6 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Via Machame Route

The Machame route, also known as the “Whiskey” route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Machame’s draw is in its scenic beauty. However, the trail is considered hard, steep and challenging.
Day 1 Machame gate – Machame camp: 10.75k /7mi | 5-6 hrs | rainforest
Elevation: 1811m/5942ft to 3021m/9911ft

Altitude gained: 1210m

Departing from Moshi a 45-minute drive will take you through the village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

Day 2 Machame camp – Shira camp: 5.3km/3mi | 4-5hrs | Moorland
Elevation: 3021m/9911ft to 3839m/12,595ft

Altitude gained: 818m

After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite. Temperatures begin to drop.

Day 3 Shira camp – lava tower – Barranco camp: 10.75km/6mi | 5-6hrs | semi-desert
Elevation: 3839m/12,595ft to 3986m/13,077ft

Altitude gained: 147m

Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization. From the Shira plateau we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the Kibo peak before we then continue, southeast towards the lava tower, called the “shark’s tooth” (elev. 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to a second junction, which leads to the arrow glacier. We then continued to descend to overnight at Barranco camp.

Day 4 Barranco camp – karanga camp – barafu camp: 8.5km/5mi | 6-8hrs | alpine desert
Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft

Altitude gained: 676m

After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up to the adventurous Barranco wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction, which connects, with the mweka trail. This is one of the most impressive days to see the power, agility, and strength of your crew zip over this wall with what appears such ease. We continue up toward Barafu camp and once reached you have now completed the south circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles. An early dinner and rest as we prepare for summit night. Overnight at Barafu Camp.

Day 5 Barafu camp – summit: 4.86km /3mi up | 5-7hrs | – mweka camp: 13km /8mi down | 5-6hrs | glaciers, snow-capped summit
Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft

Altitude gained: 1233m

Descent to 3106m/10,190ft

Altitude lost: 2789m

Day 6 Mweka camp – Mweka gate – Moshi: 9.1km/6mi |3-4hrs | Rainforest
Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft

Altitude lost: 1473m

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.