6 Days Kilimanjaro Climb - Machame Route | Afromasai Eastern Safaris

Elevate your travel experience with a 6-day Kilimanjaro Climb along the iconic Machame Route. This carefully curated itinerary not only ensures proper acclimatization but also provides a sensory feast as you traverse diverse terrains. From the emerald green of the rainforest to the rugged beauty of the Barranco Wall and the icy expanse near Uhuru Peak, every step is a testament to your determination to conquer Africa’s highest summit.

Understand The Machame Route (The Whiskey Route) on 6 Days Kilimanjaro Climb

The Machame Route, often referred to as “The Whiskey Route,” is one of the most popular and scenic routes for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This route is favored for its diverse landscapes and offers trekkers a well-rounded experience as they ascend to the summit of Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Kilimanjaro. Here are key characteristics and highlights of the Machame Route:

Scenery and Landscapes:
- The Machame Route is renowned for its stunning and varied scenery. The trek begins in the lush rainforest, providing a rich biodiversity and a chance to observe unique flora and fauna.
- As climbers ascend, the landscape transitions through heath and moorland, with expansive views of the Shira Plateau and the Kibo summit.
Barranco Wall:
- One of the iconic features of the Machame Route is the Barranco Wall, a steep rock face that trekkers must ascend. This section adds an element of excitement and challenge to the climb, requiring some basic rock scrambling skills.
Acclimatization:
- The Machame Route is designed to optimize acclimatization with a “climb high, sleep low” approach. This helps climbers adjust gradually to the increasing altitude, reducing the risk of altitude sickness.
Alpine Desert and Arctic Zone:
- As the route progresses, climbers enter the alpine desert zone, characterized by a stark and rocky landscape devoid of much vegetation. This leads to the Arctic zone near the summit, where icy conditions prevail.
Summit Attempt – Uhuru Peak:
- The climax of the Machame Route is the summit attempt on Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level.
- The summit bid typically begins in the early hours of the morning to reach the peak in time for sunrise, providing a breathtaking panoramic view and a profound sense of accomplishment.
Camping Experience:
- Accommodations on the Machame Route are primarily in tents at designated campsites. This camping experience adds a sense of adventure to the climb, allowing trekkers to immerse themselves in the natural surroundings.
Guides and Support Staff:
- Climbers on the Machame Route are accompanied by experienced guides and a support team, including porters who carry the bulk of the equipment and provisions.

Completing the 6-day Kilimanjaro Climb through the Machame Route is not the end but the beginning of a new journey. The lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the breathtaking landscapes witnessed serve as stepping stones for future adventures. The diverse ecosystems encountered—rainforests teeming with life, expansive plateaus, and the icy reaches near the summit—offer a profound lesson in the Earth’s wonders. The journey leaves trekkers not only with a sense of accomplishment but also with a deepened appreciation for the planet’s beauty and fragility. As you bid farewell to Kilimanjaro, the memories of this ascent linger, inspiring a continued pursuit of challenges and the exploration of the world’s remarkable wonders.

Day 1: Arival

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi/Arusha Town, Meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear, Missing gear can be rented on this day. Overnight at Weru Weru River Lodge (or alternative) and No Meals Included.

Day 2: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

One hour’s drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters, and start to climb, the first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through the magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot. Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7 mi, Approx. time taken: 6 hours, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain, looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance.

Distance covered:4km / 3.4mi
time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner Included.

Day 4: Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek.

We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach, and finally reach camp, the day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.

Distance Covered:8km / 6.7mi
time taken:8 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner Included.

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring, passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley, which is our last stop for fresh water before the summit. Scree now forms the terrain as we walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu camp.

Distance covered:5km / 5.3mi
time taken:8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner Included.

Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak

We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular, we should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views of the jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on a steep slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast. Before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.

Distance covered:4km / 8.3mi
time taken:12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner Included.

Day 7:Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! we are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!) before our big celebration. Overnight at the Weru Weru River Lodge (or alternative)

Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi
time taken: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast and lunch Included.

Day 8: Depart To Tanzania

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home, depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport. We also welcome you to spare an hour of your day to plant a tree, as part of our environmental conservation efforts in the Kilimanjaro region. Safari and Zanzibar add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania

Meals: Breakfast Included.

The Price Includes

Hotel lodging the night before and the night after the climb (dinner and breakfast included) (double occupancy)
Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents:
Professional, experienced, mountain guides:
Two nights hotel in Arusha
All Park fees
Rescue fees
All meals while on the Mountain
Arrival and Departure transfers
Guides, Porters, cook salaries, and park fees
Quality Mess tents with table and chairs:
Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food:
Clean, purified drinking water:
Private, portable chemical flush toilets:
Crisis management and safety procedures:
Fair and ethical treatment of porters:
Walking Poles:
Sleeping Mattress: