8 Days | Machame Route
Tour Highlights
Kilimanjaro Machame Route 8 Days, known as the “Whiskey” route, is a popular route to the mountain and the best route for climbing Kilimanjaro for charity. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper.
It is considered a difficult route, better suited for more adventurous folks, and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.Machame approaches from the southwest and descends using Mweka, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau.
Tour Summary
- Tour Duration 8 Days
- DestinationsShira Camp | Barranco | Karanga Valley | Barafu | Mweka Camp
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
MT. KILIAMANJARO NP
Barranco Camp
MT. KILIAMANJARO NP
Karanga Valley Camp
MT. KILIAMANJARO NP
Barafu Camp
Safari Itinerary
- Arusha – Machame Gate
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your Hotel in Arusha and drive for 1 hour to Machame gate (10,000 ft) for registration. Here you will meet the rest of the crew (Cooks and Porters) and we shall all prepare for the climb. We will start the climb through rain forest and the giant heathers for 6 hrs. until we reach our first overnight camp.
- Accommodation and meals: Machame Camp
- Shira Camp
This will be a short day but rather a steep rocky and dusty trail. It’s a slow hike with plenty of breaks and enough time to acclimatize. Most of the route is rather bare of vegetation providing little shade from heat.
- Accommodation and meals: Shira Camp
- Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft)
We will start climbing over boulders and very few rocks, then make our way to a steady uphill climb to Lava tower and there we stop for lunch around noon. For those interested, we may climb up the Lava tower, which is 14850ft (you may start to get a mild headache due to altitude change). From Lava tower we will go down for about 2 hrs through dusty and rocky trails to the Barranco Camp at 13000ft.
- Accommodation and meals: Barranco Camp
- Karanga Valley Camp (4,200m/13,780ft)
We start scrambling up the Barranco wall for an hour and half. As this is steep, you will be using your hands to reach and steady yourself like rock climbing, although not as challenging. At the top of the wall you can see the Barranco valley and the campsite you spent at the night before. You will walk up and down the greener valley, which is the last water point to the mountain.
- Accommodation and meals: Karanga Valley Camp
- Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)
This will be a short but steep uphill climb across barren landscape with lots of boulders and shattered rocks. You will see the decken glaciers on your left. We will keep going through a very steep ridge until we reach a rocky section for more scrambling, which will last for about an 1.5 hrs. Our next camp will be on large rocks with very steep cliff faces. We will cap off the night early as we need to wake up at 11:00 pm for the summit.
- Accommodation and meals: Barafu Camp
- Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp
We will start the climb at around midnight. We will start with very steep rocks for 1 hour and enter a snow-covered area where you can see glaciers above. If it’s a moonlit night, you may turn off your headlamp and continue a moon lit guided walk; indeed, a wonderful experience. The next 2 hours is headed towards Stella Point and we will take a break every 15 minutes as the climb gets more mentally and physically challenging.
Afterwards, we will make our way to Stella Point where the Lava fields are like loose sand. It’s a rather enjoyable and frustrating experience because you will take a step up and slide back gaining 0 distance and if you’re not careful, you will slide back 2 steps and gain negative 2 steps.
After breakfast, we will climb to Uhuru peak for 1 hr just as the sun appears over the Mawenzi peaks. We will be at Uhuru peak (19370ft) around 6-7 am. We will start our descent, which is steep and rigorous via Stella Point to Barafu Hut Camp.
- Accommodation and meals: Mweka Camp
- Mweka Camp – Arusha
We will pick you up from your accommodation in Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park with your picnic lunch boxes. One of the largest national parks in Tanzania located in the Manyara region, this park is known for the Tarangire River which flows all year round and the only source of water for wild animals during dry seasons.
- Accommodation and meals: Arusha Planet Lodge
INCLUSIONS
- Kilimanjaro park fee permits, camping fees,
- Fresh, nutritious meals on the mountain
- Expert guide, assistant guide, cook and porters
- Bottled Oxygen Cylinder and Pulse Oximeter for rescues only
- Hypobaric chamber (PAC)
- Comprehensive first aid kit
- Private portable private toilets only
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- 2 nights’ accommodation before and after the climb
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfers
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water on all days
- Camping equipment including mountaineering, mess and sleeping tents Four season, 3 people tent, double occupancy, sleeping mattress and pillow, hot water bottle during sleeping, table and chairs
- Baggage porterage
- Rescue Fee
EXCLUSIONS
- International flights (from/to home)
- Gratuities for the crew after the service
- Cigarettes
- Healthy evacuation insurance
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcohol drinks
- Laundry
- Climbing Gears
- Sleeping Bag
Tour Enquiry
Why Choose Northland Tanzania Safari
