Change Language
EnglishFrenchGermanSpanish

Machame Route 7 Days Kilimanjaro Trek

Start Planing Your Adventure

Ready to plan a tailor-made safari in Tanzania?. Enquire now and a Travel Expert will get back to you within 24 hours.

Tour Duration

7 Days

Group Size

Unlimitted

Tour Starts / Ends

Moshi

Tour Type

Private

Tour Overview

The Machame route is also known as the Whiskey route, given its reputation for being a tough climb, in contrast to the easier Marangu route, which is known as the Coca Cola route. Unlike the gradual incline and hut accomodations found on the Marangu Route, the climbers on Machame hike steeper trails, for longer distances, while sleeping in tents.The Machame Route climb can be done in a minimum of six days on the mountain. However, it is most often tackled over seven days, for a better altitude acclimatization schedule. The trek begins at Machame Gate, located in the southern base of mountain, within its lush, fertile rain forest. The route heads toward the Shira Plateau, before circling along the southern circuit halfway around the mountain, exposing the climber to great views from all angles. The approach to the summit is made from the east, and the descent follows the Mweka trail.

Is This Trip for Me?

Yes ! This tour is designed for anyone, you can book this tours as solo traveler, couple & also Kili Africa Tours offers this tour to small & large groups who are willing to travel together. Do not hesitate to contact us and our specialist will be ready to help you plan your holiday to Africa.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Machame Gate (1790m) to Machame Camp (3010m)

One hour’s drive from Moshi to Machame gate, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot.

Day 2: Machame Camp (3010m) to Shira Camp (3845m)

Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance.

Day 3: Shira Cave (3845m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)

Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

Day 5: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.

Day 6: Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)

We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.

Day 7: Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

A gentle trek takes us down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome hot shower.

Interested ? Book this Tour with Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you arrange airport transfers?

Airport transfers are not included in the price of this tour, however you can book for an arrival transfer in advance. Our representative will be at the airport to greet you. To arrange this please contact our customer service team once you have a confirmed booking.

How much weight of equipment will I carry?

You are expected to carry your own day pack, with only things which should be able to sustain you until you reach the next camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your personal backpack/ duffel pack - It will be carried by our porters.

What if I am slower than the other trekkers?

No worries about that - this is a common concern. It is much better for your body if you proceed slowly and guides will permanently remind you about this (“pole-pole” - which means “slowly slowly”). By walking slowly, your body will much better acclimatize to high altitude. There is plenty of time allocated each day for the treks, even for those who like to go very slowly.

What if I cannot make it to the top?

Some climbers may fall short of reaching the summit, but not at the expense of their overall experience. Even for those who never reached the top, the experience of the wonders of Kilimanjaro is very rewarding. If one or more members of the group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted to the most convenient campsite or Hut. Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.

What is the accommodation like during trekking?

On the Marangu Route, there are simple basic Huts. The first 2 Huts sleep four people each and the last Hut is a dome-style with bunk beds. On all the other routes, you will sleep in 3 dome-style Tents, two people each. The Tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules keep equipment from the elements. They are set up, broken down and carried- along with everything else- by our porters. There are public toilets set up at every campsite, but portable toilets are available upon request at the cost of $ 100 per group for the whole tour. Hot water is provided for each person every morning but No showers during trek There will be dining tents with chairs and tables where all meals will be served. Before any meal, we will provide soap and hot water for washing your hands.

What is the food like on the mountain?

For each trek on the Mount a dedicated cook will be part of the logistical team. They are professional chefs and have the ability to prepare different kinds of dishes. Please see a sample page for Dietary Menu.

What if I get sick up the mountain?

You shouldn't worry- You are in safe hands. Our guides are professionally trained to handle all sorts of distress and respond quickly and accordingly. They all have Wilderness First Aid Responder qualification and they will all time bring you to safety. They will directly call for an emergency evacuation if the situation worsens.

When and where does the tour start?

