Kilimanjaro Machame Route – 6 Hiking Days 7 Nights

Conquer Yourself On The Roof Of Africa

Kilimanjaro Machame route is, arguably, the most scenic and most beautiful route of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.  The trek begins on the southwestern side of the mountain at the Machame Gate and descends down the Mweka route in the South East, thus offering climbers the most varied scenery. Additionally, the Machame route takes you through stunning sights such as Shira Plateau, Baranco Wall, and Lava Tower.

Machame route is known as the “Whiskey Route” in comparison to the Marangu route (“Coca-Cola Route”) because it is considered a more difficult route, and trekkers sleep in camping tents—as opposed to mountain huts. This also makes it the second most popular route.

Kilimanjaro Machame route is ideal for those who want a more intense experience, and are confident in their abilities to hike for long periods of time over somewhat steep terrain. The route takes a minimum of six days to complete. The descent is down Mweka, on the southeastern side of the mountain.

 

 

Note: The Kilimanjaro summit push and subsequent descent is a highly physically and mentally exerting hike. The high elevation gain, coupled with inadequate sleep, low oxygen, and harsh weather, immensely impacts your performance. For this reason, we require pre-qualification through high-altitude endurance training. See pre-qualification requirements.

 

KILIMANJARO MACHAME ROUTE 8 DAYS SUMMARY

Commute Day 1: Nairobi – Moshi (Overnight stay in hotel)

Hiking Day 1: Moshi – Machame Gate (1800m) – Machame Camp (2835m) – 11km

Day 2: Machame Camp (2835m) – Shira Cave Camp (3750m) – 5km

Day 3: Shira Cave Camp (3750m) – Lava Tower (4600m) –  Baranco (3900m) – 10km

Day 4: Baranco Camp (3900m) – Karanga Camp (3995m) – Barafu Camp (4673m) – 10km

Day 5: (Summit attempt – 5km) Barafu Camp (4673m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Barafu Camp (brief rest) – Mweka Camp (3100m) – 17km

Day 6: Mweka Camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1640m) – 10 km – Moshi (Overnight stay in hotel)

Commute Day 2: Moshi to Nairobi

2023 Dates: March 13 – 20, July 25 – August 1, November 28 – December 5

 

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Kilimanjaro Machame Route Itinerary

Day 1 – Commute Day: Nairobi – Moshi

We leave Nairobi at 6:30 a.m bound for Moshi, Tanzania, where we will meet our mountain guides for briefing and gear check. Thereafter, we shall have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.

Hiking Day 1: Machame Gate – Machame Hut (2835m ASL)

07h00: Pick up from the hotel and to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Machame for entry registration and then start the trek to Machame Camp through the thick rain forest.

We shall have packed lunch at a picnic site along the trail. At the camp, we shall freshen up, have dinner and retire for the day at Machame Camp.

Distance: 11km | Elevation Gain: 1,035m | Hiking Time: 5-7 hours | Terrain: Rain Forest | Difficulty: Moderate

 

Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira Cave Camp (3750m ASL)

After breakfast, we ascend through ridges and valleys heading to the next stop at Shira Cave Camp. We shall have packed lunch at a picnic site along the trail. Later on, after getting to the camp, we shall explore the Shira Plateau and caves and then introduce ourselves to the entire crew, sing, and dance, before retiring to our tents for the night.

Distance: 6km | Elevation Gain: 915m | Hiking Time: 4-6 hours | Terrain: Moorland | Difficulty: Moderate

 

Day 3 – Altitude Acclimatization Day: Shira Cave Camp – Baranco Camp (3900m ASL)

 

We head eastward to a junction where we continue to Lava Tower Camp (4600m), then descend to Baranco camp, thus allowing your body to adjust to altitude change. We shall have packed lunch at a picnic site along the trail.

Distance: 10km | Elevation Gain: 850m | Hiking Time: 6-8 hours | Terrain: Semi-desert | Difficulty: Moderate

 

Day 4 – Baranco camp – Barafu Camp (4673m ASL)

After breakfast, we hike the great Barranco Wall, by the Kissing Rock, upon Jiwe La Picha, then across the Karanga Valley, and up to Karanga Camp (3,995m) for lunch. Hot lunch will be served at the Karanga campsite. Thereafter in the afternoon, we shall continue to hike to the base camp, Barafu camp. Here, we shall have dinner and take the day’s rest, ready for the hike to the summit later.

Distance: 10km | Elevation Gain: 773m | Hiking Time: 8-10 hours | Terrain: Alpine desert | Difficulty: Strenuous

 

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Day 5 – Barafu Camp – Summit Attempt: Stella Point (5,750m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3,100m)

We arise and have a cup of coffee or black tea and start the midnight trek to the summit via Stella Point. We hope to reach the summit, Uhuru peak, at daybreak, celebrate our moment, have a short break, and then descend to Barafu camp for breakfast. We shall rest a little, have brunch, and then continue down to Mweka Camp for the last night’s rest.

