Machame Route

ROUTE OVERVIEW

Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route 7 days, the ‘whiskey route’ as it is sometimes called is the most scenic, beautiful & challenging route. Affordable Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route 7 days is a bit harder as it demands more physic than its counterpart Marangu Route, this route fits for courageous climbers. On request this package can be combined with short Tanzania safari or Zanzibar beach holidays. Our ‘pole pole’ pace of one step at a time is a sure way of getting you to the summit. Karibu sana!

Machame Route 7 days

The location of this route is South-West of Kilimanjaro National Park hence offering a great chance of amazing photos of Shira plateau and the Barranco Wall, more than 25% of Kilimanjaro climbers pick this route. Tents accommodation is the only option in this route. Machame Route can be done in not less than 6 days or more, when you have chosen 7 days Machame Route tour, you will spend your night of the 4th day at the Karanga Camp. But in case of Machame route 6 days tour you will hike past Karanga Camp & spend your night of the day 4 at Barafu Camp.

Kilimanjaro Hiking – 7 Days Machame Route Itinerary

Duration: 7 days / 6 nights

Best time to climb: All year around

Day 1: Arrival Day – Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport meet our representative & transfer to Planet Lodge in Arusha. Later our Kilimanjaro manager & your guide will come to the lodge for detailed briefing & gear checking. We leave you after briefing to enjoy the nice weather of Arusha city & the invitingly lodge’s environment & the facilities.

Overnight at Planet Lodge in Arusha. Dinner & breakfast included.

Day 2: Drive to Machame Gate at (1,490 m) – Machame Camp at (2,980 m)

Hiking time: 6 to 7 hrs

Distance: About 18 km

Vegetation type: Montane forest

After breakfast at your lodge in Arusha you will drive to Machame gate, approximately 2 hours driving, past Chagga villages, banana and coffee plantation, here you will have a glimpse of the Tanzanian livelihood. At the gate some paperwork will be done as well as weighing and distribution of luggage to porters, you will then sign the official book by TANAPA before starting your climb.

Start your first day of Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route 7 days by hiking for several meters on your way to the first camp, the walking will be on the well-established forest road with wet and humid climate. As for as rain forest characteristic is concerned you may expect rain, mud and sometime fog. Kilimanjaro bright red giant ferns and impatiens are some of the vegetation to be encountered along this road. Picnic lunch will be taken on the way.

After lunch and little rest, you will embark to your hiking walk through the jungle past gargantuan trees and ferns the path gets winding, narrower and steeper. One hour after, you will notice a bit of change in vegetation type and landscape that will be the moorland zone. Machame Camp is at an altitude of (3,010 m) and it can take you about 6 hours of climbing to get there.

Porters are faster so when you get to the camp, they have already built your tents and will welcome you for coffee/tea and some bites then get water to wash & change the cloth you have been hiking with, get rest until dinner time. If the weather is good  you may enjoy beautiful sunset and possibly see the first snow-capped peak of Kibo.

Overnight at Machame Camp (2,980 m) All meals included.

Day 3: Machame Camp at (2,980 m) – Shira Camp at (3,840 m)

Hiking time: 5 to 6 hrs

Distance: About 9 km

Vegetation type: Moorland

The hike starts at the moorland zone. Reaching an altitude of 3,200 meters. You will find large rock formations obstruct, gives only a path 50 cm wide. The reward of passing those rocks is the superb views over the Machame Camp & Machame village down there.

This will be a fairly  short day on Machame Route. Wake up with a first sparkling sun ray and start your day with a good breakfast. Glance at the summit of Kilimanjaro and enjoy an incredible view then start your trekking towards Shira Camp. At this stage the air is already much thinner lunch break will be held at an altitude of 3,400 meters. After lunch & some rest, start hiking to the most tough part of this day, the vegetation type is changing and black lava sand is now dominating. The going is now up and down past small mountain streams and rocky walls to the deep gorges.

