6 Days – Mt. Kilimanjaro Trek Machame Route
Overview
Set out on an incredible adventure with our 6-day Machame Route trek! Known as the Whisky Route, Machame is famed for its stunning landscapes and higher success rate. This scenic route guides you through lush rainforests, expansive moorlands, and alpine deserts, leading to the breathtaking summit of Uhuru Peak. Designed for those seeking both challenge and beauty, this trek offers a perfect blend of rugged terrain and amazing vistas, ensuring a memorable and rewarding climb.
Tour Highlights:
Scenic Beauty: Traverse through diverse ecosystems, from verdant rainforests to the striking alpine desert.
Diverse Landscapes: Experience stunning vistas of Mount Kilimanjaro’s glaciers, the Shira Plateau, and the Barranco Wall.
Acclimatization: Benefit from the route’s gradual ascent, which enhances your chances of reaching the summit successfully.
Summit Experience: Reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, and celebrate with panoramic views of the continent.
Challenging Terrain: Enjoy the thrill of climbing the Barranco Wall and the adventure of trekking through volcanic landscapes.
Comfortable Camps: Stay at well-equipped campsites with communal huts, offering comfort and a sense of camaraderie.
Cultural Interaction: Engage with local guides and porters, learning about their culture and the natural environment of Kilimanjaro.
The Machame Route, also known as the Whisky Route, is renowned for its scenic beauty and challenging paths. This route takes you through lush rainforests, across the Shira Plateau, and up to the breathtaking summit of Uhuru Peak. Due to its gradual ascent, the Machame Route offers a higher success rate for reaching the summit.
Duration: 6 or 7 days
Difficulty: Medium
Scenery: Excellent
Traffic: High
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be transferred to The Maridadi Hotel for overnight accommodation. Your head guide will meet you for a pre-trek briefing, gear check, and to arrange any equipment rentals.
CLIMBING RATES
* Cost per person in USD
Itinerary
Departing from Moshi, a 45-minute drive will take you to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate at Machame. After permits are issued, begin your trek through the vibrant rainforest, where you’ll learn about the local flora and fauna. The trail can be muddy and slippery, so gaiters and trekking poles are recommended.
Elevation: 1,811m/5,942ft to 3,021m/9,911ft
Distance: 10.75km/7mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll ascend out of the rainforest, crossing a steep rocky ridge. The path then turns west into a river gorge, leading to the Shira Camp. As you gain elevation, temperatures will start to drop.
Elevation: 3,021m/9,911ft to 3,839m/12,595ft
Distance: 5.3km/3mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Today’s trek is crucial for acclimatization, despite ending at a similar elevation to where you started. You’ll ascend to the Lava Tower, also known as the “Shark’s Tooth,” before descending to Barranco Camp for the night.
Elevation: 3,839m/12,595ft to 3,986m/13,077ft (via 4,650m/15,250ft at Lava Tower)
Distance: 10.75km/6mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert
This day begins with a challenging climb up the Barranco Wall, followed by a trek through the Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp. You’ll complete the South Circuit, offering panoramic views of the summit from multiple angles. After an early dinner, you’ll rest in preparation for the summit push.
Elevation: 3,986m/13,077ft to 4,034m/13,235ft to 4,662m/15,295ft
Distance: 8.5km/5mi
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
The summit climb begins early between midnight and 2 a.m., ascending through heavy scree to Stella Point and onward to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After celebrating your achievement, you’ll descend to Mweka Camp for your final night on the mountain.
Elevation: 4,662m/15,295ft to 5,895m/19,341ft (summit) and down to 3,106m/10,190ft
Distance: 4.86km/3mi up, 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up, 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Glaciers, Snow-Capped Summit, Alpine Desert
After breakfast, enjoy a heartfelt ceremony with your crew before descending to the Mweka Park Gate, where you’ll receive your summit certificates. The descent can be steep, muddy, and wet, so gaiters and trekking poles are essential. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka Village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi for a well-deserved rest.
Elevation: 3,106m/10,190ft to 1,633m/5,358ft
Distance: 9.1km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
Included/Exclude
- Park fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodations as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Tips for porters and mountain crew is recommended
- The government imposed an increase in taxes and park fees
- Alcohol drinks
