Kilimanjaro Machame Route – 7 Hiking Days + 2 Nights Hotel
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Kilimanjaro Machame route is, arguably, the most scenic and most beautiful route of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The trek begins on the southwestern side of the mountain at the Machame Gate and descends down the Mweka route in the South East, thus offering climbers the most varied scenery. Additionally, the Machame route takes you through stunning sights such as Shira Plateau, Baranco Wall, and Lava Tower.
Machame route is known as the “Whiskey Route” in comparison to the Marangu route (“Coca-Cola Route”) because it is considered a more difficult route, and trekkers sleep in camping tents—as opposed to mountain huts. This also makes it the second most popular route.
Kilimanjaro Machame route is ideal for those who want a more intense experience, and are confident in their abilities to hike for long periods of time over somewhat steep terrain. The route takes a minimum of six days to complete—our choice is now a seven-day expedition to allow adequate time to rest before the summit push. The descent is down Mweka, on the southeastern side of the mountain.
Things to Keep in Mind
- The Kilimanjaro summit push and subsequent descent is a highly physically and mentally exerting hike. The high elevation gain, coupled with inadequate sleep, low oxygen, and harsh weather, immensely impacts your performance.
- For this reason, we require pre-qualification through high-altitude endurance training, and we have a variety of high altitude hikes in our calendar for you to consider.
- Our Roadmap to Kilimanjaro program is a good choice if the schedule suits you, but you can also talk to us to prepare a customized plan.
Kilimanjaro Machame Route 7 Days Itinerary
We leave Nairobi at 6:30 a.m bound for Moshi, Tanzania, where we will meet our mountain guides for briefing and gear check. Thereafter, we shall have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, we'll be picked up from the hotel and to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Machame for entry registration and then start the trek to Machame Camp through the thick rain forest.
We shall have packed lunch at a picnic site along the trail. At the camp, we shall freshen up, have dinner and retire for the day at Machame Camp.
Distance: 11km | Elevation Gain: 1,035m | Hiking Time: 5-7 hours | Terrain: Rain Forest | Difficulty: Moderate
After breakfast, we ascend through ridges and valleys heading to the next stop at Shira Cave Camp. We shall have packed lunch at a picnic site along the trail. Later on, after getting to the camp, we shall explore the Shira Plateau and caves and then introduce ourselves to the entire crew, sing, and dance, before retiring to our tents for the night.
Distance: 6km | Elevation Gain: 915m | Hiking Time: 4-6 hours | Terrain: Moorland | Difficulty: Moderate
We head eastward to a junction where we continue to Lava Tower Camp (4600m), then descend to Baranco camp, thus allowing your body to adjust to altitude change. We shall have packed lunch at a picnic site along the trail.
Distance: 10km | Elevation Gain: 850m | Hiking Time: 6-8 hours | Terrain: Semi-desert | Difficulty: Moderate
After breakfast, we hike the Great Barranco Wall, by the Kissing Rock, upon Jiwe La Picha, then across the Karanga Valley, and up to Karanga Camp (3,995m) where we shall have a hot lunch and pitch camp for the nigh
Distance: 6km | Elevation Gain: 200m | Hiking Time: 3-4 hours | Terrain: Alpine desert | Difficulty: Moderate
After breakfast, we will continue hiking to the base camp, Barafu Camp. Here, we shall take the rest of the day to rest, ready for the hike to the summit later.
Distance: 4km | Elevation Gain: 678m | Hiking Time: 4-6 hours | Terrain: Alpine desert | Difficulty: Strenuous
We arise, have a cup of coffee or black tea, and start the midnight trek to the summit via Stella Point. We aim to reach the summit, Uhuru Peak, at daybreak, celebrate our moment, have a short break, and then descend to Barafu camp for breakfast. We shall rest a little, have brunch, and then continue down to High Camp (Millennium Camp) for the last night’s rest.
Distance: 5km ascent and 9km descent | Maximum Elevation Gain: 1,222m | Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent & 4-6 hours descent | Terrain: Arctic | Difficulty: Very Strenuous
After breakfast, we will have a farewell and thanksgiving session with the crew before commencing our walk down past Mweka Camp (3,100m) to conclude our expedition at Mweka Gate (1,640m), where we will bid farewell to the larger mountain crew. We shall have a packed lunch on the way to our hotel in Moshi. Thereafter, enjoy a leisurely afternoon and your celebratory dinner.
Congratulations on conquering yourself on the Roof of Africa!
Distance: 13.5 km | Hiking Time: 4–6 hours | Terrain: Rain Forest | Difficulty: Moderate
After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and board our buses by 09:00 to begin our journey back to Nairobi. We will bid Moshi and Kilimanjaro farewell with fuller hearts and rich memories, having conquered ourselves on top of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain!
Kilimanjaro Marangu Route Itinerary Notes
Transport
We’ll travel together as a group from Nairobi in pre-procured public shuttle services. Departure is from the Nairobi Riverside Shuttle Terminus, located opposite Jeevanjee Gardens on Monrovia Street, with drop-off at Lindrin Lodge, Moshi.
Assistance
- Our mountain climbing guides are knowledgeable about altitude-related illnesses and have experience in handling related incidents.
- The Outdoorer team accompanying you includes a skilled paramedic to administer basic first aid in the event of an injury or illness.
- Oxygen tanks are provided, depending on the group size, for use in case of altitude sickness-related emergencies.
- Your ticket includes air rescue coverage for medical emergencies at no additional cost.
- Kilimanjaro National Park Rescue team has a VHF communication system to convey messages to all stations on the mountain, and also provides wheeled stretchers for ground evacuation.
- Our guides use mobile phones to contact the offices throughout the climb.
- Regular porters are hired to carry your climbing gear and other supplies.
- Accommodation in hotels and dorms is on a shared basis (two people per room). Meals at the hotel are on Bed and Breakfast.
Eligibility Criteria
Due to the high exertion levels linked to this expedition, we may only accept participants who:
- Completed the Outdoorer Rookie Program or Beginner to Mt. Kenya Program within the past year and undertook at least two preparatory hikes in the Roadmap to Kilimanjaro Program in the quarter preceding this expedition; or
- Are advanced hikers who satisfactorily completed at least two high-altitude hikes in the quarter preceding this expedition.
Required Travel Documents
- Passport or temporary permit
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate
What to Wear & Carry?
Click this button to view and download the Kilimanjaro Gear Checklist.
Charges
- East African: US$880
- Non-East African US$2,220
USD bank account will be provided once we approve your application.
Trip Includes & Cancellation Policy
Included in your ticket
The Outdoorer Promise:
- 7:1 hiker to guide ratio on day hikes and 4:1 hiker to guide ratio on expeditions.
- Additional guidance and support from Outdoorer Champions.
- At least one skilled paramedic (up to 5 depending on the group size).
- A thorough emergency action plan for any emergencies that may arise.
- Other ticket-includes as detailed below.
Kilimanjaro-Includes:
- Transport from Nairobi and back.
- All meals while on the climb.
- Tent accommodation on the mountain–two people sharing a tent.
- Hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast before and after the expedition–2 people sharing a room, own bed.
- All park and camping fees.
- Ground rescue fees, and oxygen cylinders for emergency cases.
- Guides’, porters’, and other crew’s remuneration.
- Services of a skilled mountain paramedic.
- Air rescue coverage for medical emergencies.
Excluded
- Items of personal nature, including clothes, shoes, sleeping bags, and rucksacks.
- Tips to guides and porters (group tipping is recommended for fair distribution).
- Anything else not explicitly listed in the "Included" list.