7 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Via Machame route

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About this activity

  • Instant Booking
  • Free Cancellation Free cancellation up to 60 day(s) prior departure, after which the tour cancellation policy applies Learn More.
  • Duration:7 Day(s)
  • Activities
    • Hiking & Trekking
  • Travel StyleBudget
  • Guiding Type: Live Guide/Instructor
  • Guide Language
    • English
    • German
    • Spanish
    • French
  • Tour Vibe Active
  • Recommended For
    • Couple
    • Family/Kids
    • Senior
    • Solo
    • Women
  • Destination Country: Africa, Tanzania,
    • Kilimanjaro International Airport
    • Moshi
    • Machame Gate - Mount Kilimanjaro
    • Machame Camp
    • Shira Camp One
    • Baranco Camp
    • Karanga Camp
    • Karanga Camp
    • Barafu Camp
    • Uhuru Peak
    • Millenium Camp
    • Mweka gate
    • Moshi
    • Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Pickup

    Kilimanjaro international airport (JRO) / Hotel

    From: To:
    12:00 AM 11:59 PM
  • Drop-off

    Kilimanjaro international airport (JRO) / Hotel

    From: To:
    12:00 AM 11:59 PM
  • Age Range 15 - 90 (Years Old)
Tour Highlights

Machame Camp: The first camp is situated in a beautiful forested area.

Shira Camp: Located on the Shira Plateau with breathtaking views of the mountain’s peak.

Climb High, Sleep Low: The Machame Route’s itinerary includes several days of acclimatization to help climbers adjust to the altitude, which improves the chances of reaching the summit.

Unique Plants: The route is home to interesting plant species, including the giant groundsels and endemic flora.

Tour Introduction

Considered the most scenic of the various routes up Mount Kilimanjaro. The Machame route, also known as the “Whiskey” route, is the most popular route up Kilimanjaro. The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the south; beginning with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate. It continues through the lush rainforest and follows a path that offers occasional views of Mount Meru, Shira Ridge and Mount Kilimanjaro. The route proceeds to Lava Tower and descends towards Barranco Wall via the Southern Circuit. It summits at Barafu and descends through the Mweka route.  Hilbas Tours recommends 6 or 7 days on this route, but 7 days are preferable for better acclimatization

ITINERARY

Elevation: 1800m/5940ft to 2900m/9570ft Distance: 11 km Hiking time: 5-6 hours Vegetation Zone: Rainforest. The drive will pick you up up from Hotel to Machame Gate which will take 45 minutes. Here you will pass through villages located on the lower slopes of the Mountain.

Elevation: 2900m/9870ft to 3750m/12375ft Distance: 5 km Hiking time: 4-6 hours Vegetation Zone: Moorland This is the shortest day. After breakfast, the route continues on up through a steep rocky ridge with wide views of the Shira Plateau, Kibo peak, and Mt. Meru as she floats among the cloud.

Elevation: 3750m/12375ft to 3900m/12870ft Distance: 10 km Hiking time: 6-7 hours Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert The morning begins with a long crossing of the plateau as we head east toward Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower. This will take 3-4 hours to reach Lava Tower (4600m/15180ft) Packed lunches or Hot lunches are served at the Tower, this is a very important area for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day. After that, we now continue down to the Barranco Camp which we take 2 hours, here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight

Elevation: 3900m/12870ft to 3930m/1269ft Distance: 6 km Hiking time: 3-4 hours Vegetation Zone: Moorland The day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine, and then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall to the top, here you will have a view of Heim Glacier, some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley to your night.

Elevation: 3930m/12969ft to 4670m/15411ft Distance: 4 km Hiking time: 3-4 hours Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert After a good breakfast, we start our walk to Barafu camp, across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around, steep walk to Barafu. After a hot lunch at the camp, the remainder of the day is spent resting as we prepare for the final ascent before an early night summit walk. The Camp usually offers stunning views of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.

