Kilimanjaro Trekking on the Machame Route 
6 Day Kilimanjaro Trekking Tour + 2 nights hotel stay
Highlights
Day 1-8 | Tanzania
Day 2
Start: Machame Gate (1,790 m)
Finish: Machame Camp (3,010 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1,220 m
Walking time: 5-7h
Day 3
Start: Machame Camp (3,010 m)
Finish: New Shira Camp (3,845 m)
Altitude: ↑ 835 m
Walking time: 4-6h
Day 4
Start: New Shira Camp (3,845 m)
Finish: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Altitude: ↑ 795 m ↓ 680 m
Walking time: 6-7h
Day 5
Start: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Finish: Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
Altitude: ↑ 680 m ↓ 50 m
Walking time: 5-7h
Day 6
Start: Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
Finish:
Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1,250 m ↓ 2,815 m
Walking time: 10-14h
Day 7
Start: Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
Finish: Mweka Gate (1,630 m)
Altitude: ↓ 1,450 m
Walking time: 2-3h
Facts
Private trekking:
Kilimanjaro via Machame Route
Tourcode: E08TKILMAC
From: Arusha
To: Arusha
Min. number to guarantee tour: N/A
Max number of participants: private climb
Departure day: any day of your choice
Price: from 2,110 USD (>6 pax)
Single Supplement: 80 USD (hotel only)
Day 1 Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be greeted by our transfer driver and taken to the Meru View Lodge in Usa River on the outskirts of Arusha. The day can be spent relaxing at the lodge pool or exploring the town of Arusha (taxi required). You will have your briefing in preparation for your upcoming trek in the early evening, followed by dinner and your overnight stay.
Dinner
Day 2 Arusha – Machame Gate (1,790 m) – Machame Camp (3,010 m)
After breakfast you will be taken to the entrance gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. While your guide takes care of the registration forms, you can take the time to take in the surrounding area, read the information boards and watch the mountain crew prepare for the climb. Embarking on your trekking adventure, you will soon be immersed in the cool rainforest with lush green mosh and lichen carpeting the ground and tall trees and ferns sheltering you from the sun. In the branches you might spot the black and white colobus monkeys watching you curiously as you walk past. In about 5 to 6 hours, you will reach the Machame Camp, situated 3,010 m above the tree line, where you will enjoy your evening meal and overnight stay in tents.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 3 Machame Camp (3,010 m) – New Shira Camp (3,845 m)
You will continue with your ascent, leaving the rainforest behind and entering the moor and heathland. On your way to New Shira Camp (3,845 m), you will enjoy spectacular views of the mountain range. In the mid-afternoon you will finally reach your destination where you can enjoy a view of the sun glistening against the rock face and glacier of Kibo. Overnight at New Shira Camp.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 4 New Shira Camp (3,845 m) – Lava Tower (4,640 m) – Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
A 700 m climb is on the agenda for today, with your final destination only slightly higher than the night before. This will allow your body to become accustomed to the altitude changes, as a height of over 4,500 m will be reached over the following days. Your trek begins with an ascent above the Shira Plateau in the direction of the Lava Tower (4,640 m). The surrounding vegetation becomes more sporadic as the landscape changes to an alpine desert. The route stretches through the sweeping Barranco Valley, with its lobelia and giant senecio plants, and in approximately 6 to 7 hours, you will arrive at the Barranco Camp, the most beautiful camp on the mountain.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 5 Barranco Camp (3,960 m) – Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
Today you will climb the “Barranco Wall”, where a steady hold will be needed. Luckily a helping hand is never far behind and your guides will assist you wherever necessary. You will make your way across the ridge, whilst enjoying wonderful views of the Kibo’s south glacier. In the Karanga Valley you will stop for lunch, before embarking on another 2 to 3 hours climb to Barafu Camp (4,640 m). At the camp you will enjoy a well-deserved break, evening meal and an early night.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 6 Barafu Camp (4,640 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
At around midnight, you will be awoken with a hot tea and light snack before you start your climb to Uhuru Peak. Ascending in the dark, with only a headlight to shine the way, you will climb the screes of Kibo, reaching Stella Point in about 5 to 7 hours. Walking along the crater ridge you will finally reach Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) high above the clouds. On the “Roof of Africa” you will enjoy a 360° view over the surrounding landscape before starting your descent along the same route. Just before midday you will arrive at Barufu Camp, where you will have a warm meal and relax before continuing another 1 to 2 hours to Mweka Camp (3,080 m). Here you will have your evening meal and sleep with the sights of Mount Kilimanjaro still fresh in your mind.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 7 Mweka Camp (3,080 m) – Mweka Gate (1,630 m) – Arusha
The last day of your journey has arrived and after breakfast, accompanied by a traditional farewell ceremony, you will gently descend through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. Your driver will be waiting for you to take you back to the Meru View Lodge, where you can relax at the pool and celebrate your achievement.
Breakfast; Dinner
Day 8 Arusha – Kilimanjaro Airport
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport. Alternatively, you can extend your in Tanzania and go on a safari or relax at the Indian Ocean.
Breakfast
Items included:
- Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
- Professional, English-speaking guide
- Mountain crew (cook & porters)
- Overnight stays in hotels and mountain tents
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, chairs, tables etc.)