The tours are scheduled to start in Moshi, departing on Daily basis. However, circumstances like clients’ arrival time, activities to be done and client’s preference could affect the program. Our company is flexible for such arrangements and adjustments. Normally the program starts around 7:30 AM

When and where does the tour End?

The tours are scheduled to End in Moshi. You may also wish to be dropped outside Moshi at an extra cost depending on the place of drop off. However, our travel specialists will need to know your specific drop-off point prior to the hike to get aligned with the program

  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • 2 Nights’ accommodation in Moshi is or Arusha included
  • All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
  • Professional, experienced, mountain guides
  • Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
  • Quality, waterproof, four seasons private mountain sleeping tents
  • Sleeping Mattress
  • All meals while on the mountain
  • Quality mess tents with table and chairs
  • Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
  • Clean purified drinking water
  • Kilimanjaro National Park Entrance fees
  • All Government taxes and levies including 18% VAT.
  • International or Local Flights
  • Optional activities
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Visa fees
  • Tips
  • Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
  • Travel insurance
Words From Our Happy Clients
Bogdana C
Bogdana C
2022-08-20
Kili Africa Tours rules Everything was excellent with our Climbing Kilimanjaro trip thanks to Kili Africa Tours agency, especially thanks to my two Summit guides that supported me on the last night trying to get to the Roof of Africa. Without them I would not have got to the top. I will always remember Abuu words “it’s too soon to quit” and Enock’s and Abuu’s help. They kept me safe all the way up. The determination they had made me reach the top and become a stronger woman. I cannot praise them and the entire team highly enough. Jackline, Jamal, Innocent Abuu and Enoch: thank you for your support. Also our cook Godson! They all kept us informed and guided us each and every moment very professionally and responsibly, having good times along the way. Also Seif, keep up the good work and make people from all over the world happy by reaching Uhuru Peak 5895 m! Kili Africa Tours rules!
Cosmin I
Cosmin I
2022-08-14
Excellent hiking experience with Kili team Kili Africa Tours was recommended to me by a good friend , back in December last year. Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa, was always in my plans, but never closed to reality.. Doing some early planning and cash advance for early booking of hotels and some basic stuff was done by Seif in a transparent and very professional manner. So there I was on a very early morning on JRO international airport meeting the guy in lead and part of his great team. Next we were introduced to the guides meant to show us unbelievable beautiful trails in a incredible landscape , making this mountain unique in the world . Besides the guides was a really professional cook. Porters were very friendly. However be ready for extra tips because of national park regulations many more are hired. For 7 tourists they allocated 28 porters. Expedition itself took 8 days , ascension started on Machame route from Machame Gate to Machame camp crossing a deep and misty jungle. Next days we d into moon desert like landscape at around 4000 m for a good acclimatization.Mountain hardware tents made cool nights to be felt warmly. A mobile shower and toilettes units made our life much easier than expected :) For summit we waked up around midnight and started hiking around 1300 m ascent trail. There were strong winds blowing with about 60 70kmph from time to time, resulting in a real feel around -15C. As all of us reached the summit, some of us with a generous help from our guides, we descended happily to Milenium camp following Mweka route. All in all was a very pleasant and and unique experience offered by the Kili Africa Tours which I gladly recommend to all who want to climb Kilimanjaro.
Mario G
Mario G
2022-08-10
Unvergessliche Reise Wir waren im Juni gemeinsam mit Kili Africa Tours / Ontime Safaris am Kilimanjaro sowie auf einer Safari in Tansania unterwegs und es waren wirklich unvergessliche Erlebnisse! Es war die ganze Reise perfekt organisiert, angefangen von den Transfers, über die Unterkünfte bis hin zur unglaublichen Verpflegung von Chefkoch Anton am Kilimanjaro. Wir sind einfach begeistert wie freundlich und zuvorkommend das ganze Team rund um Seif und Honest ist und wie reibungslos und professionell unser Abenteuer begleitet wurde. Wir können Kili Africa Tours / Ontime Safaris nur empfehlen und würden unsere nächste „Once in a lifetime experience“ definitiv wieder mit ihnen buchen!
