Machame Route - Mount Kilimanjaro Climb  
   
Kilimanjaro climb Kilimanjaro Route Selection Kilimanjaro Routes Kilimanjaro Trekking Preparation Kilimanjaro Weather
Kilimanjaro Medication List Kilimanjaro Equipment List Kilimanjaro Future Trips Kilimanjaro FAQ's Kilimanjaro Marathon
  Kilimanjaro Bike Ride Kilimanjaro Menu Location of Mount Kilimanjaro  
 
Machame route is one of the scenic routes for those climbers climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Machame route starts from Machame village at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Machame route is also known as Whisky route due to its beautiful scenic as well as its land escarpment.

Those people climbing Mount Kilimanjaro through Machame route feels prestige as this (Machame route) is one of the harder route in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Though the Machame route is harder there is no technical climb when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro using Machame route. Machame route start from Machame gate to Machame Camp and proceed to Shira camp, lava tower camp, Barranco camp, Karanga valley camp, Barafu camp, Uhuru Peak and descending through Millennium camp, Mweka camp and thereafter to Mweka gate.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro using Machame route differ from Marangu route since your equipment and supplies are carried by porters and a cook prepares all you meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only.
This makes climbing Mount Kilimanjaro better suited to the slightly more adventurous hiker, rewarding him with a scenic brilliance such as not seen on the Marangu route. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro from late afternoon using Machame route as the sunsets at Shira, which takes not less than six days, provides the slide slow as the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, the Machame route offers the adventurous hiker a stunning scenic.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame route has an added advantage of automatically acclimatization to climbers on day three which takes you high to Lava Tower (4630 m) and brings you down by nearly 700m for an overnight at Barranco camp (3950m). The other way of acclimatization is by increasing one more day and make climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame route a seven day activity. Some climbers even decides climbing Mount Kilimanjaro using Machame route for eight days.
OPTION TWO: 7 Days/ 6 Nights Itinerary for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Machame route. 
 
The Machame route is strictly done for not less than 6 days (from 2006) while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro since fewer days spent climbing Mount Kilimanjaro using Machame route bring more risk on Mountain sickness and tiredness which all in all led to less performance to the roof top of Africa the Uhuru peak. The arrival day you will meet our tour guide at arrival point/airport who will transfer you to Moshi in a designated hotel for overnight stay bed and breakfast!!

7 days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route – Day one

Transfer from Moshi town to Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame camp (2980m).
Hiking time: 7 hours.
Distance: About 18 km's.
Habitat: Montane forest.
Elevation change: + 1490 m

Early in the morning the guide of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will be with you for briefing after breakfast around 9:00 am drive to Machame gate which takes about 40 to 45 minutes. With your picnic lunch climbers will do registering at the gate office, thereafter you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. 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 half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Tents and other belonging will be take care by porters and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro guide. Most of the time porters and cook happens to reach to the camping site before you for preparation of meals as well as erection of tents for your accommodation. Sometime weather condition in the night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at Machame campsite.

7 days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route – Day two
Machame camp (2980m) - Shira campsite (3840m). 

Hiking time: 6 hours 
Distance: About 9 km's.
Habitat: Moorland. 
Elevation change: + 860 m

Early in the morning after breakfast, the day is spent to reach Shira campsite (3840 m) with our picnic lunch. The night at this bare camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing. The trail take us for an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for about two hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a picnic lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. Hiking to this point you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its spectacular glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite.

7 days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route – Day three

Shira (3840m) - Lava Tower (4630m) - Barranco camp (3950 m).
Hiking time: 6 hours 
Distance: About 15 km's 
Habitat: Semi desert.
Elevation change: + 790 m, - 680 m
Final Elevation: 3950 m

The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a four hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). Definitely, 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 descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about two 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, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner. 

7 days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route – Day four

Barranco Hut (3950 m) to Karanga Valley Camp (4200 m).
Hiking time: 3 hours 
Distance: About 7 km's 
Habitat: Alpine desert 
Elevation change: + 250 m

The morning starts with a scramble up the almost vertical Barranco Wall to an altitude of about 4,200m. After lunch the climbers are advised to take a rest at this point. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Valley camp.

7 days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route – Day five

Karanga Valley (4200 m) to Barafu camp (4600 m).
Hiking time: 3 hours 
Distance: About 6 km's 
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped.
Elevation change: + 400 m

From here there is no water, so take care to stock them for there is no water at Barafu Hut. It is recommended that the climbers must familiarize with the camp before dark because of this camp is situated on an exposed and dangerous ridge. Dinner and overnight at Barafu camp.

