Mt Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route 7 Days
Overview
7 Days / 6 Nights on The Mountain, 2 Nights in Arusha Hotel
The Machame Route, also known as the Whisky Route, is currently the most popular ascent route on Kilimanjaro, surpassing Marangu and another ascent route despite being thought to be more difficult. It may be chosen by individuals more accustomed to hiking because the walking stages are longer and steeper than on Marangu (the second most popular route). The Machame starts its journey in the south and moves on to the east. It skirts the southern ice field before ascending to the mountain’s highest point.
Tour Itinerary
After your long flight, you'll be relieved to spend your first night in comfort at your hotel in Arusha. If you selected to have us pick you up from Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Bughez Travel representatives will be there to meet you, welcome you, and drive you to your hotel in Arusha so you can unwind after your long flight. Your adventure has begun!
Meal Plan: Half Board
Overnight at Planet Lodge.
This morning you enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before setting out in our vehicle at around 8:00 a.m. to allow for a scheduled arrival at Machame Gate (1640 meters) at 10:00 a.m.
Your first job will be to complete the registration formalities before you start your trek. You will also enjoy the introduction to your mountain team: your guides, porters, and everyone else who will accompany you as you start on your ascent.
The start of today's trek is characterized by a wide track that winds its way up through dense forest with lovely towering trees covered with green moss. As the route gets narrower and steeper, the vegetation changes, and flowers like Impatiens kilimanjari and Impatiens pseudoviola start to bloom, adding some bright colors to the scenery
You will also be able to see Kibo Peak in the distance to the east. The birdlife around the camp is surprisingly rich, so look out for species such as olive thrush and stonechat. We hope to reach camp at about 17.00hrs, giving you a couple of hours of welcome rest before dinner is served.
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Overnight in the tent at Machame Camp.
Attitude: 1640m – 2972m
Time: 5-6hrs
Walking Distance: 11km/7miles
Vegetation: Rain Forest.
Today’s stage is short and steep, as we push on up to an altitude of over 3804 meters. Our hard work in the morning on a narrow path is well rewarded at lunchtime with wonderful vistas both to the south and over to Kibo.
Having made an early start around 08.30 hrs., we would expect to reach our camp by 14 hrs., by which time we will have encountered the moorland lobelias and the distinctive dark obsidian rock of Shira Plateau for the first time. From Shira Caves, you will have time to marvel at some great natural sights such as the so-called ‘Shira Cathedral,’ Klute Peak, and Mount Meru before enjoying your dinner around 18.00 hrs.
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Overnight in the tent at Shira 2 Camp
Altitude: 2972m – 3804m
Walking Time: 4-6hrs
Walking distance: 5km/3miles
Vegetation: Health
The character of the stage today is very different from the stage yesterday, and there is a significantly longer trip. We start at 3804 meters, of course, but even though we cover nearly 10km/6miles, our gain in altitude will be a modest 146 meters by the time we reach Barranco Camp at around 16.00hrs. During our hike, however, we will climb to the base of the Lava Tower which is located at a lofty 4630 meters, before we descend again for our overnight stay. Despite the fact that this could seem like a waste, it actually greatly aids in the process of becoming acclimated to the higher altitude.
Since we are going a considerable distance today, our total walking time, not including stops, will be between 6 and 8 hours. Once again, our day will begin with breakfast at 07.00hrs and departure at 08.30hrs, when we begin our trek across the stony landscape of Shira Plateau. The vegetation is sparse at first, with just a few hardy lichens to admire. You climb towards the Lava Tower and your picnic lunch is taken at 13.00hrs. After having passed the day's high point, you will descend to the Barranco Camp. When you arrive at camp, take some time to enjoy the views of the Heim Glacier and the southern face of Kibo. Tonight's dinner will be served at 19:00
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Overnight in the tent at Barranco Camp.
Altitude: 3804m – 3950m
Walking Time: 6-8hrs
Walking Distance: 10km/6miles
Vegetation: Alpine Desert
Today you breakfast slightly later (07.30hrs) with a departure time from camp scheduled for 08.30hrs. Today’s walk is actually quite short, being only about 6km/3miles but it will still take between 4 to 5 hours of trekking time. We will break for lunch at around at 13.00hrs on reaching Karanga and have the afternoon to enjoy the views before eating our dinner at 18.00hrs.