Elena G
Elena G
2022-08-04
Arriving in Tanzania We organized our stay in Safari and in Arusha with them including the drive to the hotel. They were very professional and punctual.
Mathilde G
Mathilde G
2022-07-29
AMAZING La meilleure expérience de ma vie, grâce à la meilleure de toutes les compagnies !!! Kili Africa, une team devenue une réelle famille. One team One dream❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Tommy P
Tommy P
2022-07-28
10 out of 10 would do it again The experience with Kili Africa Tours is genuinely life-changing. The family at Akili Tours brings you into theirs. Every person in the line-up is committed to your comfort and pleasurable experience with top-quality service. They hear your voice and deliver on every level. Go for it and hike Kilimanjaro, go on safari, take the coffee tour, and relax on the beach in Zanzibar to optimize your vacation in Tanzania. But don’t waste your time, cash, or effort booking with another agency. Kili Africa Tours is the gold standard. They welcome you with open arms and give you a warm hug when you leave. And you’re gonna miss them when you’re gone.
George D
George D
2022-07-25
Wonderful and unforgettable experience! I had an amazing experience. Both the Kilimanjaro climb and the 5-day safari have been great successes! Thanks to Rama, my wonderful guide for Kilimanjaro and his encouragements along the way, I managed to reach the top, although I was on the point of giving up several times due to the low oxygen concentration in the air, especially after 4800-5000 m. Onest, my safari guide made me have the time of my life diring the 5 day safari în Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngoro-Ngoro and Lake Manyara. His great experience and expertise în all aspects of animal life made me gain a lot of insight into this great part of Zanzibar nature.
Maia
Maia
2022-07-08
Unforgettable experience! Highly recommend Kili Africs Tours! Our expedition to Kilimanjaro was perfectly and professionally organised thanks to their kind and attentive crew of guides and porters. From the delicious food (vegan for myself) to the advice, guidance, and incredible support, everything was taken care of with great spirits, love and care to ensure our entire team summited and descended safely and strongly. Thanks so much Kili Africa for the unforgettable experience. Respect and love to the whole team!
Pamela G
Pamela G
2022-07-05
Best experiencia ever Climbing Kilimanjaro with Kiki Africa tours was the best experience I’ve ever had. The staff was amazing and very friendly. They helped us in every way and they were super careful!!! They were also very cheerful and lovely humble people. I would definitely repeat this experience again and again without a doubt. Everything was amazing!!!!
PhoenixBean
PhoenixBean
2022-07-03
Absolutely recommend! The trip was very professionally managed. The guides, porters and ALL staff were so very supportive and kind to our team. They went out of their way to make us feel motivated, secure, informed, well fed and even entertained during our trek. The entire crew came out to sing and cheer for us when they knew our team was struggling with various members being I'll and when the trek got challenging. It really felt like they were as invested in our efforts to Summitt as we were! The chef prepared amazing food all the way up and down the mountain... even a vegan diet for one team member. It was truly a remarkable experience with these people and I will forever respect and honour their efforts 🙏🏼 Very highly recommended
Play Video
Play Video
Similar Hiking & Climbing Tours You May Like

Tour Duration

7 Days

Tour Style

The Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct route. It is considered to be very difficult and is the

Tour Duration

6 Days

Tour Style

The Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct route. It is considered to be very difficult and it is

Tour Duration

6 Days

Tour Style

Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro It is the oldest, most

Tour Duration

5 Days

Tour Style

Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro It is the oldest, most
Why Travel With Kili Africa Tours
TravelWithHeart

Responsible Travel

We have been making a difference for 10 years thanks to you, our guests!

Airstrip

Flexibility

We provide both flexibility and security with our flexible COVID-19 Terms & Conditions

Philanthropy

In our hands

You will have access to our unique Global Concierge service 24/7 while travelling

TravelExperts

Travel Experts

Our Travel Specialists never send a guest anywhere they haven’t been themselves

Guide_02

Finest Guides

Finest interpretive experience from our incredible private and specialist guides

Ready to plan your tour?