The landscape will change again at the altitude of 3,700 meters. Shira Camp is located at the middle of Shira plateau at an altitude of 3,845 meters. Are you still fit? Join your guide for a walk to Shira Cathedral and the needle up to Shira hill. Mount Meru view is awesome at this point.  Getting to the camp same procedure will apply get hot water to wash, coffee or tea with some bites, change the cloth you have been hiking with, get rest waiting for dinner. After dinner briefing of the next day.

Overnight at Shira Camp at an alt. of (3,840 m). All meals included.

Day 4: Shira Camp at (3,840 m) – Lava Tower at (4630 m) – Barranco Camp at (3,950 m)

Hiking time: 7 hrs

Distance: About 15 km

Vegetation type: Semi-desert

After breakfast, you will start your 3rd stage of Kilimanjaro climbing on Machame Route 7 days  by hiking along a well passable route firstly, trek south of Shira/Lemosho Route, the walk is over a black lava desert and past millions of rocks, some of these heavy rocks can remind you of cairns. The altitude goal for this day is to reach Lava tower which is at an altitude of (4630 m). Up there is very quiet hence, hearing your own heartbeat and the wind passing past your ears. During lunch break you can trailer the snowline above the Lava Tower; its temperatures are much closer to the freezing point. Afterward move on to Barranco Camp at an alt. of  (3960 m). This is the technique of climbing high and sleep low you will lower the altitude of 680 m.

On the way down the trial runs laterally on the Mountain range over Kibo circuit. Gently the stone desert vanishes and on the way you find again the tropical giant cross herbs as well as heath and moorland. After almost 7 hours you will finally reach your destination. The western breach of Kibo, the great Barranco Wall and the window and southern glacier can be seen from Barranco Camp. Evening time the sun ensue wonderful play of colors. Reaching the camp, similar procedures will follow as per previous day. Your Machame Route 7 days itinerary will  continue on the next morning.

Overnight at Baranco Camp. All meals included.

Day 5: Barranco Camp at (3,950 m) – Karanga Camp at (3,950 m)

Hiking time: 4 to 5 hrs

Distance: About 5 km

Vegetation type: Alpine desert

Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route 7 days, the day of a great challenge, climbing Barranco Wall on Kilimanjaro. 

After breakfast, advisable early start to avoid traffic jam at the wall; you will possibly need 1 to 1.5 hours to climb the great Barranco Wall. See the barren and rocky plateau behind the wall which is attentively waiting for you. Enjoy the stunning view Kibo as well as the three southern glaciers.

You will then continue walking on gravel and sand path through the rocky moors. Repeatedly, pass through streams, grasses and giant stones across herbs. Reach Karanga Camp at an altitude of 4,250 meters after 2 or 3 hours. When climbing up, hill after hills the good view of other upcoming routes are clearly observed. Have lunch at the Camp and enjoy the rest of your day just resting as you have acclimatized enough. Arriving at the camp same procedures will follow just as much as previous day.

Overnight at Karanga Camp at an altitude of (3,960 m). All meals included.

Day 6: Karanga Camp at (3,950 m) – Barafu Camp at (4,600 m)

Hiking time: 2 to 3 hrs

Distance: About 4 km

Vegetation type: Alpine desert

After breakfast depart Karanga Camp and proceed on a steep ridge up to Barranco Wall and then through Karanga valley to the junction that joins Mweka trail. Then continue up to Barafu hut (4,600 m). South circuit is now complete, here you can view the summit from many different angles. You will set your Camp here and enjoy the views of the summit from the distance. This is the point where there is no water.

Barafu is a swahili word means ice, this Camp is placed on a rocky, exposed ridge therefore tents will be more exposed to wind & rock it is vital for climbers to be familiar with the camp before dark. Dinner will be served early to maximizing your rest time & the preparation of your summit attempt at night. Your guide will give you a detailed  briefing on how to prepare for your last push to the summit tonight. Please get to sleep at 19:00 hrs.

