7 Days Machame route
7-day Machame route Machame, also known as the “Whiskey” route, is Mt Kilimanjaro’s most popular ascension route. Machame hikes are longer and steeper than Marangu walks. The terrain is stunning and intriguing. The Machame trail is tough and best for experienced hikers and backpackers. Machame’s scenery is varied and attractive. Due to tourist traffic, it loses some of its beauty. The Machame route climbs the summit from the southwest and descends by the Mweka path, offering views of the Shira Plateau, an optional scramble over Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco wall, and a crossing underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern ice sheet.
Day by day
DAY 01: Drive from Arusha to Machame Gate
• Distance: 11 km/7 mi • Climbing Time: 5–6 hours • Habitat: Montane Forest • Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3050m/9950ft
It will take you two to three hours to drive from your hotel to the Machame Park Gate of Mount Kilimanjaro. We now exit the park gate and follow a meandering track up a ridge through the rain forest. The trail may be muddy and slick at lower elevations. This is a fantastic place to use trekking poles and gaiters. After a short while, we arrive at the Machame Camp.
DAY 02: Climb Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Moorland habitat; elevation: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft; distance: 5km/3mi; walking time: 4-5 hours
After finishing your packed lunch and breakfast, you depart from the rain forest’s glades and proceed up a route that climbs. You will pass a small valley and walk up a steep rocky ridge that is covered with heather till the ridge finishes. It’s time to relax, eat dinner, and spend the night at the Shira camp as the road now heads west onto a river gorge.
DAY 03: Climb Shira Camp to Barranco Hut
Walking time: 5–6 hours; elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft; distance: 10km/6mi; habitat: semi-desert
Shira Plateau is left behind after a few day, and you proceed eastward along a ridge past the intersection in the direction of Kibo’s peak. As you proceed, the route shifts to the southeast in the direction of the Lava Tower. Not long after the tower, we reach the second intersection, which leads to the Arrow Glacier, which is 16,000 feet above sea level.
Our next destination is the Barranco Hut, which is 13,000 feet above sea level. This day is crucial for acclimatization and will help your body get ready for summit day. You will rest, eat dinner, and experience the same elevation as when you began.
DAY 04: Climb Barranco Hut to Karanga Camp
Altitude: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft; Distance: 5km/3mi; Time Spent Climbing: 34 hours; Environment: Alpine Desert
After breakfast on your fourth day, we depart Barranco and head for the Karanga Camp, which is situated atop a rocky slope that passes the Barranco Wall. The purpose of this brief day is acclimatization.
DAY 05: Climb Karanga Camp to Barafu Hut
Altitude: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft; Distance: 4km/2mi; Time Spent Climbing: 3–4 hours; Environment: Alpine Desert
After an early breakfast, we head out of Karanga and arrive at the intersection with the Mweka Trail. We keep going till we reach the Barafu Hut. You have now finished the South Circuit, which provides a variety of perspectives on the peak. Here, we set up camp, relax, eat dinner, and get ready for the day of the summit. From here, one can see the two peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi.
DAY 06: Barafu Hut to Uhuru Peak and back to Barafu then Mweka Camp
Climbing time: 5–7 hours up and 5–6 hours down; elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft; descent to 3090m/10,150ft; distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
• Habitat: Ice-capped peak and stone scree
You will continue your journey to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers from midnight until 0:00 am on the summit day. In order to reach Stella Point on the crater rim, you travel northwest and climb over dense scree. This part of the journey is the most physically and mentally taxing. You will pause for a brief rest at Stella Point 1, 8,600 feet, and be rewarded with the most breathtaking dawn you will ever witness. On your one-hour climb to the summit from Stella Point, you might run into snow the entire way. You have arrived at the highest peak on Mount Kilimanjaro and the African continent, Uhuru Peak. Those who hike faster will be able to witness the sunrise from the top. We now descend from the summit, making a lunch halt at Barafu before continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site. For the loose gravel heading down, you’ll need trekking poles and gaiters. Because Mweka Camp is located in the upper forest, late afternoon mist or rain is possible. We savor our final meal on the mountain and have a good night’s sleep later in the evening.
DAY 07: Mweka Camp to Park Gate then drive back to Arusha to end 7 Days Machame route
Climbing time: 3–4 hours; elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft; distance: 10km/6mi; habitat: forest
To pick up your summit certificates, you will head down to the Mweka Park Gate after breakfast. It can be muddy and wet at lower elevations. Trekking poles and gaiters will be useful. There will likely be plenty of shorts and t-shirts to wear. It takes an additional hour to go reach Mweka Village from the gate. You will be picked up at Mweka village and driven back to your Arusha hotel.
End of your safari
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