Machame Route 6 Days Kilimanjaro Climb, the Machame route, also called the Whisky Route is one of the most scenic and recommended routes on Kilimanjaro. This popular route with paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. The Machame route is considered a difficult route, and is better suited for more adventurous trekkers and those with some hiking or backpacking experience. The Machame route approaches the summit from the southwest and descends using the Mweka route.
Arrival and Briefing
We shall pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. After checking in the hotel you will get a briefing about your next day’s and check trek equipment gears. You should be planning to arrive at least one day before the start of the trek
Starting from Moshi to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park takes a 45-minute drive. We shall stop to Machame Gate for registration while enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. After some time we start our ascent along the forest trail to Machame Camp at 3000m. We shall stay here for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, we start walking, leaving the rainforest behind, and continue our on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite, the trek takes 4-5 hours. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. It is filled with the lava flow from Kibo and its rim has eroded and been blasted away by weather and volcanic action. We shall stay here for dinner and overnight.
This day is very important for acclimatization. From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). Our walk to Barranco Camp takes about 2 hours and gives us opportunities to see Western Breach and Breach Wall. We shall stay here for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up to the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley. Then, we leave Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. On this day, there is alpine desert and you can see the view of Mount Meru to your right-side, the hike to the Karanga Valley takes around 3-4 hours. In the evening we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the next day.
From Karanga we continue up to the Barafu Camp (4650m), “Barafu” means to “ice” in Swahili. Barafu Camp is the final stop on the Southern Circuit before the summit, which offers views of the summit from many different zones. Barranco Valley has unique landscape and flora including the Dendrosenecio kilimanjari, or giant groundsels. The hike typically takes about 4-5 hours to cover 4 kilometers. Later on you have to rest and prepare for the final summit, dinner and overnight at Barafu camp.
Early in the morning, we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers through heavy scree up to Stella Point on the crater rim. At Stella Point (5732m), you will stop for a short rest. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro. From the summit, we descend down to Mweka camp site, via Barafu Camp for lunch. Trekking poles will be needed for the loose scree going down to Mweka Camp (3100m). We shall stay for dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. After that our tour guide will drive you to Moshi where you will check in the hotel for relaxation before travel back home.
