from $1999.00
Tour Map

Tour style – Active & Adrenaline, Wildlife & Nature

8 days

Possibly the most scenic route to the summit, Machame boasts different paths to the summit and back. Emerge onto high alpine deserts with amazing views of ice fields, all en route to Uhuru, peak of Mt Kilimanjaro! Known as the ‘Whiskey Route’, this path leads you through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through moorland to the Shira Plateau. It offers great scenery beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Icefields before summiting from the higher Barafu Camp. Camp along the route with support from local guides and porters. As a world leader in Kili treks, we’ll take you to new heights in adventure!

  • Day 1 Arrive Moshi

    Arrive in Moshi and make your way to the hotel. Attend a pre-departure meeting with your guide scheduled for the evening.

    Table of Contents

  • Day 2 Machame Gate to Machame Camp (B,L,D)

    Hiking Time: 6-7 hrs Total Distance: 18km Starting Altitude: 1490m Final Altitude: 2980m Habitat: Montane (rain) Forest After breakfast, we drive approximately 1 hour drive to the village of Machame. Depending on the condition of the road, it may be possible to drive 3km further from the village to the Machame gate of the Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park (1815m). After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the lush rain forest. Here, you will listen to the sounds of many exotic birds, and may even see monkeys such as the black & white colobus – these monkeys are black with a long ‘cape’ of white hair and a flowing white tail. Most of today’s day is spent in the gorgeous and fascinating forested slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, most of which is considered to be rainforest zone. It is very possible that we will see some rain today, or that at least the trail will be moist and soggy, and possibly muddy. We cover a lot of distance today, though the gradient is gradual. We climb the lower slopes of the mountain, ending at the Machame Campsite, just beyond the rain forest and within the fascinating heath-land.

  • Day 3 Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp (B,L,D)

    Hiking Time: 6-7 hrs Total Distance: 9km Starting Altitude: 2980m Final Altitude: 3840m Habitat: Moorland Rise early and climb steeply through the heath land of savannah, and trees such as Giant Heather and Erica. You will reach a gentler ascent through the lower alpine moorland, which is notable for beautiful wild alpine flowers and the unique giant lobelia and giant groundsel (senecio kilimanjari) plants. If its a clear day, you will have direct views of Kibo, the peak and ultimate goal of your adventure. After a short lunch and rest, traverse across the Shira plateau west towards a river gorge, and finally you will reach the Shira campsite. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

  • Day 4 Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp (B,L,D)

    Hiking Time: 7-8 hrs Total Distance: 15km Starting Altitude: 3840m Final Altitude: 3950m (via 4630m) Habitat: Montane Semi-Desert Today we turn east and continue to climb “pole pole” (slowly, slowly) through increasingly rocky and barren terrain. We have lunch and ascend the rocky scree path to the Lava Tower (4630m). The trek now starts to become more difficult, as the trail steepens, and most hikers start to feel the affects of the altitude, such as weakness and lack of breathe. From the Lava Tower, we descend steeply for 2 hours down more than 600m into the Great Barranco Valley. This descent affords fantastic views and some great photo opportunities of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. You will also feel here the clear benefits of this acclimatization day as we lose altitude down to the camp. Barranco Camp is set on a col (flat area) enclosed on three sides by the Breach Walls, and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels, and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. This is definitely the toughest day so far, but incredibly beautiful.

  • Day 5 Barranco camp to Barafu camp (B,L,D)

    Hiking Time: 7-8 hrs Total Distance: 13km Starting Altitude: 3950m Final Altitude: 4550m Habitat: Alpine Desert Today we tackle the Great Barranco Wall – an imposing face above your camp. A steady climb up the eastern wall takes us just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some awesome views of Kilimanjaro. Our trail continues down into the Karanga Valley, and then joins up with the Mweka route – our descent trail. In this valley, your porters will stop to collect water, as there will be none further up. Here the temperature will grow colder as we follow the trail climbing through this empty and dry landscape up to Barafu Camp. 
The two peaks Kibo and Mawenzi can been seen from our camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice”, and the camping area is on a ridge in an narrow and exposed flat area. Here there are ever-present gale winds that come off the mountain peaks. In preparation for your final ascent the same night, you will familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark, and prepare your equipment and thermal clothing for the summit attempt. Sleep may be difficult, but you will lie down after dinner to rest for the 1345m final ascent.

  • Day 6 Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp (B,L,D)

    Hiking Time: 7 hrs to summit, 7-8hrs descent Total Distance: 7km to summit, 23km descent Starting Altitude: 4550m Summit Altitude: 5895m – Uhuru Peak Final Altitude: 3100m Habitat: Stone Scree, ice capped summit, Alpine desert Today you will be woken at approximately in time to leave camp by around 12am, and after a warm drink and a light snack, you will begin the most difficult though most rewarding day of the trek – your hike up to the top of Africa. Climbing through the dark, you will ascend northwest on rough scree passing between the Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers. After approximately 6 hours of slow but strenuous hiking, you will reach the rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5685m. It is here where you will be rewarded with a breath-taking sunrise (weather permitting), which we enjoy while taking a short rest. From Stella Point the trail is normally snow-covered, and every step of the 3 hour ascent to Uhuru peak is challenging. At 5895m, Uhuru, which means “freedom” in Swahili, is the highest point in Africa. Take a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment, as this is day to remember for the rest of your life! The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions; the temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight, to between -12 C to -23 C just before dawn. We start back down the same trail, and descend back to Barafu camp. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear. We then head down the rock and scree path into the moorland zone, reaching the forest, and eventually arriving at Mweka hut in the late afternoon. Today is the longest, and the most mentally and physically challenging of the trek. But a day that will stay with you forever, as you conquered the heights of Kilimanjaro.

  • Day 7 Descent – Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi (B,L,D)

    Hiking Time: 4-5 hrs Total Distance: 12km Starting Altitude: 3100m Final Altitude: 1980m Habitat: Montane Rain Forest At a much lower altitude than the last few mornings, today you will wake up full of oxygen and ready to descend the short hike to the Mweka Gate. Enjoy the forest on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and upon arrival at the Mweka gate, successful hikers will receive their summit certificates (gold for Uhuru Peale, Green for Stella point). From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village for lunch, normally a muddy 1 hour hike. Upon arrival to Moshi in the afternoon, relax, or have that much-deserved shower and congratulatory beverage.

  • Day 8 Depart Moshi (B)

    Today is departure day, and you are free to leave at any time.

Similar Posts