Kilimanjaro Hiking Machame Route 7 Days

7 Days
  • 12
  • 65
  • Bus, Mini Van
  • 3 Stars Hotels & Camping
  • 5,895 metres5,895 metres
  • Kilimanjaro (JRO)
  • Jan-Mar, June-Oct & Dec
  • Trekking, Hiking
  • All meals during the trek
  • English, Spanish, French, Chinese
  • Easy to Challenging
  • 2-20

Overview

The Machame Route can be completed in 6 or 7 days. We mostly recommend the 7 day Machame Route over the 6 day Machame Route to allow more time to acclimatize to the high altitude.

The Machame Route (also known as “Whiskey Route”) is a very scenic hiking route. It leads hikers through the montain rain-forest up to the Barranco Wall. The altitude profile of Machame Route 7 days is ideal for acclimatization, allowing climbers to hike to higher altitudes during the day than they’ll be sleeping overnight.

The Machame Route can be completed in 6 or 7 days. We mostly recommend the 7-day Machame Route Itinerary over the 6 day Machame Route Itinerary to allow more time to acclimatize to the high altitude.

We recommend the 7 day Machame route, if you prefer to experience most of Kilimanjaro’s scenic highlights and don’t mind sharing your climb with many others. While even longer routes might further improve your acclimatization to the high altitude, and thereby your summit success chance, the Machame Route has the best altitude acclimatization profile of all 7 days’ routes.

  • Departure and Return Place: Moshi Town to Lemosho Gate and then back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (Google Map)
  • Departure Time: Please be ready by 8:15 AM for a prompt departure at 9:30 AM.
  • Return Time: Approximately 10:30 AM on the last day.
  • Dress Code: Casual. Comfortable athletic clothing, hiking shoes, a hat, cold cold-weather jacket, gloves, pants, and spare clothing.
  • Accommodation: Two nights of accommodations based on Bed and Breakfast at a 3-star hotel (upgrades on request).
  • Extensions: Trip Extensions are available on request.
  • Trip Availability: All year round.

Highlights

  • Traverse five climate zones—from lush rainforest to alpine desert and the Arctic summit zone.
  • Expansive views over the Shira Plateau and Mount Meru on well-paced acclimatization days.
  • Fun, non-technical scramble up the iconic Barranco Wall with dramatic valley panoramas.
  • Climb high, sleep low” profile (Shira–Lava Tower–Barranco) to boost acclimatization and success rate.
  • Pre-dawn summit push from Barafu to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) for a breathtaking sunrise over Africa.
  • Expert guides, strong porter support, and hearty camp meals for safety, comfort, and morale.

Itinerary

  • Day
    01

    Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame Camp (2980m)

    Hiking time: 7 hours

    Distance: Approximately 18 kilometers

    Habitat: Montane forest

    After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha (1400m) and driven to the Machame Village. In the village, you can buy mineral water and will receive a packed lunch. From the village, depending on the road conditions, you will either continue  to drive from the village to the Machame gate, but if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour to complete. After registering at the gate office, 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.Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on your arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.

    Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
    Mountain Camping
  • Day
    02

    Machame Camp (2980m) – Shira Camp (3840m).

    Hiking time: 6 hours

    Distance: Approximately 9 kilometers

    Habitat: Moorland

    After an early morning breakfast, you will start you ascent leaving the rain forest and entering the heathland moorland vegetation. You will cross many streams and walk over a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau that leads to Shira Camp (3840m). At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

    Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
    Mountain Camping
  • Day
    03

    Shira (at 3840m) – Lava Tower (at 4630m) – Barranco camp (at 3950m)

    Hiking time: 7 hours

    Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers

    Habitat: Semi-desert

    Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will be come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower weather permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath.After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Drinking and washing water and dinner will be served as hikers view the sun setting.

    Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
    Mountain Camping
  • Day
    04

    Barranco Camp (3950m) – Karanga Camp (3950m)

    Hiking time: 4-5 hours

    Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers

    Habitat: Alpine desert

    After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. This is an ideal hiking day for acclimatization.

    Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Day
    05

    Karanga Camp (3959m) – Barafu Hut (4600m)

    Hiking time: 2-3 hours

    Distance: Approximately 4 kilometers

    Habitat: Alpine desert

    Following breakfast, you will leave Karanga Camp (3959m). The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!

    Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
    Mountain Camping
  • Day
    06

    Summit Attempt - Barafu camp (4600m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)

    Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka

    Distance: Approximately 7 kilometer ascent and 23 kilometer descent

    Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

    Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours.At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have a dinner, wash, and rest soundly at camp.

    Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
    Mountain Camping
  • Day
    07

    Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)

    Hiking time: 3 hours

    Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers

    Habitat: Forest

    Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). After receiving certificates, you will drive back to your hotel in Moshi.

    Breakfast
    Mountain Camping

Pricing



Kilimanjaro Machame Route – 7 Days Pricing

Number of PeoplePrice in USD
1$2,130
2$1,930
3$1,900
4$1,850
5$1,830
6$1,800
7$1,780
8$1,765
9$1,750
10$1,700

Prices reflect a $150 increase on each original rate.

The Cost Includes

  • All transportation in destination location
  • Hotel accommodations, before and after the trek
  • All government taxes and park entrance fees
  • Airport arrival and departure transfers
  • All meals while on the mountain
  • Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Emergency oxygen cylinders and oximeters
  • Complete expedition medical kits
  • Comfortable sleeping mats
  • All group camping equipment (sleeping tents, dining tent, table, chairs, crockery and cutlery)
  • Portable radios – Taken on every trek to enable convenient communication.
  • Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, chefs, etc.)
  • Experienced professional mountain guides
  • Salaries for the trekking crew
  • Medical evacuations with AMREF Flying doctors
  • Purified water while on the mountain
  • Portable tented private flush toilet
  • Fair and ethical treatment of porters
  • Environment friendly trek

The Cost Excludes

  • Personal gear rentals
  • Tanzania Visa fee
  • Tipping to the trekking crew
  • Travel insurance
  • Any private expenses

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I’m interested in booking, but our group is quite large. Will that be an issue?

We generally aim to keep our public group sizes small, usually no more than ten trekkers, to maintain a more personal experience and preserve the feeling of being in the wilderness. However, if you’re booking as a private group, we’re happy to accommodate you regardless of size, as everyone in your group will already be familiar with one another before arriving in Tanzania.

Can I Book a Private, Fully Customizable Climb of Mount Kilimanjaro?

Absolutely! Your Kilimanjaro adventure can be tailored entirely to your preferences. We’ll collaborate with you to craft a personalized trekking experience, designed around your chosen travel companions, ideal departure date, preferred route, hiking pace, and desired duration. It’s your mountain, your way.

In which country is Mount Kilimanjaro located, and how close is it to the equator?

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania, in East Africa. It lies approximately 350 kilometers south of the equator, with the closest major towns being Moshi and Arusha.

What is the elevation of Mount Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain on Earth and the tallest in Africa, reaches an elevation of 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level at its highest point, Uhuru Peak, located on the Kibo crater.

Do I need any prior experience to take part?

No previous experience is required, but having some background in hiking or climbing can be beneficial. It’s important that you are physically fit, in good health, and equipped with well-worn, sturdy hiking boots. The better your fitness level, the more enjoyable the experience is likely to be.

How long does the hike to Uhuru Peak take?

There are at least six different routes to the summit of Uhuru Peak, ranging in distance from 53 to 73 kilometers, depending on the path you choose. The shortest and most challenging is the 5-day Umbwe Route. Adding extra days to your trek is highly recommended to allow for better acclimatization, which significantly increases your chances of reaching the summit. The Marangu Route is the easiest and most popular option. While it can be completed in five days, we typically allocate six days to ensure a safer and more comfortable ascent.

Is it necessary to hire Guides/trekking agency for Annapurna Base Camp trekking?

Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason.

It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.

I am a vegetarian. What kind of food will be available for me during the trek?

As a vegetarian, you will be provided with a variety of regular vegetarian options such as potatoes, rice, pasta, vegetables, eggs, cheese, sandwiches, and fruit. Please make sure to inform your tour operator in advance if you have any food allergies or medical dietary requirements. For non-vegetarians, meals may include sausages, chicken, and meat. Beverages like tea, coffee, and hot chocolate will also be available.