Distance: 5km ascent and 12km descent | Maximum Elevation Gain: 1,222m | Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent & 4-6 hours descent | Terrain: Arctic | Difficulty: Strenuous

 

Day 6 – Mweka Camp – Moshi

We walk down to the Mweka Gate (1,640m) where we will bid the guides and porters farewell. We shall have packed lunch on the way to our hotel in Moshi. Thereafter, enjoy a leisurely afternoon and your celebratory dinner.

Congratulations on conquering yourself on the Roof of Africa!

Distance: 10 km | Hiking Time: 3-4 hours | Terrain: Rain Forest | Difficulty: Easy

 

Day 8: Commute Day 2 – Home Sweet Home!

 

Kilimanjaro Machame Route Charges

Kenyan & E.A Citizens: Ksh 80,000/=

Non-East African Citizens: Ksh 201,600/=

 

Note: While tipping is ordinarily a token of appreciation, generous tipping is customarily assumed mandatory in the Kilimanjaro culture. Please budget for Ksh 4,000 in tips at your Kilimanjaro expedition.

 

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Kilimanjaro Machame Route Itinerary Notes

Transport

We’ll travel together as a group from Nairobi in pre-procured public shuttle services. Departure is from Nairobi Riverside Shuttle Terminus opposite Jeevanjee Gardens on Monrovia Street, with drop off at the hotel in Moshi, Tanzania. Our premium hotels in Moshi are Keys and Mbugani.

 

Assistance

• You will be guided by our expert Kilimanjaro guides, who speak English and Swahili, and are familiar with the flora and fauna, culture, and geography of Tanzania.
• Our mountain climbing guides are knowledgeable on altitude-related sickness and are experienced in handling related incidents.
• The Outdoorer team accompanying you includes a skilled paramedic to administer basic first aid in case of injury or ailments.
• Oxygen tanks are provided depending on the group size to be used in case of altitude-sickness-related emergencies.
• You are required to procure an emergency air evacuation cover with AMREF ahead of travel and avail the same to us ahead of travel.
• Kilimanjaro National Park Rescue team has a VHS communication system to convey messages to all stations on the mountain and also provides wheeled stretchers for ground evacuation.
• Our guides use mobile phones to contact the offices throughout the climb.
• Regular porters are hired to carry your climbing gear and other supplies.
• Accommodation in hotels and tents is on a sharing basis (two people in a room, tent). Meals at the hotel are on Bed and Breakfast.

 

Included in the Price

• Transport from Nairobi and back.
• All meals while on the climb. 
• Mountain tent accommodation – 2 people sharing a large-sized tent.
• All park and camping fees + ground rescue fees, and oxygen cylinders for emergency cases.
• Guides’, porters’, and other crew’s remuneration.
• Services of a skilled mountain paramedic.
• 2 nights hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast before and after the expedition – 2 people sharing a room – own bed.

 

Not Included

• Items of personal nature, including clothes, shoes, sleeping bags, and rucksacks.
• Mandatory AMREF emergency evacuation cover – Register at https://flydoc.org/. Make sure your cover includes air evacuation in Tanzania.
• Tips to guides and porters (group tipping is recommended for fair distribution). 
• Lunch/dinner and drinks at the hotel.
• Anything else not indicated in the “Included in the Price” list. 

Click here for the Mountain Gear Checklist

 

 

Pay a booking confirmation deposit of Ksh 48,000/= at least 21 days before the event date to secure your slot.

Pay the balance no less than 48 hours before departure.

Mpesa Buy Goods till 989985

 

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• Completed the Outdoorer Rookie Program or Beginner to Mt. Kenya Program within the past year and undertook at least two preparatory hikes in the Roadmap to Kilimanjaro Program in the quarter preceding this expedition; or
• Are advanced hikers who satisfactorily completed at least two events in the Roadmap to Kilimanjaro Program in the quarter preceding this expedition.

 

• Passport or temporary permit
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate
• COVID-19 vaccination certificate

 

Cancellation and Refunds Policy

Outdoorer reserves the right of admission.

– Where cancellation is requested more than 10 days before the event date, a 50% refund on the booking confirmation deposit will be issued. Any excess above the booking confirmation deposit will be refunded in full.

– Where cancellation is requested between 10 days and 48 hours before the event date, the booking confirmation deposit will be forfeited. Any excess above the booking confirmation deposit will be refunded in full.

– Where cancellation is requested 48 hours or less before departure, no refund will be issued.

– No refunds will be issued where participation is denied due to non-compliance with the rules and regulations, safety guidelines, and/or the failure to comply with the minimum gear requirements.

– No-shows forfeit the entire amount paid up. 

– The booking confirmation deposit is non-transferable to a future event.

– The booking confirmation deposit is transferable to a different person at the same event.