7 Days Machame Route Itinerary and Local village tour
Climb Via Machame Route For 7 Days/6 nights (Camping) And Local Vilage Tour
Highlights
The Machame route is a favorite and popular on the mountain, which is famously known as the Whiskey Route. This route allows you to “climb high, sleep low,” giving your body adequate time to adjust to the changes in altitude over several days. Known for being beautifully scenic, the Machame Route also has the best summit success rate. Whether you’re a well-seasoned adventurer or a first-time high-altitude climber, this route is great for both. Moreover, including the local village tour in your itinerary before embarking on a big Mt. Kilimanjaro adventure is a great way to acclimatize, experience the local culture, and prepare mentally and physically for the big climb ahead.
Day 1, Moshi town:
Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), you will be greeted by our warm, friendly guide(s). After the long international flight, you will be transferred to a nearby hotel to rest and relax. During the daytime on your way from KIA to the hotel, you may get to view the mountain, which showed itself for some time before being shrouded in clouds. Overnight in the hotel in Moshi town; notice the sounds and smells of Moshi town all around you.
Accommodation: Lodge in Moshi Meal: Breakfast
Day 2: Marangu Village & Coffee Tour (recommended for acclimatization)
After breakfast, you will drive from your hotel for 45 minutes to Marangu village for the local tour. If you would be interested, we will prepare local food, which we can share. The name Marangu comes from the local Chagga ‘word meaning spring water,’ and the village itself is located in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, about 40 km from Moshi town. This one-day trip tour takes you to various natural and cultural sites around Marangu.
Activities
- Waterfalls (Kinukamori, Ndoro & Kilasia) – Make a splash in the mountain water of Kilimanjaro and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding valleys.
- Chagga Museum – The Chagga culture and history can be explored by visiting the museum. There are several exhibitions including a reconstructed thatched Chagga house.
- Underground Chagga Tunnels – These tunnels were used many years back (before independence) by the Chagga people to hide from enemies during clan wars.
- Local Bar – Drop into one of the local Chagga bars and drink the traditional “mbege” a local brew made from millet and banana wine. Coffee and Banana Farms – Visit coffee farms and a local home where you can enjoy local dishes and learn the traditional process of preparing coffee.
- Short hike – Hike to Ndoro Waterfall through the beautiful rainforest, and enjoy the breathtaking 80-meter-high Materuni Waterfall. Swim in the refreshing natural pool (optional; please bring swimwear if you’re interested).
- After the nature walk to the waterfall and lunch, you will proceed with the Coffee Tour & Experience. Here, you will learn the complete process of traditional coffee-making, from bean to cup. You will have the chance to participate in coffee de-pulping, roasting, and grinding using traditional tools like the mortar and pestle. You can also enjoy a fresh cup of locally brewed organic coffee. Later, you will begin your drive back, arriving in Moshi by 4:30 PM.
Overnight: Lodge in Moshi Meal: Breakfast
Day 3: Machame Gate (1800 m) – Machame Camp (2835m)
Leave your hotel after breakfast and drive to Machame Gate to meet your guides and porters. After registration, you are ready to start the climb using a well-maintained trail through Montane Forest. On the way you’ll walk through denser rainforest plantations where you will also get a very close chance of witnessing Black and White Colobus monkeys with their attracting fluffy tails, as well as many different species of brightly-coloured birds. Machame Gate to Machame Camp is about 3000 m. Hiking time is 5-7 hours through the thick tropical forest.
- Distance: 11 km/ 8 miles
- Hiking time: 5-7hrs
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Altitude gained: 1035m
Day 4: Machame Camp-Shira Cave Camp (3750 m)
After breakfast, you will start your hike on a slightly steeper gradient along a rocky ridge to Shira Plateau through the moorland vegetation zone. Along the ridge to Shira camp, you will enjoy the view of various geological features. Then, after a few hours, you will get to Shira, which is located on the Shira Plateau, providing views of Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. Hiking time is 4-5 hours.
- Distance: 7 km / 4 miles
- Hiking time: 4-5hrs
- Habitat: Moorland
- Altitude gained: 915m
Day 5: Shira Camp-Barranco Camp (3900m) via Lava Tower Camp (4600 m)
Today the route takes you into semi-desert/alpine desert with rocky landscapes and surrounding Lava Tower of 300 feet high with rocky scree at its base. At Lava Tower Camp (4600 m), you will have your hot lunch before descending to Barranco Camp for the overnight. This day is an important day for acclimatization as you apply the “Climb High Sleep Low Principle” before spending the night at Barranco. You will ascend through the moorlands to the alpine zone, where the only plant life is the heartiest of grasses and lichens. Hiking time is 5 to 6 hours.
- Distance: 10 km/ 6 miles
- Hiking time: 6hrs
- Habitat: Moorland and Alpine Desert
- Altitude gained: 850m
Day 6: Barranco Camp (3900m) – Karanga Valley Camp (3995m)
On this day after breakfast, you will scramble the Barranco wall (not a technical climb) and then follow the Kibo South Circuit. This is a relatively short day, and you should arrive at your camp located just after the Karanga Valley set atop a ridge by lunchtime. Today is a valuable acclimatization day, as you will be walking for the morning only and descending various ridges and valleys during your walk. Hiking time is 3 to 4 hours.
