Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route

Sometimes called the Whisky Route. This is a popular route up steep paths through magnificent forests over a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau.

From $1999
Whiskey Route with World Adventure Tours
Machame or the “Whisky Route” is a popular track that goes up steep paths through forests and over a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then continues beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Ice fields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. An extra day could be added to the itinerary, best spent on the Shira Plateau, where you could walk to the Shira Needles. Experienced groups could omit camping at Karanga River. After the summit, the Mweka Route is used for the descent.

Accommodation on the mountain is in tents, which the porters will pitch for you. You will need a sleeping bag, warm clothes, and walking poles. This is a steep, tough trek within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas.

For other Mount Kilimanjaro options, please check out the Coca-Cola or Lemosho routes. If you want to mountain bike up Mount Kili instead of hike, take a look at the Kilema route. Please also check out our Nepal trips to Island Peak, Everest Base Camp, and the Annapurna trek.

 

Download Travel Plan as pdf

Day 1

KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – MOSHI | SPRINGLANDS HOTEL   

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be picked up and transferred to Springlands Hotel or similar for an overnight bed and breakfast.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

Day 2

MOSHI  |  MACHAME PARK GATE  |  MACHAME CAMP 

Altitude: 1,800 m –  3,100 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 6 hours

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Park Gate. You will receive a packed lunch box at the gate and we advise you to bring bottled water available to purchase at Springlands Hotel in Moshi. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent by entering the rainforest. There is a possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy, and slippery experience. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water. The cook will prepare dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can drop to freezing point at Machame camp.

Day 3

MACHAME CAMP  |  SHIRA CAMP 

Altitude: 3,100 m –  3,840 m

Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 4–5 hours

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast, you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest where you will be met with a gentler gradient through the moorland zone, where you will walk for another 2 hours. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike, you will reach the Shira camp at 3,840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving you dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be even colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Day 4

SHIRA CAMP  |  LAVA TOWER  |  BARRANCO CAMP 

Altitude: 3,840 m –  3,940 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 7–8 hours

The route now turns east exposing you to a semi-desert and a rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4600m). This will be the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, that some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch, you descend again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. The descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours where you will get great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner and eventual overnight at Barranco camp.

Day 5

BARRANCO CAMP  |  KARANGA CAMP

Altitude: 3,940 m –  4,035 m

Hiking distance: 6 km
Hiking time: 4–5 hours

After breakfast we leave Barranco camp, hiking up Barranco Wall, which takes about an hour. You will then continue your way to Karanga camp, which translates to “Peanut camp”. This path has varying ascents and descents, which is a perfect way for you to enjoy your afternoon hike acclimatizing to your new surroundings.

Day 6

KARANGA CAMP  |  BARAFU CAMP 

Altitude: 4,035 m –  4,670 m

Hiking distance: 4 km
Hiking time:

3–4 hours

Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski sticks, and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries – make sure that you have a spare set available! To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep, but remember not more than 5 hours of sleep.

Day 7

BARAFU CAMP  |  SUMMIT  | MWEKA CAMP 

Altitude: 4,670 m –  5, 895 m – 3,100 m

Hiking distance: 17 km
Hiking time: 15+ hours

You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through the heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella Point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life! The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest, because you need to collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 8

MWEKA CAMP  |  MWEKA PARK GATE  |  MOSHI | SPRINGLANDS HOTEL 

Altitude: 3,100 m –  1,800 m

Hiking distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours

After Breakfast, from the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into Mweka village, normally a muddy hour walk. From Mweka village, you will be driven to Springlands Hotel where you will be served a delicious hot lunch, not to mention your chance to take a long overdue hot shower. Overnight in Springlands Hotel.  At your discretion, tips are recommended, as well as highly appreciated at the end of the trip. Tips can be given to the guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5,685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

Day 9

KILIMANJARO AIRPORT | DEPARTURE

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.

Download Travel Plan as pdf

Day 1

KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – MOSHI | SPRINGLANDS HOTEL   

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be picked up and transferred to Springlands Hotel or similar for an overnight bed and breakfast.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

Day 2

MOSHI  |  MACHAME PARK GATE  |  MACHAME CAMP 

Altitude: 1,800 m –  3,100 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 6 hours

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Park Gate. You will receive a packed lunch box at the gate and we advise you to bring bottled water available to purchase at Springlands Hotel in Moshi. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent by entering the rainforest. There is a possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy, and slippery experience. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water. The cook will prepare dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can drop to freezing point at Machame camp.

Day 3

MACHAME CAMP  |  SHIRA CAMP 

Altitude: 3,100 m –  3,840 m

Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 4–5 hours

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast, you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest where you will be met with a gentler gradient through the moorland zone, where you will walk for another 2 hours. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike, you will reach the Shira camp at 3,840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving you dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be even colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Day 4

SHIRA CAMP  |  LAVA TOWER  |  BARRANCO CAMP 

Altitude: 3,840 m –  3,940 m

Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 7–8 hours

The route now turns east exposing you to a semi-desert and a rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4600m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4600m). This will be the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, that some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch, you descend again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. The descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours where you will get great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner and eventual overnight at Barranco camp.

Day 5

BARRANCO CAMP  |  KARANGA CAMP | BARAFU CAMP

Altitude: 3,960 m –  4,550 m

Hiking distance: 13 km
Hiking time: 7 hours

Exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, walking sticks, and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure that you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at around about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep for not more than 5 hours.

Day 6

BARAFU CAMP | SUMMIT | MWEKA CAMP 

Altitude: 4,670 m –  5,895 m – 3,100 m

Hiking distance: 17 km
Hiking time: 15+ hours

You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you will shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella Point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685 m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will normally encounter snow on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Camp (3100m) for dinner and overnight.

Day 7

MWEKA CAMP  |  MWEKA PARK GATE  |  MOSHI | SPRINGLANDS HOTEL 

Altitude: 3,100 m –  1,800 m

Hiking distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 
4–5 hours

After Breakfast, from the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into Mweka village, normally a muddy hour walk. From Mweka village, you will be driven to Springlands Hotel where you will be served a delicious hot lunch, not to mention your chance to take a long overdue hot shower. Overnight in Springlands Hotel.  At your discretion, tips are recommended, as well as highly appreciated at the end of the trip. Tips can be given to the guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5,685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates.

Overnight at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast) or Similar.

Day 8

KILIMANJARO AIRPORT | DEPARTURE

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.

Moshi, TZ
7:31 pm, March 27, 2023
31°C
broken clouds
Wind: 6 mph
Pressure: 1011 mb
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 6:33 am
Sunset: 6:38 pm
Machame, TZ
7:31 pm, March 27, 2023
28°C
light rain
Wind: 3 mph
Pressure: 1013 mb
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 6:33 am
Sunset: 6:39 pm

Included in the price:

  • Two nights accommodation in Moshi bed and breakfast
  • Airport transfers
  • Transportation from Moshi to the starting point on the mountain and return to Moshi
  • National Park gate fees, hut/camping fees
  • Rescue fees, tents, and sleeping mattresses
  • Guides’ salaries, porters’ salaries, and all meals on the mountain
  • Guides, porters, and cooks’ accommodation and entry fees on the mountain

Excluded from the price:

  • Domestic or International flights
  • Entry visa to Tanzania
  • Travel and health insurance
  • Single room supplement at Springlands Hotel
  • Guides, porters, and cook tips
  • Mountain gear e.g. sleeping bags, clothes, and shoes but some climbing gear will be available for hire at Springlands Hotel

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