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Machame Route Overview
The Machame route, also known as the “Whiskey” route, is a six or seven day camping route and is most popular route on Kilimanjaro. This trail offers stunning views, a reasonable challenge, and plenty of time to acclimate, making it a good choice for those who have a bit of extra time in their schedule. According to statistics from Kilimanjaro National Park approximately 35% of all climbers on the mountain use it. Machame route has been nicknamed the “Whiskey Route” because it is often perceived as being tougher than Marangu Route, which is often referred to as the “Coca-Cola” route. Unlike that trail however, camping is allowed on Machame, which means trekkers will be sleeping in tents all the way to the summit. Trekkers who take the Machame Route pass several well known Mount Kilimanjaro landmarks while en route, including the famed Lava Tower and Shira Plateau. The route wanders up and down a series of valleys and ridges, which make the walk a bit more strenuous, but rewards hikers with some of the best views on the mountain. It is for that reason that Machame route is widely considered to be the most scenic of all of the routes, providing unique and varied landscapes to pass through on each and every day. The trail starts on the south side of the mountain, passes underneath the Southern Ice Field and makes its summit approach from the Barafu Camp.
Machame Route Detailed Itinerary
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Meet at airport transfer to Hotel overnight on Bed and breakfast And Dinner included.
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Breakfast at your hotel. Please seek assistance from the reception staff at the lodge to assist store your excess luggage. We have arrangement with all hotels that we put our clients, that clients can leave excess bags at the hotel at no extra charge. At 8:00m meet your guide at the lodge reception and depart to Machame Gate. The drive from Moshi to Machame gate is around 1hour, Please note that you will need to know your passport numbers in order to complete your registration cards. You are advised however to leave your valuables including your passport, in the lodge safe, except for the amount in US Dollars that you will be budgeting to tip your support staff.
Trek from Machame Gate (1828m) to Machame Camp (3020m). The distance is 10.8km, over 1200m of elevation gain. Today can be quite tiring, particularly the final two hours.
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Trek from Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3847m) on southern edge of Shira Plateau. It is normal to experience mild headaches on this day, which should be alleviated with paracetamol. Those choosing to take Diamox should begin their course this morning with half a tablet (125mg) in the morning and the other half prior to supper in the evening. Distance hiked today is 5.2km.
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Breakfast. Trek from Shira Camp to Lava Tower (4642m). If the weather’s good you can ask your guide to guide you to the summit of the Lava Tower (4688m) where the views are excellent. Lunch is normally taken at the foot of the tower. Descend from Lava to Barranco Camp (3984m). Distance from Shira to Lava Tower is 7.0km. Distance from Lava Tower to Barranco is 3.7km.
Arrive at camp, refresh (each climber will be supplied with a bowl of hot water for washing), and enjoy dinner prepared by your cook with passion!
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Trek from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4040m) via the 257m high Breach Wall across the valley from Barranco. You should be aware that there are three rises and falls before reaching Karanga Camp where we have lunch and overnight at 4040m. description
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After breakfast at the camp,
We depart from Karanga the route ascends 640m to Barafu. Distance from Karanga to Barafu is 3.0km.
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Around midnight (your guide will judge the time that is optimal for you based on your pace thus far) quit camp for the assault via Stella Point (5752m) to the summit. Tonight is very difficult – particularly the final 500m – and you’ll need to commit to fight for the summit. You will inevitably feel like giving up and going to sleep. This is normal and can be overcome with perseverance. When resting please ensure you only stand or sit and do not lie down or close your eyes. Please trust your guide; he is very adept at judging whether your condition will allow safe progress or whether you have succumbed to a potentially dangerous condition and to proceed will not be safe. Nausea and headaches are normal and around a quarter of climbers will vomit at or near Stella Point. While very uncomfortable, these are not symptoms that are indicative of being at risk, per se. The onset of cerebral and pulmonary oedema are marked by distinctive early warning symptoms that your guide is capable of identifying. Please maintain regular dialogue with him and frequently update him on how you are feeling.
