8 days Adventure Machame Route

Route Overview

The Machame path is certainly the busiest on the mountain due to its high success rate and attractiveness. You have an amazing trek over the course of 7 days and a great chance of summiting successfully.

The ascent starts at Machame Gate, 1800 meters above sea level, with an approach to the mountain’s south-west. On the first day, it travels through a magnificent rainforest before continuing upward to Shira Camp, where the Lemosho route connects from the west. From here, you must travel around the mountain’s southern flank to Barranco via the Lava Tower before ascending the Great Barranco Wall to reach Barafu Camp. Instead of going back the way you came, you will take the Mweka trail down once you’ve reached the summit.

The Machame route is known as the “Whiskey Route” because it is seen as being more challenging than the Marangu path, which is known as the “Coca Cola Route.” In actuality, it is longer and at some points steeper than it is technically challenging. A considerably better chance of acclimatization is provided by the longer distance and the chance to “walk high, sleep low,” which leads to a very high success rate.

For people who haven’t hiked much at high elevations, the Machame route is a decent seven-day trip with an effective extra day of acclimatization, improving success rates. Mountaineers with experience and acclimatization may choose the more challenging 6-day ascent along the Machame route.

Route Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

To get to Kilimanjaro International Airport, every hiker must arrange their own flights (JRO). We will set up a private transfer for you from JRO to your hotel. You will meet your local Tito Tanzania representative that evening or early the next morning and receive a thorough pre-climb briefing.

Transport: Private transfer (0.8 hour, 40 km)
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2: From Machame Gate to Machame Camp

To register, take a ride from your accommodation to Machame Gate. Before we begin our trek through the forest trail to Machame Camp at 3000m, our porters prepare and load our supplies and bags. We’ll spend the night here.

Transport: Private transfer (0.8 hour, 30 km)
Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
Ascent: 1200 m
altitude: 3000 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Following breakfast, we go off on foot, leaving the rainforest behind. We gradually climb our way up to a steep, rocky slope that is covered in heather. Until we reach Shira Camp, our path now curves to the west along a river gorge. Tonight will be significantly colder than last night, with potential lows below zero.

Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
Ascent: 850 m
altitude: 3850 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 4: Shira Camp to Barranco Camp Via Lava Tower

We will ascend to 4600 meters today and descend to the Lava Tower’s base for lunch and acclimatization. Our hardest day thus far will be today, and you might feel the effects of the altitude for the first time. Following the acclimatization maxim “hike high, sleep low,” we will descend by over 650 meters again to Barranco Camp after lunch. We descend to Barranco Camp over a two-hour period, which provides wonderful possibilities to capture some breathtaking images of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is located in a valley between the Great Barranco Wall and the Breach.

Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
Ascent: 750 m
Descent: 650 m
altitude: 4600 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Campngeti – Ngorongoro Crater

A quick but enjoyable day that begins with a climb up the Great Barranco Wall. To reach the Karanga Valley (3930m), which is located beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten, and Decken Glaciers, we then travel through scree. At the campsite at Karanga, we’ll spend the night.

Hiking time: 4 hours
Ascent: 260 m
Descent: 280 m
altitude: 4210 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 6: From Karanga Camp to Barafu Hut

In order to reach the intersection with the Mweka downhill trail, we leave the Karanga campground behind. We then ascend to Barafu Camp from here. You have now finished the Southern Circuit, which gives numerous perspectives of the summit. We may rest, eat dinner, and get ready for the summit day in camp. From here, it is possible to see Mawenzi and Kibo’s two peaks in full view.

Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Ascent: 670 m
altitude: 4600 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 7: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp

Around 23:30, tea and cakes will awaken you. Starting between the Rebman and Ratzel glaciers, we ascend to Stella Point on the crater rim on our ascent to the summit. The hardest portion of the walk both psychologically and physically is this. We’ll take a little break at Stella Point (5732m), where we’re hoping to arrive in time to see the spectacular sunrise (weather permitting). The highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro on the African continent, Uhuru Peak (5895m), is now only an hour away. We take Barafu for lunch before descending to Mweka camp site from the peak. You’ll need trekking poles for the loose scree leading down to Mweka Camp (3100m). We will have our final meal on the mountain later in the evening before a well-deserved rest.

Hiking time: 14 – 16 hours
Ascent: 1295 m
Descent: 2795 m
altitude: 5895 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 8: Departure

We’ll say farewell after a much-needed night of rest. If you have scheduled an airport transport with us, a safari, or a vacation to Zanzibar, we will pick you up in the morning for your next destination.

Transport: Private transfer (0.8 hour, 40 km)
Meals included: Breakfast