To the roof of Africa on the Machame Route - don't forget to pack the whiskey!
The Machame is the second most popular route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. And is also often referred to as the whiskey route, as you may be able to use a little refreshment in between. Your path begins at Machame Gate at an altitude of 1790 m and takes you via Machame, Shira and Barranco Camp over the Barranco Wall up to Karanga Camp. We have planned an acclimatization day for you so that your body can get used to the altitude before you head to the last stages of Barafu Camp and of course the highlight - Uhuru Peak. Experience a breathtaking sunrise at the highest point in Africa and then start your 2-day return journey.
So pack your whiskey and off you go to Uhuru Peak!
| Country | Tanzania |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Fullboard |
| Minimum number of participants | 2 person |
Arrival
Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport. There you issue your visa (50 US per person - or 100 US for US-Citizens), get your luggage and go through customs. Our driver will wait for you and transfers you to Arusha. Driving time 1 hour. Briefing for the Kilimanjaro Trekking with the guide. Dinner and overnight at Planet Lodge.
Start Machame Route at Machame Gate (1790m) – Machame Camp (3010m)
Ascent in the rainforest zone
Walking time: 6-7 hours for 9 kilometers with an altitude difference of 1220m
On the first day of your Kilimanjaro climb you will be picked up after breakfast from your hotel and transferred to Machame Gate. From Arusha, the journey takes about 2 hours. On the way you get a first glimpse of Tanzanian life. Just after the village Weru Weru you leave the main road and make your way on a small mountain road, past banana plantations to the gate. There all the paperwork is done and your luggage will be distributed to the porters. Once registered in the official book of TANAPA you can finally start climbing. You will walk the first meters on the way to the first camp on a well-developed forest road. The rain forest is responsible for the wet and humid climate. Right and left of the road you will find the Kilimanjaro Bright red giant ferns and impatiens. On the way enjoy your picnic lunch. Strengthened you will continue your way after lunch. The path gets narrower and steeper winding through the jungle, past the gargantuan trees and ferns. After another hour, the landscape is slowly changing. You enter the moorland zone. After 6 hours of climbing to reach the Machame Camp at an altitude of 3010m. The porters have already built your tent and welcome you with tea and biscuits. After resting, get a briefing for the next day and enjoy a tasty dinner. With luck, you will experience a beautiful sunset and see the first snow-capped peak of Kibo.
Machame Camp (3010m) - Shira Camp (3845m)
Ascent in heath - moorland
Walking time: 4-6 hours for 7 kilometers with an altitude difference of 835m
On this day you have only a short stage. Wake up with the first rays of sun to start your day with a good breakfast.
Enjoy an incredible view of the summit of Kilimanjaro and start to walk towards Shira Camp. The route begins in the moorland zone. At an altitude of 3200 meters large rock formations obstruct the now only 50 cm wide path. After passing those rocks you will be rewarded with a magnificent view over the Machame Camp and down to Machame Village. The air is already much thinner and the lunch break is held at an altitude of 3400 meters. After lunch you have the most difficult part of today's stage. The vegetation is decreasing and the black lava sand is increasing. Again and again, it goes up and down, past the small mountain streams to rocky walls and deep ravines. At an altitude of 3700 meters, the landscape changes again. The Shira Camp is situated at an altitude of 3845 meters in the middle of the Shira Plateau. If you are still fit, ask your guide to go with you to the Shira Cathedral and the Needle and the Shira-Hill. The view of Mount Meru, among other things is more than worthwhile. The rest of the evening is as the previous day.
Shira Camp (3845m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)
Ascend in Moorland / alpine desert
Walking time: about 6-7 hours for 10 kilometers with an altitude difference of 700m up and 600m down
Use this day for acclimatization. During the ascend and descent past the LavaTower you do a total of about 1300 meters, but you will only sleep 100 meters higher than the previous day.
After breakfast you start your 3rd stage. First trek south of the Shira / Lemosho route. The path runs through a black lava desert past millions of heavy rocks. Some of them remind us of cairns. The route is well passable. On Lavatower at an altitude of 4430 meters you have reached your altitude goal for today. It is very quiet up here, so you can hear your own heartbeat and the wind in your ears. During the lunch break you can glimpse the snowline above the Lavatower and the temperatures are very close to freezing point. After lunch break move on to Barranco Valley. The path runs along the mountain range over the Kibo Circuit.
Slowly the stonedesert disappears and along the way you find again the typical giants cross herbs, as well as heath and moorland. After about 7 hours you reach your destination.
From the Barranco Camp you can see the Great Barranco Wall, the Western Breach of Kibo, the window and the south glacier. In the evening sun occurres a wonderful play of colors. The evening is similar to the evening of yesterday.
