Climb the Great Barranco Wall

Excellent Route for Reaching the Summit

Look Out From Africa’s Highest Point!

Fitness level: Able to hike 5-7km at a time

Trek Begins & Ends in Moshi, Tanzania

Maximum Altitude: 5,895m/19,341 ft

Join Us On the Machame Route Kilimanjaro 7-Day Tour

The Machame Route is one of the most popular routes on Kilimanjaro. However, it’s also one of the mountain’s tougher climbs.

For example, the Machame Route is also known as the “Whiskey” route. Compare this to Marangu, which has the alias of the “Coca-Cola” Route.

Due to its high success rate (90% for a 7-day trek), the Kilimanjaro Machame Route is one of the better trails to aid acclimatization.

The views on this route are spectacular and you also face the added challenge of the Great Barranco Wall.

If reaching Kilimanjaro’s summit is your number one priority, the Machame Route will give you one of the best shots at this.

Are you still weighing up options about which Kilimanjaro route to take? Browse our other Mount Kilimanjaro tours for more information and inspiration.

If you have any questions for our team before booking, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Trip Details

The Machame Route Kilimanjaro Tour — Important Details

Price

$2,649 USD


Meeting point

We’ll pick you up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and then transfer you to your hotel in Moshi, Tanzania. You will then stay overnight and in the morning, we’ll drive to the gate where we will start our Kilimanjaro trek. Please note: the hotel and transfers are included in the price.


Availability

January through mid-March
Mid-June through October
December


Duration

7 days, 6 nights + 2 days at hotel


Group size

2 min. – 12 max.


Included

  • Dedicated Customer Satisfaction Associate
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Hotel lodging the night before and the night after the climb
  • Breakfast before and after the climb
  • All meals and water on the mountain
  • All park fees and taxes
  • Transportation to and from the hotel and trailhead
  • Tents (3-person mountaineering tent)
  • Sleeping mat
  • Private toilet tent
  • Support team (certified guides, porters, and cooks)
  • Kilimanjaro SAR evacuation insurance

Not included

  • Airfare to and from Tanzania
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Visa
  • Tips for the support team
  • Sleeping bags and other personal gear
  • Rental gear
  • Lunch and dinner at the hotel
  • Drinks and snacks

Gear list

  • Top thermal layer
  • Bottom thermal layer
  • 1-2 pairs of hiking pants
  • 1 hardshell jacket
  • 1-2 short-sleeved t-shirts
  • 1 pair of warm trekking pants
  • 1-2 long-sleeved hiking shirts
  • 1 softshell insulated winter jacket
  • 4-5 pairs of underwear
  • 1 cozy fleece jacket
  • 1 pair of worn-in sturdy hiking boots
  • 3-4 pairs of socks. Merino wool is recommended
  • Rain coat
  • Rain pants
  • Day backpack
  • Duffel bag (recommended size 90L)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Headlamp
  • Snacks

Meals

On all of our Kilimanjaro tours, all of our meals are freshly prepared on the mountain by our talented chef, so when we arrive to camp after a long day of hiking, we have a delicious hot meal waiting for us.

Please note: we can accommodate any dietary needs, so please let us know what your meal requirements are and we will be sure to have our chef whip you up something yummy!


About your guide

All of our guides have extensive experience and training, certification, and knowledge of the area and all of the routes. You’ll be in great hands from top to bottom and by the end of the trip, you’ll be sad to say goodbye!

Depending on the number of hikers, there will be generally 1 guide for every 2 people and 3 porters per person.

The Kilimanjaro Machame Route in 7 Days — Highlights

What Sets This Route Apart

One of the most popular routes on Kilimanjaro

This tour is perfect to get acclimatized: “climb high, sleep low”

High climber summit success rate: let’s get you to the top!

Incredible, expansive views over the African plains

Official summit certificate to stamp your brilliant achievement!

7 Days Machame Route Itinerary

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevation: 1,640m/5,380ft to 2,850m/9,350 ft

Distance: 11km/6.8 miles

Hiking time: 5-7 hrs

Habitat: Rain forest

We’ll begin the tour with a drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate, which will take around 50 minutes. We’ll pass through the quaint Machame village located on the south-western slope of Kilimanjaro. After we have signed into the national park and all the formalities have been taken care of, we’ll begin our trek through the rainforest (keep your eyes out for wildlife including monkeys) on a winding trail up to the Machame Camp.

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Elevation: 2,850m/9,350ft to 3,800m/12,500ft

Distance: 5km/3 miles

Hiking time: 4-6 hrs

Habitat: Heath

After saying goodbye to the rainforest, we’ll continue on up the path onto a steep, rocky ridge. After we pass over the Shira Plateau, the land opens up to heather and moorland before we cross a large river to Shira 2 Camp.

Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower

Elevation: 3,800m/12,500ft to 4,630m/15,190 ft

Distance: 7km/4 miles

Hiking time: 4-5 hrs

Habitat: Alpine desert

Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation: 4,630m/15,190ft to 3,975m/13,044 ft

Distance: 3km/1.8 miles

Hiking time: 2-3 hrs

Habitat: Alpine desert

Today will begin with a trek towards the Lava Tower (a 300ft tall volcanic rock formation). We’ll continue down to Barranco Camp through the unique Senecio Forest. This day is special because you’ll begin and end at the same altitude, very beneficial for acclimatization.

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Elevation: 3,975m/13,044ft to 3,995m/13,106ft

Distance: 5km/3 miles

Hiking time: 4-5 hrs

Habitat: Alpine desert

We’ll begin the day by heading down into a ravine before we tackle the Great Barranco Wall. It’s not a technical climb but it is steep, nearly 900ft of it. From the top, we’ll then continue our trek twisting and turning before descending sharply into Karanga Valley. After another short but fairly steep climb, we’ll reach Karanga Camp. Another short day designed to help with acclimatization.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: 3,994m/13,106ft to 4,672m/15,331ft

Distance: 4km/2.5 miles

Hiking time: 4-5 hrs

Habitat: Alpine desert

After breakfast at the Karanga Camp, we’ll trek towards the route that connects with the Mweka Trail. We’ll then gradually make our way to Barafu Hut. Today, you will have completed the Southern Circuit, and the views of the Mawenzi and Kibo peaks here are awe-inspiring. Once we make camp, we’ll eat, rest, and prepare the bags for summit day.

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak

Elevation: 4,672m/15,331ft to 5,895m/19,341ft

Distance: 5km/3 miles

Hiking time: 7-8 hrs

Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

Elevation: 5,895m/19,341ft to 3,067m/10,065ft

Distance: 12km/7.5 miles

Hiking time: 4-6 hrs

Habitat: Rain forest

At midnight, we will wake you up for a quick snack and get ready to begin our push to the summit. This is the most physically and mentally challenging part of the trek, a true endurance experience. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in darkness for several hours while taking frequent but short breaks. As we approach Stella Point, you’ll begin to feel the heat of the magnificent sunrise appearing over the Mawenzi Peak—a truly unforgettable moment. We will then continue on until we finally reach Uhuru Peak—the tip of Mount Kilimanjaro and Africa’s highest point!

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and, later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation: 3,067m/10,065ft to 1,639m/5,380ft

Distance: 10km/6 miles

Hiking time: 3-4 hrs

Habitat: Rain forest

After breakfast, we will say goodbye to our porters and continue our descent to the Mweka Park Gate to collect our summit certificates. It can be muddy and wet during our walk to lower elevation. You’ll begin to realize how good you feel as the altitude slowly begins to drop. We will be met at the gate by our local team who will drive us back to the hotel.


Climbing the Kilimanjaro Machame Route — Good to Know

Due to this route's high success rate, it's a very popular choice and the Machame route is undoubtedly the busiest on the mountain. To help mitigate this, we make sure all our groups hit the trail early and get ahead of the crowds. We also send part of the porter team ahead of you so that they get into the campsites early to get a good spot, as well as making sure that your tent is ready and there is a nice hot drink and snacks waiting for you when you arrive.

Although the Machame route can be climbed over 6 days, we recommend taking 7 days. The extra day makes a huge difference to the success rate as it improves acclimatization and allows you two easier days before you tackle your long summit night. Our climbers invariably say they have benefited from the extra day.

Kilimanjaro’s daily temperatures change drastically. They range from the high 20°C (68°F) right down to -15 °C (5°F) at night. To cope with this huge range in temperature, you will need to combine thin layers of clothing.

Kilimanjaro National Park operates an absolutely strict limit of 15kg per porter for your main equipment bag, which includes your sleeping bag. This is more than sufficient for your needs on the mountain. Your bag will be weighed before you leave the hotel to start the climb and if it is overweight you will have to take items out and leave them at the hotel.

Safety procedures: twice daily (morning and evening), our expert guides will perform health checks for all trekkers. This is an important protocol to ensure the wellbeing of all our guests. Our lead guide will test oxygen levels using a pulse oximeter and run through a checklist of health measures as a means of determining that everyone can proceed safely. This is crucial in preemptively assessing any symptoms related to altitude sickness. Health and safety are our utmost priorities!

Kilimanjaro Machame Route in 7 Days — Dates & Prices

Below is a table of our available Kilimanjaro climb dates and prices. All of our climbs are great value for money and we strive to provide each person with a fun, successful, and unforgettable experience. Join us at the summit today!

Looking to enhance your climb with a full moon?

Every tour date that has a moon icon indicates a climb where the lunar spectacular is in full swing! When the peak of Kilimanjaro and magnificent glaciers are lit up by the full moon, the view is absolutely stunning. For this reason alone, some climbers schedule their trek to coincide with this celestial event. Aside from the lunar spectacular, another reason to choose to climb during a full moon is that the bright light will improve visibility during the climb, and it will be especially beneficial during the summit attempt.

( full-moon-icon = Full Moon)

 

2024 Dates & Group Rates

2024 Christmas & New Year's Summit Treks

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