7 Days Kilimanjaro Climbing | Hiking Via Machame route with Tanzania Natural Tours.Machame route is the most popular route to the mountain the route offers magnificent scenery and the trail is considered a bit challenging. Machame is also known as the whiskey route because of its difficulty and its best for those who are more adventurous and have a bit of backpacking experience. The path approaches the mountain from the south starting with a short drive from Moshi to machame Gate where hiking begins traversing through the rainforest heading to shira Plateau. This is the meeting point of many Kilimanjaro’s routes including lemosho route. The route passes underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern field on a trail known as the southern circuit which leads to barafu. The route uses mweka trail as its descent path.
The Machame route 6 days is perfect hike for those who have not trekked much at high altitudes, with an effective extra day’s acclimatisation, giving a better success rate. Experienced and already acclimatised mountaineers may option for the more difficult 6 day ascent along the Machame route. The machame route is nicknamed as "Whiskey Route" because its consider more technically difficult but its steeper and beautiful scenic and Machame route its offer better acclimatisation and it have high success rate.
• Elevation: Machame Gate 1,800m – Machame Camp 2,835m
• Distance: 11km
• Hiking time: 5 -6 hours
• Climatic condition: Montane forest
Our hike to the roof of Africa will start from machame gate and traverse through the lush green forest of Mt. Kilimanjaro. As the altitude rises we will enjoy the mesmerizing flora and fauna of the rain forest, after the walk we arrive to the first camp, located at 3,000m above sea level. If the weather permits we might get our first view of the glaciated dome of kibo
• Elevation : Machame Camp 2,835m– Shira Camp 3,750m
• Distance: 5 km
• Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
• Climatic condition: Moorland
• shelter: Shira camp
This will be a short day and we will hike up a steep ridge that leads to a small semi-circular cliff known as picnic site and proceed up a steady ascent through the lower alpine moorland, the place is popular for beautiful wild alpine flowers.The route now turns west into a river gorge until we arrive at Shira campsite. Amazing view of kibo peak can be seen from here.
• Elevation : Shira Camp 3,750m – Barranco Camp 3,900m to Lava Tower camp 4600m
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
• Climatic condition: Moorland
• Shelter: Barranco
On this day, we hike on a gentle ascent and panoramic views. We trek the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the lava tower and the final section of the western breach, we will there after descend to the greatbarranco.
• Elevation : Barranco Camp 3,900m - Karanga camp 3,995m
• Distance: 6 km
• Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
• Climatic condition: Moorland
• Shelter: Karanga camp
We will leave barranco after breakfast and proceed on a steep ridge passing the intimidating barranco wall to the karanga valley campsite. This is a short day special for acclimatisation.
• Elevation (M): Karanga Camp 3,995m – Barafu Camp 4,673m
• Distance: 4 km
• Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
• Climatic condition: Alpine desert
• Shelter: Barafu camp
On this day, we leave karanga and proceed to the junction which connects with the mweka trail. We proceed to the barafu hut which offers magnificent views of the summit from many different angles. Here we will rest and get an early dinner preparing for the summit day. At this point we get a clear view of kibo and mawenzi.
• Elevation : Barafu Camp 4,673m - Uhuru peak 5,895m – Mweka Camp 3,100m
• Distance: 5km ascent/ 12km descent
• Hiking time: 7 – 8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
• Climatic condition: Arctic
• Shelter: Mweka Camp
We will have a very early wake up around midnight and push our way to the summit. This can be a bit challenging compared to the other parts of our trekking. At stella point we will have a short break and if weather permits we will be rewarded with the most beautiful sunrise. After stella point we will encounter snow all the way to the summit and after arrival at the highest point in Africa, we will take some pictures and immediately descend to mweka hut and make a short stop at barafu for lunch. Mweka camp is located in the upper forest and mist or rain is normal in the afternoon. In the evening,we will have our last dinner on the mountain and get our well-earned rest.
• Descend (ft) : Mweka Camp 10,000m- Mweka Gate 5,400m
• Distance: 10km
• Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
• Climatic condition: Rain forest
Our hike will proceed with the descent down to the mweka park gate and receive our summit success certificate. Lower altitude can be wet and muddy so gaiters and trekking poles can be very helpful. Our Tanzania Natural Tours car will be waiting for us at the mweka gate and drive us back to Moshi.
During the climb you will be staying in special camps and huts!
• Flights(Domestics and 1nternational flight)
• Travel insurance & Medical insurance)
• visas and passport fees
• Personal items
• Extra activities
• Soda and Alcoholic drinks
• Tipping the crew