Barranco Camp (3960m) - Karanga Camp (4250m)
Ascent in the alpine desert
Walking time: approx. 3-4 hours for 6 kilometers with an altitude difference of 290m
After breakfast, the first big challenge awaits you. You have to climb the Great Barranco Wall. To avoid a traffic jam when climbing the wall it is particularly advisable to start early on this day. Also you have the chance to get a little more sleep before heading to the summit at night. You need about 1 to 1.5 hours to climb the Great Barranco Wall. Behind there is a barren and stony plateau waiting for you.
Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Kibo and the 3 south glaciers. The path continues over gravel and sand through the rocky high moor. Again and again you pass streams, stone meadows and giant cruciferous herbs.
After 2-3 hours you will reach the Karanga Camp at an altitude of 4250 meters. While you climb hill after hill, you have a good view of the route that is still ahead. Once at the top, you will have your lunch. Use the rest of the day to rest and enjoy the good view of the ice slopes of the Rebmann Glacier.
Karanga Camp (4250m) - Barafu Camp (4640m)
Ascent in the alpine desert
Walking time: approx. 3-4 hours for 4 kilometers with an altitude difference of 390m
After breakfast you will make your way up to Barafu Camp (4640m). The initially existing moorland is slowly disappearing and the landscape becomes more rocky. Rubble and stones dominate the landscape. The Barafu Camp poses a special challenge for the entire crew. There are hardly any flat surfaces and so the tents have to be fixed between the debris. The rest of the day is free and you will having a nice dinner before you go to bed as early as possible to get as much sleep as possible for the upcoming summit night.
Summit Day: Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)
Night ascend to the summit and then descend to Mweka Camp
Time: about 14 - 16 hours for 19 kilometers with an altitude difference of 1255m up and 2815m down.
After a short night wake up at midnight and take a small snack and then start for the final part of your ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. Together with your guide you will step into the freezing cold and silent night. Step by step the path leads steeply up and over boulders to reach the crater rim after 5-6 hours, and thus the Stella Point, at an altitude of 5740m. From here there are only 150 meters left to reach your gaol. Accompanied by the first rays of the day you pass the Rebmann Glacier and move to the Hans Meyer Point. During sunrise occurs an amazing play of light across the ice formations. Soon you can see the summit sign of Mount Kilimanjaro and then you have actually done it. Congratulations you have reached the highest point of Africa. At an altitude of 5895 meters, you will be rewarded with a fabulous view of the hardships and you can proudly make the typical summit picture. After a short break, the descent is made along the crater rim back to Stella Point and further down to the Rebmann Glacier. The descent is via the same route as the ascent back to Barafu Camp. There, a hot lunch is waiting for you. After that you will go further down to Mweka Camp. The vegetation is of increasing interest and in the late afternoon you will reach your camp. The rest of the day is to relax and gather strength.
Descend: Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka-Gate (1680m) - Arusha
Descent through moorland and rain forest
Walking time: 3-4 hours for 10 kilometers with an altitude difference of 1400m
Your last day of the Kilimanjaro climb begins with a good breakfast. There is one last souvenir photo of the whole team before your way towards Mweka Gate continues. The route is a well-developed forest road and in the second half it is mainly characterized by rain forest. After 10 kilometers you will reach the Mweka Gate. Your driver is already there waiting for you and transfers you back to your hotel. At the end of the tour your guide will present to you a more than earned certificate for your Kilimanjaro climb. Dinner and overnight at Planet Lodge
Departure / onward travel or further program
Today we will be happy to transfer you on time on the airport or bus station. We will be also happy to make you an offer for a safari or beach holiday on Zanzibar. Ask us!
The Planet Lodge is located about 5km outside Arusha's city center. The rooms are built as bungalows and offer pleasant comfort. The garden and the pool invite visitors to linger. It is about 1 hour to the Kilimanjaro Airport.
The snow-covered peak of the Kilimanjaro is one of the most impressive sights of Africa. At the border of Kenya and Tanzania, the mountain rises up to 5896 m above sea level. It is one of the highest volcanoes in the world, the highest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain on Earth. In Kilimanjaro National Park, the Kilimanjaro shows up from the vast plains of Tanzania and features tropical rain forests, fields of glacial ice, swamps and mystic moon landscapes. Accept the big challenge of ascending this majestic mountain, discover the lush foothills, enjoy the breath-taking views.
Transfers
2x overnight with halfboard in Arusha
5 nights in tents on the mountain
English speaking guide, assistant guide, cook, porter (minimum 3 per Person)
Entry fee
Rescue fee
Camping fee
Sleeping bag
Insurance against our insolvency (only if you are booking through the German Office)
Flying Doctors Insurance - in case of an accident or a sudden sickness - the Flying Doctors will pick you from the next airstrip and bring you to Nairobi to a hospital. From there your international health insurance should take over the costs of the treatment.
Visa fee (50 US per person - 100 US if US citizen)
Drinks
Extra equipment
Things of personal need
International flight (we will be happy to send you an offer)
Tips - recommendation: 15-20 US per group per day for the main guide, 10-15 US per day per group for the assistant guide, 10-15 US per day per group for the cook and 5-10 US per porter per day - tips to be given at the end of the climbing.