At the beginning of the day, we encounter the hardest part of the stage as we have to scramble up the near-vertical face of the Barranco Wall (also commonly referred to as the ‘Breakfast Wall’ as you tackle it right after your breakfast!). At the top of this climb, you will be rewarded with views of the Heim Glacier. After this, the rest of today’s walk becomes a bit easier as we first gradually descend to the gully below, and into the cold but beautiful Karanga Valley. We then continue and finally climb up a steep series of zig-zags until reaching the Karanga Camp (4033 meters). Our overall altitude gain today is only 160 meters.
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Overnight in the tent at Karanga Camp
Altitude: 3950m – 4033m
Walking Time: 4-5hrs
Walking Distance: 6km/3miles
Vegetation: Alpine Desert.
Another short day -in terms of distance – begins with our breakfast at the camp at 07.30hrs and another 08.30hrs departure. Today we will ascend about 523 metres in a distance of around 4km/2miles and walking time once again is between 4 and 5 hours
We will be aiming to arrive at the Barafu Camp 4556 meters by 13.00, when we will be rewarded with a cooked lunch. (With tomorrow being the summit day, it will be important to relax and prepare for the hard work ahead.) Dinner tonight is served at 17.30hrs, giving you time to get to bed early. After leaving Karanga, today’s stage climbs steadily, passing through barren, rocky landscape, with the Decken and Kersten glaciers visible away to your left. At the top of the climb, the landscape remains bleak as you descend into a valley and you get your first sight of another glacier, Rebmann. At the end of this valley is today’s goal, the Barafu Camp 4556 meters, at which you arrive after a short, steep scramble and a walk.
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Overnight in the tent at Barafu Camp
Altitude: 4033m-4556m
Walking Time: 4-5hrs
Walking Distance: 4km/2miles
Vegetation: Alpine Desert
On Mount Kilimanjaro, the toughest day will undoubtedly be "summit day." It is extremely difficult. Hopefully, it will be accompanied by the wonderful feeling of accomplishment that comes from reaching Kilimanjaro's summit! Our schedule for our ‘Summit Day’ is of course very different. Rising at 23.00hrs, we take our tea and biscuits (23.30hrs) before a midnight departure. We begin with a long, tough climb from Barafu at 4556 meters to Stella Point at 5756 meters; for some of this you will be walking on scree, making your trek more difficult.
From Stella Point, there is still another 139 meters of ascent and 45 minutes’ walk to the summit. Our goal is to reach the top (5895 meters) by around 07.00hrs then celebrate (of course!) take your precious photos and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. After the summit (5895 meters), you return to Barafu (4556 meters), where you rest for a couple of hours, take a brunch and then leave again at 13.30hrs to continue to descend to Mweka Camp (3100 meters) where you spend the night. You would expect to arrive there at 17.00hrs and take our dinner at 19.00hrs. (In total, you cover around 17km/10miles today with about 11-14 hours of walking – tough going, but with our objective hopefully achieved!)
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Overnight in the tent at Mweka Camp
Altitude: 4556m- 5895 then down to 3100m at Mweka.
Walking Time: 11-14hrs
Walking Distance: 17km/10miles
Vegetation: Arctic – Rain Forest.
Still thrilled by your achievement, breakfast is taken at 07.00hrs and at 08.00hrs you can take the chance to reward your trekking team at the ‘Tipping Celebration.’
Although you still have 9km to walk, departure is at a leisurely 09.00hrs and you descend down to the Mweka Gate which sits at an altitude of 1640 metres. There, you will be served a cooked lunch at midday and be presented with your hard-earned certificate.
Your vehicle transport will be waiting to return you back to your Hotel in Arusha, where you can choose to relax – or, if you have any energy left, to celebrate!
Meal Plan: B, L, D
Overnight in Arusha at Planet Lodge.
Altitude: 3100m-164om
Walking Time: 3-4hrs
Walking Distance: 10km/6miles
Vegetation: Rain Forest.
End of the trek!