Elevation: 4670m/15411ft- 5895m/19453ft to 3100m/10230ft Distance: 19 km Hiking time: 15 hours Vegetation: Alpine Desert/Arctic to Moorland This is your special day when your dream comes true, your guide will wake you around 23:00 for tea and biscuits, Summit will begin through a steep over loose volcanic scree with some well-graded switchbacks and a slow but steady pace will lead us towards Stella Point on the crater rim (5696m/18800ft) for about 5 to 6 hours. After a short rest, you will continue hiking for about 1 hour to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Here you will have a short time to take photographs around the summit. The Barafu campsite descent is fast. After lunch, we proceed to descend through the moorland to reach the final Mweka Campsite for dinner and overnight for the last day on the mountain.

Elevation: 3100m/10230ft to 1700m/5610ft Distance: 10 km Hiking time: 3-4 hours Vegetation Zone: Rainforest This is another big day which your staff will sing and dance for you. After all, the descent will be on a well-maintained trail through the lovely rain forest with many birds, tall trees, flowers, and many interesting things. Our route will end at Mweka Gate which will require all hikers to sign out and receive certificates of completion. Driver from Hilbas tours will drive back Hotel, on the way back you will pass through coffee and banana farms around Mweka village.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Accommodation
Location Nights Type Property Name Rating Occupancy
Machame Camp 1 Camping Select One Select One
Shira Camp 1 Camping Select One Select One
Baranco 1 Camping Select One Select One
Karanga Camp 1 Camping Select One Select One
Barafu Camp 1 Camping Select One Select One
Mweka Camp 1 Camping Select One Select One
Standard twin-sharing (double beds in one room) in a three-star hotel (Moshi town) before and after the expedition; these hotels provide everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Pickup & Drop-Off
  • Airport Transfer
  • Hotel
Guide

Professional / Experienced English-speaking Mountain guides licensed by –Kilimanjaro National Park. All our guides hold Wilderness First Aid certifications.

Meals
  • Halal
  • Jain
  • Kosher
  • Meat
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

3 standard meals a day on the mountain (breakfast, lunch & dinner). All drinks on the hike (Coffee, tea, Milo tea, water, etc)

Transport
  • Van

– Pick-up at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Transfer to a hotel in Moshi/Arusha and back to the airport.

-Transfer to the trailhead – entry gate to Kilimanjaro National Park;

– Pick up at the exit from Kilimanjaro National Park and transfer to the hotel in Moshi/Arusha.

Extra Services
Other Included

Transport:

– Pick-up at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Transfer to a hotel in Moshi/Arusha and back to the airport.

-Transfer to the trailhead – entry gate to Kilimanjaro National Park;

– Pick up at the exit from Kilimanjaro National Park and transfer to the hotel in Moshi/Arusha.

Accommodation:

Three-star hotel rooms (Moshi town) before and after the climb; The hotels have everything you need for your comfort.

Sharing tent accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Please note:

All accommodation is shared (i.e. you will share a twin/double room in the hotel and a tent during the hike with your travel companion).

If you travel alone, we will match you with a same-sex adventurer).

Entry fees and salaries

-All park fees collected by the Kilimanjaro National Park, -Camping fees, Vehicle fees, Rescue fees, and all Government taxes.

-Guides, porters, waiters, cook’s accommodation, Entry fees on the mountain and Salaries

Climbing crew:

-Professional / Experienced English-speaking Mountain guides, licensed by –Kilimanjaro National Park.

-All our guides hold Wilderness First Aid certifications.

-Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp masters, porters, cooks, etc.).

Meals:

– Breakfast in the hotel before and after the hike;

-3 standard meals a day on the mountain (breakfast, lunch & dinner).

-All drinks on the hike (Coffee, tea, Milo tea, water, etc).

Hiking and safety equipment:

-All group equipment (spacious and comfortable dining tent, camping table and chairs, crockery and cutlery);

-Oxygen cylinders and Oximeters;

– Medical kits

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

  • Flights
  • Insurance

Other Excluded:

Airline tickets;

Visa fee, passport, vaccinations, and medicines.

Flying Doctors;

Lunch and dinner at the hotel (before and after the ascent);

Personal gear rentals;

Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, souvenir money)

Tips for crews 

Additional Notes:

If you have booked your climb through an agent that gives you different tip information, please tip according to the agent’s information.

Covid Safety

Wearing masks. 

All vehicles are sanitised.

Gear/equipment sanitized between use

Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Availability