The Machame route, also known as the “Whisky Route”, is one of the best to climb Kilimanjaro as it is optimal for acclimatization, allowing the climbers to “walk high and sleep low”, and as a result enjoy one of the highest summit success rates of all the routes to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
This 7-day itinerary to climb Kilimanjaro offers a great acclimatization program. You will have 2 shorter days of trekking before your summit ascent to optimize your Kilimanjaro climb. Throughout the trek, we will go through stunning terrain and climb in five different climatic zones. Here are some of the key features of this program:
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and meet with my representative who will pick you up and drive you to Silver Palm Hotel for your overnight.
Day 2: Machame Gate – Camp Machame
Transfer from the Hotel by car until Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. We sign up at the Park’s office, at the gates of the Park. Then we get ready to start climbing. We go by a rainforest, a winding trail takes us up on a ridge until Machame Camp, our camping site for tonight.
Altitude change: from 1800 m to 3000 m (+1200 m)
Distance: 11 km
Time: 5-7 h
Environment: Montane Forest
Day 3: Camp Machame – Camp Shira
We have breakfast and then start our walk, during which we leave behind the rainforest. We continue ascending, traversing a valley and going up a rocky ridge, quite steep and covered in heath. Then we turn west, to the river’s gorge. We end the day at Camp Shira, where we have dinner and spend the night.
Altitude change: 3000 m to 3850 m (+850 m)
Distance: 9 km
Time: 4-6 h
Environment: Moorland
Day 4: Camp Shira through Lava Tower – Camp Barranco
Today is crucial for acclimatization, our bodies are getting prepared for the summit day. It’s an intense day and you may feel the altitude symptoms. We ascend to Lava Tower (4600m), where we have lunch and rest. Then we go down to the Barranco campsite, where we will sleep. This camp is located in a beautiful valley under the Breach and the Great Barranco Wall. and the sunset here is memorable! It’s a special place to photograph.
Altitude change: 3850 m to 4600 m to 3950 m (+750 m)
Distance: 12 km
Time: 6-7 h
Environment: Semi-desert
Day 5: Camp Barranco – Camp Karanga
The day begins with a fun scramble, quite short, until the top of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we cross over the screen to Karange Valley (3930 m), located under the icefalls of Kersten, Heim, and Decken Glaciers. We spend the night at the camp Karanga.
Altitude change: 3950 m to 3930 m
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4 h
Environment: Alpine Desert
Day 6: Camp Karanga – Camp Barafu
Leaving the Karanga camp behind, we reach the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail for descent. Then we continue until the Barafu Hut. This marks the completion of the Southern Circuit. From here there are views of the top from different angles. We will camp, rest, and enjoy some dinner. From here we can see the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.
Altitude change: 3930 m to 4600 m (+670 m)
Distance: 6 km
Hiking Time: 3 h
Environment: Alpine Desert
Day 7: Barafu Camp until the Summit – Hut Mweka
We will wake up at 11:30 PM, quickly have some tea and cookies, and start the hike. The destination is the summit located between the Ratzel and Rembman glaciers. Heading to the northwest, we go up through scree to Stella Point, on the rim of the crater. This is probably the most challenging portion of the hike, both physically and mentally. At Stella Point (5732 m) we have a short stop to rest, and the sunrise here will likely be the most marvelous you have ever seen, if the weather permits. At the Uhuru Peak (5895 m), we reach the culminant point both of Mt Kilimanjaro and Africa.
It can get cold during the night. But it’ll be very warm at the end of the day of hiking. From the peak, we go down to the Hut Mweka campsite, via Barafu, where we have lunch. We need trekking poles for the loose gravel heading down to Camp Mweka (3100 m). Later in the day, we enjoy the last dinner on the mountains and a well-earned rest.
Altitude change: 4600 m to 5895 m (+1295 m) (and down to 3100 m)
Distance: 7 km ascent /23 km descent
Time: 6-8 h ascent /6-7 h descent
Environment: Stone scree, ice-capped summit / Alpine desert.
Day 8: Mweka Camp – Silver Palm Hotel
We go down until the Mweka Park Gate where you receive the summit certificate. At lower altitudes, it may be muddy and wet. Gaiters and trekking poles will be helpful. It’s convenient to have t-shirts and shorts for this part, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothes at hand.
Altitude change: 3100 m to 1800 m
Distance: 8 km
Time: 3-4 h
Environment: Montane Forest.
