8-Day Kilimanjaro "Whiskey Route" Machame Route

8-Day Kilimanjaro "Whiskey Route" Machame Route

Tour Summary

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 difficult, steep, and challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary. Therefore this route is better suited for more adventurous folks or those with some high altitude, hiking, or backpacking experience.

Why you will love this trip?

Spectacular scenery the Shira plateau the lava tower the Barranco wall are amazing

If you like camping and nature on a budget then Machame is the Kilimanjaro climb route for you.

The most popular Mount Kilimanjaro climbing route

Featured Review

Day 1 : Pick up from the Airport

Arusha

On this day you will be picked up from the airport either the Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport, will then drive to Tulia spa & boutique hotel once you arrive & settled in, your guide will arrive briefly after to brief you on the hike, what to expect day by day as well as checking if you have all necessary gears for the hike.

Accommodation

Name: Tulia boutique & spa

Type: Hotel

Level: Mid-range

Day 2 : Machame gate (1800m) to machame camp(2835m)

Kilimanjaro NP

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha and driven to Machame Village. In the village, you can buy mineral water and will receive a packed lunch. From the village, depending on the road conditions, you will either continue to drive from the village to the Machame gate, but if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour to complete. After registering at the gate office, you immediately start your ascent and enter the rain forest. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy, and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about halfway and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon.

Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Distance: Approximately 11 kilometers
Habitat: Afro Montane forest

Accommodation

Name: Machame Camp

Type: Bush Camp

Level: Budget

Day 3 : Machame camp(2835m) to shira camp(3750m)

Kilimanjaro NP

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast, you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike, you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Hiking time: 6h
Distance: Approximately 5 km
Habitat: Afromontane forest/Heath

Accommodation

Name: Shira Camp

Type: Bush Camp

Level: Budget

Day 4 : Shira (3750), to lava tower(4630), to barranco camp (At 3900m)

Kilimanjaro NP

The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower. This is the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch, you descend again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall.

Hiking time: 6-8h
Distance: Approximately 10km
Habitat: Alpine-desert

Accommodation

Name: Barranco Camp

Type: Bush Camp

Level: Budget

Day 5 : Barranco camp(3900m) to Karanga camp(3995m)

Kilimanjaro NP

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome-looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys and then joins up with the Mweka route.

The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp "ice camp" and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge.

Hiking time: 4-5h
Distance: Approximately 5kms
Habitat: Alpine desert

Accommodation

Name: Karanga Camp

Type: Bush Camp

Level: Budget

Day 6 : Karanga Camp (3995m) – Barafu Hut (4673m)

Kilimanjaro NP

Following breakfast, you will leave Karanga Camp (3995m). The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu hut (4673m). The word “bara” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so hikers need to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night.

Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: Approximately 4 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine desert

Accommodation

Name: Barafu Hut Camp

Type: Bush Camp

Level: Budget

Day 7 : (Summit attempt) Barafu hut(4673m)- Uhuru Peak(5895m)- Mweka (3100m)

Kilimanjaro NP

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome-looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit. The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp "ice camp" and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night.

Hiking time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
Distance: Approximately 18 km
Habitat: Arctic

Accommodation

Name: Mweka Camp

Type: Bush Camp

Level: Budget

Day 8 : Mweka camp(3100m) to mweka gate(1640m)

Kilimanjaro NP

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). You will be served a hot lunch then you will drive back to Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

Hiking time: 3-4h
Distance: Approximately 10 km
Habitat: Forest

Accommodation

Name: details to be confirmed!

Type: details to be confirmed!

Level: details to be confirmed!

Included

✓ 2 nights’ hotel accommodation in Moshi/Arusha (before & after the climb)

✓ Group transport to and from Moshi to the trailhead

✓ Kilimanjaro National Park permits, camping/hut fees, rescue fees, and Value Added Tax (VAT)

✓ Expert guide, assistant guides, cook, and porters

✓ Bottled oxygen, for emergency rescue only

✓ mountain tents, double occupancy Sleeping pad, foam, sleeping bag & trekking poles

✓ Mess tents, tables, chairs, lanterns

✓ Fresh, nutritious meals on the mountain

✓ Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport

✓ All Ground Transfers,

Excluded

✗ flights

✗ Lunch or dinner at the hotel

✗ Beverages at the hotel

✗ Personal gear and equipment (see rental prices)

✗ Tips (see recommended tipping guideline)

✗ Kilimanjaro search & rescue – air evacuation (Insurance that covers up to 6000m recommended)

>This route requires a minimum of 6 days, 1 extra day is recommended for acclimatization.

>No shower facilities on the Mountain, wet wipes are essential.

>Both kinds of weather can complicate matters be prepared to trek all types of weather.

>For a successful helicopter evacuation on Mount Kilimanjaro, one should acquire travel insurance that covers medical evacuation 6000 meters above sea level.

>For advice stop drinking once you arrive at camp for the night and only have a cup of tea with dinner (hopefully with a rehydration salt as well.

>Items you will need to carry in your daypack are waterproof gear, extra clothes, Snacks, Gloves, hats, Sunglasses & Wipes.

>Visas are required when traveling to Tanzania, Foreigners may apply for a visa online in advance of travel

>A passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond visa insurance and/or date of entry

>Yellow fever vaccination is required for all travelers arriving from or having transited through countries where yellow fever is endemic

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