Adventure seekers from all corners of the globe head to Tanzania with one goal: conquering Kilimanjaro. If you’re ready to tackle this adventure of a lifetime, it’s time to take the Machame Route to the Uhuru Peak—Africa’s highest point! On this epic 9-day trek, you’ll reach the summit at a breathtaking 19,341 feet. This journey also promises diverse landscapes every single day. Traverse five distinct climate zones, through lush Afromontane forests filled with birdsong, expansive high moorland, rugged desert zones, scree slopes, and majestic glaciers. Along the way, you’ll encounter remnants of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic past, like calderas and the imposing Lava Tower. So gear up and power through this 37-mile (62 km) trail, aiming for the Roof of Africa, Kilimanjaro’s crowning glory!
The Machame Route, also known as the Whiskey Route, is renowned for its stunning scenery and is considered one of the most picturesque climbing routes on Kilimanjaro. It boasts excellent acclimatization opportunities, surpassing all other routes, along with a spectacular ascent up the Barranco Wall. Additionally, you will be treated to breathtaking views of Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira peaks. However, it should be noted that the Machame Route is challenging and is best suited for experienced hikers who have allowed sufficient time for acclimatization, which is essential for successfully reaching the summit of Africa’s highest peak. Despite its challenging conditions, it’s a popular choice among climbers due to the high success rates.
After arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport, our driver will be there to pick you up and take you to your accommodation for the night. Once you’ve settled in and taken some time to relax, we’ll meet up for a briefing and to check mountain gear for the upcoming adventure. We highly recommend that you take a rest day upon arrival after the long flight. This will allow your body to recover and acclimatize properly, increasing your chances of successfully reaching the roof of Africa. Additionally, if any items are missing from your mountain gear, you can rent them from our store after the gear check.
Accommodation: Standard hotel
In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive you directly to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, passing through the Machame village, which serves as a cultivation zone. Once we arrive at the Machame gate (3000 m/ 9842 ft), we will have a designated area to rest while we wait for registration permits and weigh our luggage. Once the necessary formalities are completed, we will begin our adventure! Our gentle ascent begins by passing through the lush green rainforest that blankets the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to see different species of birds, black and white colobus monkeys, and blue monkeys. After a 5 to 7 hour hike, we’ll reach Machame Camp (3000 m/ 9842 ft) and enter the shrubland area.
Meals: Breakfast, evening tea, dinner
Hiking: 5-7 hours
Distance: 11 km/ 7 miles
Elevation gain: 1200 m / 3937 ft
Accommodation: Camping
On this day, we embark on another beautiful climb, leaving the rainforest glades behind us. The first part of the hike leads us to a small circular cliff known as the Picnic Rock. We will continue along the climbing trail, following a sharp ridge that leads to the moorland area, where the vegetation becomes more scattered. We will then proceed up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau, where you will have a clear view of the western breach and its spectacular glaciers. We will spend the night at the Shira Camp (3840 m/12,000 ft), which is situated on the plateau.
Upon arrival at the camp and having lunch, we will rest for a short period of time and then acclimatize by taking a walk towards the Lava Tower before returning to camp. These acclimatization hikes are crucial as they increase the chances of reaching the roof of Africa and reduce the risk of mountain sickness. Experienced guides will always be in front of you, ensuring that the hiking pace is appropriate for the altitude.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, evening tea, dinner
Hiking: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5.3 km/ 3.2 miles
Elevation gain: 840 m/ 2758 ft
Accommodation: Camping
After breakfast, we will leave the Shira Cave Camp and head towards the Barranco Wall via the Lava Tower (4630 m/ 15,190 ft), which is the highest point of the day. Along the way, we’ll enjoy a beautiful view of the Shira plateau and the snow cap of Kibo peak. This will be a long hike, and you may start to feel a bit uncomfortable due to the altitude. Therefore, it’s important to stay at the Lava Tower for at least an hour to allow our bodies to adjust to the altitude. We will use this time to have a hot lunch. After lunch, we’ll begin the hike to the Barranco Wall (3960 m/ 12,960 ft), descending through a strange yet beautiful garden of giant senecio and lobelia flowers that grow up to 5 m high. The Barranco Wall is one of the most attractive geographical features of the entire trail and a meeting point for three routes: Machame, Umbwe, and Lemosho. We will spend the night at the campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, evening tea, dinner
Hiking: 7-8 hours
Distance: 11 km/ 6.8 miles
Elevation gain: 790 m/ 2592 ft
Elevation loss: 670 m/ 2198 ft
Accommodation: Camping