When you reach Stella Point you will sit and rest. At this point the body often thinks you have finished your uphill fight and will be trying to coerce you into giving up and turning around. While you may genuinely believe that you have already exhausted your reserves in reaching this point, this is actually very unlikely to be so. Remember that you are only 143 vertical meters short of the summit, the journey from here is much less steep, and you have plenty of time for further pauses. If you do feel the need to give up at Stella Point please proceed towards the summit for just two minutes before making your final decision. In most cases this act of re-establishing momentum is enough to persuade the mind and body to co-operate with your intentions and you will ordinarily find hidden reserves for a final push, reserves that you were not aware you still had. Almost there!
Keep your thoughts positive, as your thoughts become your words,
Keep your words positive, as your words become your actions,
Keep your actions positive; as your actions become your destiny you can do it!
On the summit your guide will advise how much time you can spend there in consideration of your condition, your timings, and the weather. The brain does not function very intelligently at this altitude so please remember to take many photographs in all directions or you will probably regret not having done so at a later stage.
From the summit you will descend to Stella Point and from here your guide may opt to switch left onto the loose scree, a departure from the ridge up which you ascended. On arrival at Barafu your tents will still be erected and ready for you to rest an hour or so before continuing the descent after some refreshments.
From Barafu you will usually descend to Mweka Camp (3090m) for overnight. If your guide judges that a shorter day will benefit you and preserve sore knees and ankles, he may decide to stop short at Millennium Camp (3820m) instead.
Distances on summit day
Barafu to Stella Point: 3.3km
Stella Point to Summit: 1.2km
Summit to Barafu: 4.5km
Barafu to Mweka Camp: 6.3km
Total = 15.3km
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Descend from Mweka Camp (or Millennium) to Mweka Gate (1641m). Transfer from the gate back to Moshi. You should return back to Moshi sometime between 2 and 5pm, depending on whether you slept at Mweka or Millennium, and on your descent pace. Distance from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate is 8.5km.
Your car and driver shall be ready to pick and transfer to your hotel where you will spend your last night in, bed and breakfast and dinner included.
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Transfer to airport for departure flight or Start your Safari to National parks
| PACKAGES | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICES | 2,999$ | 2,899$ | 2,799$ | 2,599$ | 2,400$ | 2,300$ | 2,100$ | 1,999$ | |
| EXTRA DAY WITH VAT INCLUDED | 256$ | 256$ | 256$ | 256$ | 256$ | 256$ | 256$ | 256$ |
Typical tips for mountain crew tend to average some US$ 280 – US$ 300 per each client. All climbers’ contributions are usually added together and the total amount is presented to the chief guide at Mweka Gate. Our guides always divide these tips fairly amongst their crew according to a customary scale that is determined by the responsibilities and experience of each staff member
The rates for Kilimanjaro climb include:
Ground transfers with pick up and drop of at Kilimanjaro airport and the base hotel in MOSHI
Park entrance fees, Camping/Hut fees Rescue fees, Emergency Oxygen at not extra charge Medical / First aid Kit.
Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, to measure clients oxygen saturation and pulse rate.
24 Hours standby radio Communication
3LTRS Mineral water on the first day per client
Hot meals (except first day) served in the mess tent.
4 season sleeping tents
2 inches Foam mattress 1 per client
Professional Mountain Guide, Park Fees and Salaries
Comprehensive climb briefing a night prior to climb.
Porters, salaries and food
First and last night accommodation at Hotel.
Availability of High Pressurized Air ambulance helicopter for evacuation at the time of emergency ( Client Have to have insurance for 6000m)
FIRST DAY TRANSFER BY 4X4 SAFARI LAND CRUISER TO THE STARTING GATE
FOREST FEES FOR CLIENTS AND CREW
Hot water bottle in sleeping bags at night to keep clients warm.
Summit Porter to carry clients daypack.
High quality meals, all meals are served in mess tent and hot meal always.
it does not include:
Personal gears/climbing equipment, sleeping bags, drinks, tipping and all other expenses of personal nature.