This route overview is known as the “whiskey route”. Truly Machame Route is the most popular route and has a very high success rate of making it to the top. It offers beautiful and natural features of the landscape. It starts with a nice day of walking through the rainforest and has a nice steady altitude increase each day. The accommodation on the way up and down is strictly camping (movable tents) only.
The first day of trekking begins at Machame Gate normally one hour’s drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route. At the gate, you will meet your trekking crew, your guide, porters and cook. There will be a flurry of activity as porters assemble gear for the trek as we complete park formalities. The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforests. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot.
Machame Camp
Distance: | 11km / 7 mile
Approx. trekking time: | 5 – 7 hours
Zone: | Rainforest.
On day two, you will rise early, since our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau. The trek is relatively steep as you enter the low alpine zone which is characterized by moorlands and grasslands. Shira Camp 2 sits on a plateau that provides you with the first views of Kibo in the North-West and Mount Meru in the East. Day two takes approximately 4-6 hours and covers a distance of 5.4km / 3.4 miles.
Shira Camp
Distance: | 5.4km / 3.4 miles
Approx. trekking time: | 5 hours
Zone: | Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone.
On day three, walking on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. You will traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp. The day has been spent at an altitude (up to 4600m). Although you end the day at a very similar elevation to when you started from Shira Camp, it is arguably one of the most important days on your trek as it gives you a chance to climb high and sleep low which is important for proper acclimatization.
Barranco Camp
Distance: | 10.8km / 6.7 miles
Approx. trekking time: | 8 hours
Zone: | Low alpine zone / High alpine zone.
Accommodation: Budget camping
Day four on the Machame Route begins by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. You will then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides you from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, you will head towards the Karanga Valley, which is your last stop for fresh water before the summit. Note: Trekkers on the seven-day route spend the night at Karanga Camp before continuing on to Barafu. This additional day is beneficial in terms of acclimatization.
Barafu Camp
Distance: | 8.5km / 5.3 miles
Approx. trekking time: | 8 hours
Zone: | High alpine zone.
Accommodation: Budget camping
Day five is summit night (and day)! You will start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. You should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit you. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround you and the views of jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes you to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). You will begin your descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on a steep slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Uhuru Peak
Distance: | 16.4km / 9.6 miles
Approx. trekking time: | 13hours – 15hours
Zone: | Glacial zone and all preceding zones.
Day six is the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. You will be passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220 m, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5681 m) the crater rim of Kilimanjaro where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1 – 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895 m.
Mweka Gate
Distance: | 9.1km / 7.5 miles
Approx. trekking time: | 3 hours
Zone: | Rainforest.
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