After breakfast, we will embark on a short but steep hike from Barranco. This section of the trail can be challenging as it requires the use of all four limbs (walking poles are not recommended). Experienced guides will choose the right path and pace to ensure safety. This part of the climb is also a favorite for many climbers due to the breathtaking views of Kibo peak on the left and the distant Mount Meru on the right. At the top of Barranco Wall (4240 m/ 13,911 ft), there are several ascents and descents, with the last big descent leading to Karanga valley, the last watering point on this route. We will use the last 20 minutes of the hike to ascend the steep trail to Karanga Camp (4043 m/ 13,264 ft).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch evening tea, dinner
Hiking: 3-4 hours
Distance: 5.5 km/ 3.3 miles
Elevation gain: 83 m/ 272 ft
Accommodation: Camping
On day 6, we will continue our climb to Barafu Camp (4640 m/ 15,223 ft) through the alpine desert, with the majestic Kibo peak in sight, beckoning us towards the summit. Upon arrival, a hot lunch will be served, followed by ample time to rest and prepare for the summit night ahead. In the evening, enjoy the stunning sight of Mawenzi peak from the camp. A quick briefing from the guide will be followed by an early dinner before retiring to bed for a few hours. At midnight, we will rise for the summit ascent.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, evening tea, dinner
Hiking: 3-4 hours
Distance: 4 km/ 2.4 miles
Elevation gain: 597m/1959 ft
Accommodation: Camping
We will commence our final summit attempt just before midnight. This is the most challenging and highest altitude segment of the journey. It’s characterized by very cold and windy conditions. Tolerance and determination are key factors for successfully reaching the summit. Each guide will have two climbers to closely monitor both their mental and physical states.
Upon reaching Stella point, we will take a brief break and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee before proceeding to Uhuru peak (5895 m/19,340 ft), which takes approximately one hour. Upon arrival at Uhuru peak, you will witness a breathtaking sunrise, and despite your body being tired, you will feel as if you are in paradise. We will take ample photos to capture unforgettable memories before celebrating briefly and beginning our descent to Barafu Camp. After a two-hour rest and lunch at Barafu Camp (4640 m/ 15,223 ft), we will continue our descent to the Millennium Camp (3820 m/ 12,532 ft) for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 3-4 hours
Distance: 15 km/ 9.3 miles
Elevation gain: 1255 m/ 4117 ft
Elevation loss: 2075 m/ 6807 ft
Accommodation: Camping
Another amazing day awaits! After breakfast, we will begin our descent once again, passing through Mweka Camp (3100 m/ 10,170 ft) and the lush mountain forest. By noon, we will arrive at the Mweka Gate(1676 m/ 5500 ft) where our mountain crew will be singing and dancing in celebration of our achievement of reaching the top of Africa. Those who succeeded and made it to the top will be awarded mountain certificates. We will transfer you to Moshi town for lunch and take you to your hotel either in Moshi town or in Arusha city for an overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Hiking: 3 hours
Distance: 12 km/ 7.5 miles
Elevation gain: 2144 m/ 7032 ft
Accommodation: Standard hotel
You have the option to either be transferred to the airport for your flight back home or to continue your Tanzanian adventure on a day trip, safari, or a beach holiday in Zanzibar. The choice is yours!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The Machame route is considered a difficult one—compared to some other Kilimanjaro routes, the days are longer and the walks are steeper. It is a demanding trip better suited for people with at least some hiking experience. Still, it does not require technical skills or mountaineering equipment such as ice axes, crampons, harnesses, and ropes. Therefore, even if you’re a first-time trekker with excellent fitness and a desire to push yourself in a mountain environment, this 9-day climbing tour in Kilimanjaro might be for you.
Here’s a list of the equipment and clothes you need to bring:
Here’s a list of other things you need to bring:
Here’s a list of documents you’ll need:
Note that your guide will carry a more comprehensive medical kit containing additional Acetazolamide, Ibuprofen, Anti-inflammatory gel, bandages, Loperamide, Amoxicillin, Oral Dexamethasone, and several other items.
Your cook will serve large, healthy meals to keep you happy and well-fed. You will have fresh meals at breakfast and dinner, freshly prepared with locally-sourced ingredients. Lunch will mostly be in the form of a lunch box, depending on the day. All food is prepared to strict hygiene standards. Menus are designed to be nutritionally-dense, with plenty of variety to cater to the energy demands of the trek. Let us know if you have any dietary requirements.
Group sizes and pricing
Min. age requirements
To get to your Climbing Kilimanjaro Tour, most people fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport. You and the rest of the group will be picked up by the guides at an arranged time.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
I trekked Mt. Kilimanjaro with my dad for several days with this company, led by Abdala Huruvi, which was friendly, welcoming, and most of all, professional! He knew many facts about Mt Kili and the natural world. He also borrowed me and my dad some of his hiking clothes so we could climb on top of the mountain safely. The food they prepared during the trek was delicious and overall we had a great time spent with Abdala and his company!