
LANGUAGE
Tanzania’s official language is Swahili.
PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION
Travellers should check for visa requirements pertaining to their citizenship, as entry requirements vary between countries. All travellers, however, must be in possession of a passport with at least six months of validity left beyond the intended departure date from Tanzania.
For more information on Tanzania travel please visit http://tanzaniatourism.go.tz/en
RATES
Different package levels are Lite (Bronze), Deluxe (Silver) & VIP (Gold).
From $6,048 – $9,436 USD – Please enquire for detailed rates.
Rates are per person twin or double share.
Single supplement on request.
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