- Distance: 6 km/3.7 miles
- Hiking time: 3-4hrs
- Habitat: Moorland
- Altitude gained: 100m
Day 7: Karanga Valley Camp (3995m) – Barafu Camp (4640m) or Kosovo Camp (4700m)
As we begin trekking today, the trail is steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape sparser as we work our way to Barafu Camp. Barafu is a Swahili word that means “ice.” The camp is set on an exposed ridge and is the staging point for our push to the summit, which offers stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit from various angles.
Sometime after signing in at Barafu Camp, you will continue to walk to Kosovo Camp for the overnight. Those who start their summit push from the Kosovo camp, have a high succession rate to make it to the top compared to those who start their summit push from the Barafu camp, and to overnight here a prior permit is required before entering the park at an additional cost of $120 per person. Once again, you should arrive by late noon, allowing plenty of time to rest before the final summit attempt. Hiking time is 4 to 5 hours.
- Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
- Hiking time: 4hrs
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Altitude gained: 650m
Day 8: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka High Camp (3100m)
A long and hard day! Leaving your campsite between midnight and 1:00am, the climb from Barafu to Stella Point is fairly steep. The trail heads northwest through the heavy stone following multiple switchbacks between Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers until you reach Stella Point (5,685 m). You will reach Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro, at 19,340 feet, around 8 a.m. At this early hour, before the clouds close in, we have spectacular views of Africa in all directions, taking pictures and cheers for a few minutes. The hiking time is 7 to 8 hours.
You then head back down via the Mweka route. The section from Uhuru down to Barafu (4 hours) is scree (as on the way up).
Then at Barafu Camp, you will have a 1-2 hour rest, and then you will be awakened for lunch and hot water. Then, after lunch, you head down through the various vegetation zones, on a continual downhill, into Mweka Camp, which is located on the edge of the rainforest area (3-4 hours from Barafu Camp). It is a long descent, and trekking poles are highly recommended. Congratulations! You made it to the Roof of Africa!
- Distance: 17 km/ 10.5 miles
- Hiking time: 10-14hrs
- Habitat: Arctic to Rainforest zone
- Altitude gained: 1255m
Day 9: Mweka Camp – Moshi town.
After a fantastic breakfast, you will begin the easiest part of your adventure on Mt. Kilimanjaro via a scenic path through the forest to Mweka Gate. Our last hike will be of 3 to 4 hours. The hike is steep in some places and may be slippery if wet, so again we recommend that you use trekking poles. Successful hikers who make it to Stella Point and Uhuru Peak will be awarded their certificates at the Mweka gate, which is signed by the head guide. At the gate, you will say goodbye to your mountain crew and enjoy a picnic lunch. The trip leaders will take you back to your hotel for a much-welcome hot shower and a celebration dinner.
Accommodation: Lodge or Hotel in Moshi Meals: Breakfast
Moshi town/departure:
For those returning home, you will be transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch your flight. Those continuing on safari will be picked up at your hotel for the continuation of your Tanzania Unforgettable tour.
Package Includes:-
- All Kilimanjaro National Park gate fees, camping/hut fees and climbing permits.
- Tanzania VAT on tourism activities
- Big services on the mountain
- Some mountain equipment like sleeping mats, water bottles, walking poles etc.
- 2 Nights’ accommodation at the Hotel in Moshi, on a bed and breakfast basis before and after a climb, (lunch and dinner can be arranged on request at additional cost)
- Hotel accommodation includes storage facilities for excess luggage during hikes
- All transfers from arrival/departure and crew transfer to the starting gate
- Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees.
- The chief guide carries a Pulse Oximeter, used to take blood-oxygen level readings of clients
- Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summiting aid)
- Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only)
- Qualified and well-trained mountain guide with WFR certificate, assistant guides, cook and porters
- Salaries for the mountain support crew, as per required KINAPA, KPAP, TPO and KPA minimum payments
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as unlimited hot drinks (coffee, Milo, milk powder, green tea etc.) and starters on the mountain
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, camp chairs, camp tables, mess tent)
- Warm water for washing up daily
- Porter to carry your duffel bag (stuff), with a maximum weight of 19kg from one camp to the next camp and the weight decreased as we move from one camp to another.
- Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt
- All country taxes, Tour Commission and QT
- Private mobile toilet
Package Excludes:-
- International flights
- Travel and personal accident insurance
- Visa and Passport
- Climbing equipment (clothes), if requested will be there to be hired at an additional cost of $150 per person, which will include all the gear listed in our Kilimanjaro climbing list.
- Kosovo Camping fee ($120 per person)
- Vaccinations & medicines
- Tips/gratuities for guides, cooks and porters (guide $25-$30per day, chef $20-$25 per day and porters $10-$15 per porter per day)
- Other expenditures like luxury drinks/beverages, alcoholic drinks at lodges/hotels or on your trip as well as souvenirs and personal items after or before the trip.
- Optional excursions/activities not detailed in the itinerary
- Any additional services that will be requested.
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