Popularly known as the “Whisky Route”, Machame route draws everyone’s attention because of the scenic beauty it holds. The route is best suited for more adventurous hikers due to the more difficult, steep and challenging acclimatization.The route approaching Mount Kilimanjaro is from the south. The trek starts with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate.The pathway leads the hikers through the rainforest to Shira Plateau. Then turning to the east and navigating beneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field, the path leads to Barafu. The descent is through Mweka route.
Considered to be the most beautiful and scenic of the various routes up Mount Kilimanjaro, the Machame Route is appropriate for more adventurous hikers who wish for a more physically demanding climb than Marangu or Rongai can offer.Machame is presently the most popular route despite its higher degree of difficulty, so you can expect to not be the only one climbing. You can choose to complete this route in either 7 days or 6 days.
You will be met at the International Airport of by your driver-guide and our representative. We will take you to the Mount Meru Game Lodge. This charming lodge is situated near the majestic Mount Meru and provides wonderful views. Watch wild animals in their natural habitat at the lodge’s attached game sanctuary. Our Kilimanjaro expert will come to meet you and provide a briefing on your climb followed by dinner.
After breakfast, we’ll transfer you to the Machame Park Gate (5,870 feet/1,790 meters). After registering with the park authority, we’ll begin our climb through the lush forest. Trekkers will likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above, and many even see black and white colobus monkeys and sykes monkeys as they hike along the knotted roots. We’ll continue on to some heath land before reaching our overnight camp at Machame Camp (9,875 feet, five to seven hours of walking), just above the forest zone. The trek is quite long, but not steep. All meals included.
Today’s segment of the ascent will continue across beautiful heath land and afro-alpine moorland with magnificent views of Kilimanjaro Peak. We begin up the steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, and trees of Giant Heather and Erica. Scramble around large boulders as you enter the moorland zone, marked by lobelia and senecia plants, and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards, which protect wild alpine flowers growing at their bases. We’ll overnight at Shira Camp (12,615 feet, four to five hours of walking). All meals included.
We’ll draw nearer the peak as we get closer to the Lava Tower. The trek becomes a bit more strenuous as the trail steepens on the approach to the lava Tower, a 300 foot tall volcanic plug that marks an exposed pass at 15,000 feet. In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set on a col (flat area) enclosed on three sides with steep valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjari) and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Then, we slowly ascent to our overnight stop at Barranco Camp (12,990 feet, five to six hours of walking). All meals included.
The day will begin with a descent into the Gorge, before we climb its eastern wall where we will enjoy views of Kilimanjaro’s ice fields, an equatorial anomaly. We will continue trekking following the lava ridge to the Barafu Camp. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting as a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. Barafu Camp (15,225 feet, six to seven hours of walking) All meals included.
Just after midnight we start on a challenging trek (12-17 hours of trekking). You begin trekking at 12:00 to 1:00 a.m., passing between the Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers to the rim at Stella Point. The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight to between 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 degrees Celsius) to –10 Fahrenheit (-23 degrees Celsius) just before dawn at the summit. As dawn nears, we’ll summit at Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 19,340 feet. Uhuru will be the culmination of, and the reward for, six to seven hours of strenuous hiking. We’ll then descend back to Barafu Camp, resting for a while before continuing our descent to Mweka Camp (10,105 feet, three to four hours of walking on the descent). All meals included.
We’ll make our final descent to the park gate, a walk of about two to three hours. After bidding our farewells to our guide and porters, we’ll take you to Arusha or Moshi for extension. Note: Routing subject to changes if necessary.
Explore some of the best tips from around the city from our partners and friends...
Explore some of the best tips from around the city from our partners and friends...
Explore some of the best tips from around the city from our partners and friends...
Explore some of the best tips from around the city from our partners and friends...
© 2019 All Rights Reserved.