- Portable toilet and toilet tent
- Meals according to the itinerary
- Drinking water
- All national park fees
- All mentioned transfers
Items excluded:
- Sleeping bag
- Flights
- Optional activities
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Visa fees
- Tips
- Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
- Travel insurance
- This is a private tour and hence there won’t be any other climbers joining you. Your group will consist of only the people you chose to travel with and your mountain crew.
- According to the national park authorities, children under the age of 10 years are only allowed to hike until Shira Camp (3845 m). There are no official restrictions for children above the age of 10 years but because the chances of children succumbing to mountain sickness are a lot higher than they are with adults, we recommend a minimum age of 14-16 years. Please note that children of all ages have to be accompanied by one of their parents at all times. Although there is no maximum age restriction, a medical check-up is advisable for climbers above the age of 60.
- Africa’s highest peak is one of the only mountains of this magnitude that can be conquered without you being an experienced alpinist. However, it goes without saying that you should be healthy and fit to master the 4-6 hour daily hikes as well as the 12-14 hour hike on the night of the summit. In addition thereto, strong willpower and endurance is required.
- The warmest time with the least rainfall is between December and February, followed by the main rainy season from March until the beginning of June. Between June and October, temperatures are moderate with almost no rainfall. November is regarded as the small rainy season and daily short rainfalls with cloudy views are common.
- The best time to travel is between the end of June and the middle of October and although it is possible to climb Kilimanjaro in the main rainy season, we strongly discourage anyone from doing so.
- The Machame Route, commonly known as the “Whiskey Route” is regarded as one of the most beautiful routes, offering hikers breath-taking views of the summit. On the other hand, it is also the route that is most susceptible to unpleasant weather conditions such as rain, clouds and fog. But it is thanks to these weather conditions that the vegetation is so dense and beautiful. Due to all the ascents and descents, the route is also physically more demanding than the Marangu or Rongai Route. Climbers will descend on the Mweka Route.
- You will overnight in two-man mountain tents equipped with sleeping mats. Single travellers often share a tent with another group member of the same gender, but single tents can be requested at extra cost.
- Apart from very basic long drops (simple latrines), there are no further ablution facilities. Climbers are however provided with a bowl of warm water for their daily wash.
- Meals are included as mentioned in the itinerary.
- For breakfast there will be a choice of fruit, scrambled eggs, porridge, toast, jam, hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Lunch will be provided in form of a lunch box containing sandwiches, boiled eggs, chicken etc.
- For dinner you will enjoy soup and bread followed by meat or poultry along with starch (i.e. chips, mashed potatoes, pasta or rice) as well as vegetables. The meal will be topped off with dessert in form of fresh fruit, hot chocolate, coffee or tea and milk.
- While breakfast and dinner are served in a mess tent equipped with a table and chairs, lunch is enjoyed en-route.
- Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements or food allergies and we will do our outmost to cater for them (only possible with advanced notification).
- Almost everybody climbing Kilimanjaro will be affected by the altitude in some or other way. Top athletes are just as much at risk of suffering from it as are people who are out of shape. Headaches, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea are all signs of possible mountain sickness. Symptoms are mostly mild, enabling you to continue your hike and only in very few instances are symptoms more acute, making an immediate descent unavoidable. Severe altitude sickness is a serious matter and you should bear in mind that it can be life threatening and at worst lead to death. It is also important to replace lost body fluids due to physical activity by drinking enough water. We suggest two to four litres per day along with magnesium to prevent muscle cramps.
- Mountain rescue services in Tanzania can in no sense be compared to the ones found in the European Alps for example. If you find yourself unable to walk, you will either be carried or transported on a wheeled stretcher. As this is by all means a very unpleasant experience, it is important that you only push yourself as far as your body allows. Helicopters are hardly ever deployed as they can only land at a lower altitude.
- Please also make sure your health insurance covers you while travelling. If you are not adequately covered, we urge you to take out suitable travel insurance assuring all your medical expenses including rescue and repatriation costs are covered.
- Yes you should bring some extra money for tips, souvenirs and other personal expenses.
- If you are bringing USD, please make sure the bills have been be printed after 2004 as any earlier printed ones will not be accepted.
- Tips for the mountain crew are common practice. Gratuities are a large portion of the crew’s income and thus highly appreciated. Below are some recommendations from our side (per group, not per person):
Guide: 15-18 USD per day
Assistant Guide: 12-15 USD per day
Cook: 8-10 USD per day
Waiter: 7-9 USD per day
Porter: 6-7 USD per day
- There are a few things you should pack for a Kilimanjaro climb and as the list is quite extensive, you will receive a detailed packing list from us once you have confirmed the booking.
- For your convenience we also rent out all essential clothing items and other gear.
- For most travellers it is possible to obtain a visa upon arrival but nevertheless, it is every visitor’s obligation to check the latest visa regulations with their respective embassies.
- Every traveller is responsible to be in the possession of the required travel documents.
- Officially, no vaccinations are required by the Tanzanian health department. However, Tanzania is a yellow fever region and thus we advise that you get yourself vaccinated for this.
- In general we also recommend that you have all other shots such as Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio and Hepatitis A & B up to date.
- Malaria is present in Tanzania but there are no mosquitoes at high altitude. It is your own choice if you wish to take any precautionary medication, but we suggest that you consult your doctor or travel clinic in this matter.