Overnight at Barafu Camp (4,600 m). All meals included.

Day 7: Summit Day: Barafu Camp at (4,600 m) – Uhuru Peak at (5,895 m) – Mweka Camp at (3,100 m)

Hiking time : 8 hours to reach the summit, 7-8 hours down to Mweka Camp

Distance: About 7 km ascent and 23 km descent

Vegetation type: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

(The Summit Night! Then descent to Mweka Camp). You will spend a short night at this camp, wake up at midnight and if you like you can have some snacks and set off for your final part of ascending Kilimanjaro. The night is silent, you and your guide pacing into the freezing cold trial. ‘Pole pole’, step by step, the route leads sharply up and over rocks to reach the rim of the crater, takes you 5 to 6 hours and that is Stella point stands at an altitude of (5,740 m), from here you have only 150 meters left to reach the actual summit.

Machame Route 7 days trekking continue, early morning rays of a day will accompany you towards Rebmann Glacier and further ahead to Hans Mayer point.

You will then witness an amazing play of lights across the ice formation as the sunrise. Soon the summit sign of Kilimanjaro Mountain will appear and you have made it via Machame Route! Congratulations for reaching the highest point in Africa “The roof of Africa” at an altitude of (5,895 m) now your rewards is the stunning view of  the areas around the Mountain & for this hardships proudly, you can make some distinctive pictures on the summit of Kilimanjaro Mountain. Time to spend at the summit will be determined  by how you feel & the weather.

Take a short break before descending along the crater rim and down to Stella point and more down to Rebman Glacier. Follow the same route of ascent down to Barafu Camp, at the camp you will have hot lunch & may be a little rest then you will continue further down to Mweka Camp, enjoy the change of vegetation type on the way and reach your camp late afternoon, get hot water to wash, tea/coffee with some snakes, then change clothes you have been hiking with. Spend the rest of your day relaxing and gathering some strength for the next day.

Overnight at Mweka Camp an alt. of (3,100 m). All meals included.

Day 8: Descend Mweka Camp at (3,100 m) – Mweka – Gate at (1,980 m) – Arusha

Hiking time: 3 hrs

Distance: About 15 km

Vegetation type: Forest

After a very good breakfast you have 10 km to reach Mweka gate, a souvenir photo of the whole team can be nice before walking down to the gate. Walk through a well-established forest road and the second half of the way is mostly characterized by rain forest. At the gate you will sign out & Kilimanjaro trekking certificates will be given to your guide who will fill some details. Whoever reached Stella point will be awarded green certificate & for Uhuru Peak the actual summit will be rewarded gold certificate (Big Diploma) for climbing Kilimanjaro Machame Route 7 days.

You can have a group photos and some celebration before say a farewell to all your crew plus tipping then you will meet your driver who is already there waiting for you and drive you back to Planet Lodge in Arusha where you can have a long rest, hot shower before dinner & overnight.

Overnight at Planet Lodge in Arusha. Dinner & breakfast included.

Day 9: Transfer to Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport

On this day depending on your flight time we transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport to catch your flight back home or fly to Zanzibar for beach extension.

Mount Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route 7 days can be done independently or with our Tanzania safari package or Zanzibar beach vacation or both. Please let us know your preference.

All transfers (arrival & departure)

Return transfer to & from the Mountain

2 Night accommodation at Planet Lodge in Arusha or similar on Half Board (HB)

Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents

Service of professional & well experienced mountain guides, chef & porters

All entry fees & camping fees

Rescue fees

All meals while on the Mountain (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Guides, porters, cook salaries and park fees

Quality mess tents with table and chairs

Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food

Clean, purified drinking water

Crisis management and safety procedures

Fair and ethical treatment of porters

Tanzania government value added tax VAT

Tanzania Visa

All flights

Gratitude/Tips for crews (please tip separately)

All items of a personal nature (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc)

Meals not listed above

Insurance if applicable etc