KILIMANJARO TREKKING

7 days—Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking via Machame route

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$1680 USD

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Safari summary

The Machame route also known as the "Whiskey" route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Machame’s draw is in its scenic beauty. However, the trail is considered difficult, steep and challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary. Therefore, this route is better suited for more adventurous folks or those with some high altitude, hiking or backpacking experience.
The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, beginning with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate. The path leads hikers through the rain forest to Shira Plateau. Here, many of Kilimanjaro’s routes converge. Then the route turns east and travers’s underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route.

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Hiking \| trekking
	Activity level	Strenuous activity
	Best months	January, February, March, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
	Countries	Tanzania
	Parks	Kilimanjaro

Fine details

Safari highlights

Bird watching—with professional guide
Hiking | trekking

What’s included?

Accommodation
Airport transfers
All drinks
Meals
Park fees
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Alcoholic beverages
Hot air balloons
Internal flights
International flights
Laundry
Premium alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Tips and gratuities
Visas

Itinerary

MOSHI- MACHAME GATE- MACHAME CAMP

Kilimanjaro

Machame Gate to Machame Camp Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft Distance: 11 km/7 miles Hiking Time: 5-7 hours Habitat: Rain Forest. The drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. As we leave the park gate, we walk through the dense rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp.

MACHAME CAMP- SHIRA CAMP

Kilimanjaro

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft Distance: 5 km/3 miles Hiking Time: 4-6 hours Habitat: Heath. We leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, we pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp.

SHIRA CAMP- LAVAR TOWER- BARRANCO

Kilimanjaro

Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft Distance: 7 km/4 miles Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert. We continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

BARRANCO CAMP- KARANGA CAMP

Kilimanjaro

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp Elevation; 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft Distance; 5 km/3 miles Hiking Time; 4-5 hours Habitat; Alpine Desert. We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One steeper climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

KARANGA CAMP- BARAFU CAMP

Kilimanjaro

We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We will continue up the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

BARAFU CAMP- UHURU PEAK-MWEKA CAMP

Kilimanjaro

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

MWEKA CAMP- MWEKA GATE- MOSHI

Kilimanjaro

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft Distance: 10 km/6 miles Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Rain Forest. On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

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