7 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE

Overview

Habari Adventure leads treks up the Machame route. It’s a beautiful, the most popular and busiest route overall. It allows you to experience the southwest and south east side of the mountain since you go up one way and down another. This is also referred to as the “Whisky Route” better suited to more adventurous hikers.

Despite being a tough climb compared to the Marangu Route, the  Machame route has one of the highest summit success rates given the topography of the route which allows climbers to “trek high  and sleep low” hence making it a more favourable route for acclimatization. Machame route is steeper and climbers walk longer distance while Coca-Cola route is a gradual ascent. Machame is usually done in 6 or 7 days via southern circuit and finally ascending to the summit via the east facing Mweka route to the crater rim at Stella point. Also it is quite scenic and rugged, Best done in 7 days.

 ITINERARIES

Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport

After arriving at the Airport you will be picked up by a Habari Adventure representative and transferred to your hotel in Moshi. Later on your guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Overnight and dinner at your hotel in Moshi.

Day 2: Machame Gate (1800 m) to Machame Camp (2835 m)

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance covered: 11 km

Habitat: Montane forest

Meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

After breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel around 8:00 am and transferred to Machame gate. On the way you will see coffee and banana plantations grown by Chagga people. After arriving at Machame gate you will go through some park formalities such as registration then you will start your mount Kilimanjaro climbing at the Machame gate. Your first day hike is through a tropical rain forest up to Machame camp (2835 m). On the route you will have a picnic lunch. Overnight at Machame camp.

Day 3: Machame Camp (2835 m) to Shira Cave Camp (3750 m)

Approx. hiking time: 3 hours

Distance covered: 5 km

Habitat: Moorland

Meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

You start to hike around 8:00 am. You will climb an hour to the top of the forest and then 1 hour at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch (snacks) and break, you continue up a rocky ridge, the Shira plateau. At this point you will be able to see an eastern direction, the western breach with its stunning glacier. Overnight at Shira Campsite (3750 m).

Day 4: Shira Cave Camp (3750 m) to BarancoCamp (3900 m)

Approx. hiking time: 6 hours

Distance covered: 10 km

Habitat: Alpine desert

Meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

To take advantage of acclimatization, we will hike to high altitude and then descend to a lower altitude. The trek will take us into alpine desert up to lava tower (4600 m) before descending to Baranco Camp (3900 m). This descent to Barranco Camp takes about 3 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful pictures of the Western Breach and Barranco wall. The campsite is situated in a valley below the Barranco wall which should provide you a memorable sunset while waiting for dinner. Overnight at Barranco Camp (3900 m).

Day 5: Barranco Camp (3900 m) to Karanga Camp (4000m)

Approx. hiking time: 4 hours

Distance covered: 6 km

Habitat: Alpine desert

Meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

After breakfast we continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco wall, then you climb this imposing obstacle which turn to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the item 6 lacer you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. With Kibo glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga Valley camp site. From the camp you can look east and see the jugged peaks of Mawenzi. After a hot lunch in camp, your afternoon is at leisure for resting. This short day is very important for you acclimatization since your summit push is about to start.

Day 6: Karanga Camp (4000 m) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

Approx. hiking time: 3 hours

Distance covered: 4 km

Habitat: Alpine desert

Meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

After breakfast you will start hiking to Barafu Camp (4640 m). On the way you will have a good view of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. After arriving at the campsite we have lunch and a long rest waiting for long-night and a day ahead. Dinner will be early and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up around midnight to start climb to the summit

Day 7:Barafu Camp (4637 m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) then down to Millenium Camp                (3950 m)

Approx. hiking time: 12-15 hours

Distance covered: 15 km

Meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

We will wake up very early, at around 00:00, some light tea with cookies will be ready for you. We will climb scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The view is spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella point (5756 m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Then it will take us 1 hour form Stella point to Uhuru peak (5895 m) were you take some photos for a few minutes before we start descending to Barafu Camp for lunch and some rest, and then walk down to Millennium Camp (3950 m) for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Millennium Camp (3950m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

Approx. hiking time: 5 hours

Distance covered: 14 km

Habitat: Montane Forest

Meal: breakfast and lunch included

After breakfast you continue the final descend, it’s a couple of hours further now from Millennium Campsite to Mweka Gate, where you will collect your certificates. After complete park formalities and receiving the certificates, a private car will take you back to your hotel where you can have a warm shower. It’s definitely time to celebrate!

 Day 9: Departure /other destination in Tanzania

Later in the evening or the next day you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to board your home bound flight. Also Habari Adventure can organize an affordable safari trip to one of the best wildlife parks in Tanzania such as Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater or Serengeti National Park.

END OF TOUR

PRICING

Prices (quoted in USD/per person)

7 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE

 

GROUP SIZE

PRICE PER PERSON

 

1 person

 

$ 1900/person
2 – 4 people

$ 1850/person

 

5 – 9 people

$ 1800/person

 

10 + people

 

$ 1750/person

 

Included in the price:

      • Two night  hotel
      • Private transport to / from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your hotel in Moshi
      • Qualified guides with mountain crew
      • National park fees
      • 18% VAT on tour fees and services
      • All camping accommodations
      • Mountain tents
      • Transport
      • Rescue fees
      • All needs on the mountain (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
      • Guides and porters accommodations and their entry fees on the mountain
      • Pulse oximeter
      • First aid kit
      • Emergence oxygen
      • Sleeping bag and sleeping mats
      • Katady filtered water through the trek
      • Fair wages to guides and porters as approved by Kilimanjaro National Park authority

Not included

      • Flights
      • Visa
      • Tips to mountain crew
      • Items of personal nature