7 days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route – Day six

SUMMIT ATTEMPT, Barafu camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka (3100m)

Hiking time: 6 hours to reach Uhuru Peak. 
5 - 7 hours to descend to Mweka. 
Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent. 
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit. 
Elevation change: + 1345 m, - 2795 m
Final Elevation: 3100 m

You will wake up around 2330hrs, and after some tea and biscuits you start climbing to Uhuru peak into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walks to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared.

7 days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route – Day seven

Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m).
Hiking time: 4 hours.
Distance: About 15 km's 
Habitat: Forest 
Elevation change: - 1120 m

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. At the Mweka Gate, meet Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Officials gives you the Certificate of Achievement. You now drive back to Moshi for a long over due hot shower.

More extra days Kilimanjaro climb through Machame route can as well be arranged to suit your preferences.

Price US$ 1450 per person:
Any additional day is US$ 200

Prince includes:

- 2 Transfers from Moshi to Machame Gate- return.
- All meals for vegetarian/non-vegetarian.
- Accommodation in tents while on a trek.
- 7 days Kilimanjaro trek – Machame route.
- 6 nights accommodation in tents while trekking Machame Route.
- 2 Nights in hotel before and after climb.
- Park fees and government levies.
- English speaking mountains Guide and assistant guides.
- Porters - a minimum of 3 per client.
- First Aid Kit including Oxygen Kit.
- Camping Equipments including sleeping tents, sleeping mats, dining tent, chairs and table.

Kilimanjaro Summit Gear List

. Leather or thermal boots
. Gore-Tex, Microtex or K-Tech Trilaminate jacket
. Gore-Tex, Microtex or K-Tech pants
. Fleece jacket
. Fleece pants
. Gore-Tex mittens or gloves
. Fleece gloves (use as inner for Gore-Tex mittens)
. Thermal glove liners (use as inner for Gore-Tex gloves)
. Gaiters
. Fleece balaclava
. Thermal balaclava
. Thermal top
. Thermal long johns
. Thermal socks
. Sunglasses with UV protection
. Day pack
. Head torch
. Thermal flask

Kilimanjaro Trekking gear: (Wear between camps)
. Rain suit or poncho (mainly used in the rain forest)
. Hiking boots or cross trainers
. Day pack
. Short pants
. Tracksuit pants
. T-shirts
. Sun hat (peak caps do not offer enough protection)
. Woolen socks
. Fleece beanie
. Water bottle

Kilimanjaro General gear & equipment
. Duffel bag
. Walking stick (adjustable)
. Sleeping bag (-10 rating)
. Sleeping mat

Kilimanjaro Helpful hints
. Drink at least three to four litres of water a day.
. Use water filters and purifying pills to minimize stomach bugs.
. Take enough snacks like energy bars, drink mixes, etc.
. Do not move too fast, walk at a slow steady pace.
. Move as lightly as possible, do not carry unnecessary weight.
. All clothing in Duffel bags or backpacks must be protected with sack-liners to avoid getting wet, especially through the rainforest.
. High factor lip balm and sun block is essential.
. Nausea and headache pills should be kept handy on summit night.
. Symptoms of altitude sickness can be reduced by using medication (consult your doctor).
. New boots should be walked-in; this avoids blisters.
. Use a sleeping mat when camping.
. Use a thermal flask on summit night; other water bottles will freeze.
. Allow camera or video camera to acclimatize; do not wrap or place them in plastic bags.
. Thermal glove liners allow easier camera handling on the summit.
. Use only new camera and headlamp batteries on summit night.
. Guides and porters will expect tips; confirm amounts with your tour operator.

 
+ Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climbing/Trekking - Advantages and Disadvantages
+ Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climbing/Trekking - Trekking Preparations
+ Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climbing/Trekking - Weather Condition
+ Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climbing/Trekking - Medication list
+ Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climbing/Trekking - Equipment list
+ Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climbing/Trekking - Meal Menu
+ Kilimanjaro Machame Route Climbing/Trekking - Rescue
 
  Make your reservation here!!  
     
 
Name:
 
E-mail:
 
Phone:
 
City:
 
Country:
 
Enquiry:
     
 
     

You can pay using credit card during your arrival in Tanzania. We currently accept VISA CARD ONLY.

Kilimanjaro Trekking Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route Kilimanjaro Trekking Umbwe Route Kilimanjaro Trekking Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Trekking Rongai Route Kilimanjaro Trekking Western Breach
Kilimanjaro Trekking Shira Route Kilimanjaro Marathon Kilimanjaro Trekking Equipment List Kilimanjaro Weather Climbing Mount Meru Kilimanjaro Trekking Mountain Menu
Kilimanjaro Trekking Future Trips Climbing Mount Oldonyo Lengai        
© All Rights Reserved Cappello Adventures & Safaris - 2013 E-Mail: infodesk@destinationkili.com