Is tipping the hiking crew customary?

Yes, tipping is both expected and greatly appreciated. The recommended amount typically ranges from $150 to $300 per hiker, depending on the length of the trip. All tips are pooled and distributed among the entire crew. Please bring US dollar bills for this purpose.

Is it possible to charge electronic devices while on Mount Kilimanjaro?

Charging electronic devices on Mount Kilimanjaro is not possible, as there are no charging stations available on the mountain. We highly recommend bringing fully charged power banks and extra batteries to keep your devices powered during the trek. However, if you’re combining your climb with a safari, our safari vehicles are equipped with charging ports for your convenience.

Who operates your treks in Tanzania?

We do. We’re not intermediaries or agents; we organize and lead all our treks through our own locally based Tanzanian company. You can be confident that anyone you speak to on our team has firsthand experience climbing Kilimanjaro, often multiple times.

How can you protect yourself from the sun in Tanzania?

Since Tanzania is located close to the equator, the sun remains intense for much of the day. This strong sunlight can lead to sunburn and heat-related illnesses like sunstroke. To stay safe, it’s important to wear a hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen with a high SPF.

Do you have any special dietary needs?

Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, celiac, lactose intolerant, or have any allergies, please let us know in advance so we can accommodate your requirements.

Do You Provide Private and Fully Customizable Kilimanjaro Climbing Expeditions?

Your Kilimanjaro adventure is completely tailored to you. We collaborate closely to create the perfect Tanzanian mountain experience that matches your vision. Choose your own team, set your preferred departure date, select your route, and determine the pace and duration of your climb.

Is the Crater Camp Stop Available on Kilimanjaro Climbs?

An overnight stay at Crater Camp is an optional addition to customized Kilimanjaro climbs, typically included on routes lasting eight days or more, such as Shira, Lemosho, Umbwe, and Machame. This unique and extraordinary campsite is visited by fewer than 5% of the 40,000 to 50,000 climbers who summit Kilimanjaro each year, offering a rare and unforgettable highland experience in northern Tanzania.

How many hours can I expect to trek each day?

On most routes, daily trekking typically lasts between 4 and 7 hours. However, some routes include longer days where you might trek for 10 to 15 hours.

Will I encounter wildlife during the trek?

Before the climb begins, you’ll have an acclimatization day featuring nature walks and opportunities to observe local wildlife. While trekking through the rainforest, you can expect to see black-and-white Colobus monkeys, various tropical birds, and other fascinating creatures.

What meals can I expect to eat?

Each day, expert chefs prepare three hot, nutritious meals along with trail snacks and afternoon tea. You’ll enjoy your meals in a sunlit dining tent alongside your fellow trekkers and the head guide. We offer delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other specialty options. Just let us know in advance. If you’d like, we can also send you a sample menu, just ask!

What accommodations can I expect during a Kilimanjaro trek?

On your Kilimanjaro adventure, expert camp porters set up and take down the mountain camps daily. You’ll stay in double-occupancy, all-weather tents equipped with full-ground pads to keep you and your belongings dry. Each camp features private toilet tents, solar-lit dining tents furnished with tables and chairs, and basins of hot water for washing. For those on the Grand Traverse route, accommodations are upgraded to solar-lit, walk-in-height sleeping tents furnished with mountaineering beds and mattresses for added comfort.

Who manages your operations in Tanzania?

We manage all operations directly. We are not agents for any third party; instead, we conduct the treks ourselves through our own locally registered Tanzanian company.

Do you provide airport pickup and drop-off services?

Yes, we offer airport transfer services. Kindly send your request to Safari for arrangements.

Which travel documents are required?

You must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, along with a properly endorsed entry or re-entry visa.

What is the ideal time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

Although Mount Kilimanjaro is climbable year-round, most hikers choose the dry seasons, from December to March and June to October, for more favorable weather. Among these, January, February, and September are often regarded as the best months for the climb.

Two Nights' Hotel Accommodations Before and after the Kilimanjaro hiking adventure, we recommend the following options: Stay two nights with bed and breakfast at Parkview InnPanama Garden Resort, Shose Farmhouse and Chalets, Brubru Lodge, or Salinero Hotels.