The Machame Route, also called the “Whiskey Route,” is a popular and scenic path offering diverse landscapes from rainforest to alpine desert. This 6-day climb provides good acclimatization, increasing your chances of a successful summit. Hikers experience stunning vistas, rugged terrains, and the rewarding challenge of reaching Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak.
We pick you on arrive in Tanzania. Airport pick-up and transfer to our IBRAHIM GARDEN HOSTEL for the private room accommodation – Bed & Breakfast (Included) in Arusha city.
Morning after breakfast at 8:00am We drive to Machame Gate, trailhead, winding through coffee fields and small forests of ferns and flowers. After registering with the park service, we meet our porters and our climb begins on the edge of a rain forest (elevation 5,800 ft.). Below the watchful eyes of the monkeys, we trek six hours to the Machame Camp (10,000 ft.) and set camp for the dinner and overnight.
Climb Day 1 Start: Machame Gate 1,830 m/6,000 ft. End: Machame Camp 3,000 m/9,900 ft. Elevation gain: 1,200 m/3,900 ft. Time: 6 hours on average Distance: About 10 km/6 mile
Morning after breakfast, leave the Machame Camp, cross a small valley, and begin our ascent. The environment changes from heath forest to moor lands. These moor lands are littered with two species of giant groundsel, senecios and lobelia. Halfway up the trail we meet a river gorge and ascend across the Shira Plateau (12,300 ft.). We have dinner and overnight stay at Shira Camp.
Climb Day 2
Start: Machame Camp 3,000 m/9,900 ft.
End: Shira Camp 3,800 m/12,500 ft.
Elevation gain: 800 m/2,600 ft.
Time: 4–6 hours average
Distance: About 8 km/5 mile
Morning after breakfast, We climb up through Lava tower and over the Great Barranco, topping out at about 14,500 ft. before dropping to our camp at the Karanga river at about 13,000 ft. This completes another day of acclimatization as we pass below the famous Breach Wall, the largest ice and rock face in Africa. Daytime temperatures can reach 80 degrees F, while evening temperatures often drop below freezing. Dinner and overnight stay at Karanga Valley Camp.
Climb Day 3
Start: Karanga Valley Camp 3,900 m
End: Karanga Valley 4,055 m/13,300 ft.
Elevation gain: 400 m/1,300 ft.
Elevation loss: 300 m/1,000 ft.
Time: 4–5 hours average
Distance: About 5 km/3 miles
After breakfast, from the Karanga River we climb about six hours to our High Camp at Upper Barafu Camp (15,600 ft.). As we wind through beautiful and rarely traveled regions, we enter a high desert plateau, littered with volcanic boulders. Looking south, we view the desert plains as the pinnacles of Mawenzi Peak tower before us. At Upper Barafu, we prepare for the summit attempt. We spend our time packing and preparing for the early morning, 2 a.m. departure. Dinner and overnight stay at Barafu Camp.
Climb Day 4
Start: Karanga Valley 4,055 m/13,300 ft.
End: Upper Barafu Camp 4,815m/15,800 ft.
Elevation gain: 700 m/2,300 ft.
Time: 5 hours
Distance: About 5 km/3 miles
Summit day! Awake at 11 p.m. for a light meal and midnight departure. We climb wearing headlamps until the predawn light is reflected off the African plains. Following a distinct ridge, we approach the crater’s rim, then traverse northwest along the rim to the main summit, Uhuru Peak (19,344 ft.). From here we view the Bismarck Towers, rock pinnacles along the rim, the vast crater floor, the tiny Furtwängler Glacier, the ash pit, and the large northern ice cap. We then descend back to High Camp for a short rest and lunch before packing up and continuing down to our last camp on the mountain — Millennium Camp — at 12,250 ft. Based on the team’s ability, we may continue to descend to Mweka Camp, at 10,000ft. Dinner and overnight stay at MWEKA CAMP.
Summit day average times:
Upper Barafu - Summit: 8 hours
Summit - Upper Barafu: 3 hours
Upper Barafu - Millennium: 3 hours
High Camp to Summit
Start: Upper Barafu Camp 4,815 m/15,800 ft.
Summit: Uhuru Peak 5,895 m/19,344 ft.
Elevation gain: 1,080 m/3,544 ft.
Time: 9–11 hours average return to Upper Barafu
The sunrise is exquisite as we awaken at 5 a.m. below the towering mountain, then breakfast and we descending through the lush green landscape of the Mweka route into the thickest jungle we have yet encountered. The environment becomes primordial, with 20-ft. fern trees creating a prehistoric atmosphere. After reaching the Mweka Gate, we enjoy a festive celebration with our crew, followed by a hot buffet lunch. Our two-hour return drive to Arusha has us back in time for showers, and to enjoy a celebratory dinner together.
Day 6
Start: Millennium Camp 3,733 m/12,250 ft.
End: Mweka Gate 1,800 m/5,580 ft.
Elevation loss: 2,033 m/6,670 ft.
Time: 5 hours average
Distance: About 13.5 km/8.4 miles
