6-day Kilimanjaro Trek via the Machame Route
Reach the top of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest point with one of our certified mountain guides on this 6-day trek via the Machame Route.
Group
East African Mountains
6 Days
All year
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- Hike to the top of Africa via the popular Machame route.
- Explore the amazing plant and animal life of the area.
- Walk through a varied landscape of rainforest and moorland.
Description
Join us to trek to the top of Kilimanjaro via the scenic Machame Route. Also known as the Whiskey route, Machame offers diverse landscapes and exceptional views on the way to the summit.
The route takes you through a lush rain-forest, where you’ll see colobus monkeys and other amazing animals. You’ll walk through moorland and appreciate the ferns and ericas of the heath until you reach the icy caps of the mountain top.
We’ll begin the journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro by heading from Arusha to the Machame Gate. From there, the trail leads through a beautiful rain forest to the Shira Plateau. We’ll be camping at New Shira Camp (3845 m) before getting to Barranco.
Traversing the Barranco Wall, you’ll get to Barafu, from where you’ll head towards the final leg of the journey, the ascent to the summit.
Starting just past midnight, equipped by our torchlight, we’ll scale on scree slope to get to Stella Point, the crater rim of Kilimanjaro to see a stunning sunrise. From here, a good 1 to 2-hour climb will lead us to Uhuru Peak (5895m). And, it will be no less than an accomplishment to stand here!
We will then make our descent along the Mweka Route to end the trip.
The journey includes 2 nights in a hotel and the for rest of the days, you’ll be staying at various camps. The camps are well located and offer spectacular views of towering peaks.
Regarding difficulty, keep in mind that it is a moderate trek that requires you to have a good physique. Rest, we’ll be there to take care of everything else.
So, send a message now to book your 6-day adventure to the top of Kilimanjaro via the Marangu Route. We’ll be glad to guide you.
In case you want an extended trek, you can check out this 7-day trip to the summit via the Marangu Route here.
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Transportation start and back
- Permit and entrance fees
- Porters
- Tents
- Sleeping pad
- Clean drinkable water
Price details
- Pride does not include: Flights, Sleeping bag, Drinks, Visa fees, Tips, Travel insurance.
Itinerary
Day 0: From Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha
We’ll pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport transfer you to Tulia Hotel and Spa or a similar hotel in Arusha. You’ll spend the day relaxing in the hotel and exploring Arusha.
In the late afternoon, you will meet one of our team members, and get a brief about the upcoming trek. Bed and Breakfast.
Day 1: rusha – Machame Gate 1790 m to Machame Camp 3010 m
Altitude: ↑ 1,220 m
Walking time: 5-7h
After breakfast, we’ll head towards the Machame gate. After registration, the adventure begins. Hiking through the lush rainforest of ancient trees, primeval ferns, liana, lichen and moss, you’ll continue towards Machame camp(3010m). You might also spot black and white colobus monkeys on the way.
After 5 to 6 hours, you will reach the Machame Camp and relax.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Machame Camp 3010 m to New Shira Camp 3845 m
Altitude: ↑ 835 m
Walking time: 4-6h
Starting early, we’ll begin our journey towards the New Shira Camp.
As you’ll ascend, you’ll notice the dramatic change in the landscape – from lush rainforest to heathland.
The camp offers a breath-taking view of Kibo glaciers. especially during sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: New Shira Camp 3845m to Lava Tower 4640m to Barranco Camp 3960m
Altitude: ↑ 795 m ↓ 680 m
Walking time: 6-7h
You’ll climb around 800 m but you will be camping at an elevation only slightly higher than the previous night. This will help your body to acclimatize.
Starting at Shira Plateau, you will make your way up to Lava Tower. From there, you’ll continue to the beautiful Barranco Camp. The trek will take approximately 6 to 7 hours, taking you through the stunning Barranco valley of lobelia plants and giant senecios.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Barranco Camp 3960m to Barafu Camp 4640m
Altitude: ↑ 680 m ↓ 50 m
Walking time: 5-7h
The stretch starts with the climb of the Barranco Wall. Following the ridge, you’ll continue to enjoy splendid views of the south glacier of Kibo.
After lunch in Karanga Valley, a 2 to 3-hour climb will take you to Barafu Camp (4640m).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Barafu Camp 4640m to Uhuru Peak 5895m to Mweka Camp 3080m
Altitude: ↑ 1,255 m ↓ 2,815 m
Walking time: 10-14h
The Big Day!
After tea, we’ll begin around midnight. By torchlight, you will climb the screes of Kibo. After 5 to 7 hours of ascending in the dark, you will arrive at Stella Point, the crater rim of Mt Kilimanjaro. Another 1 to 2 hours climb along the crater ridge will lead you to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Here you will see Kilimanjaro in all its glory, enjoying the 360° view over the landscape below as the sun rises. You are now standing on the “Roof of Africa”.
Then you’ll descend via the Barafu to get to Mweka Camp (3080m) where supper and a well-earned rest awaits you.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Mweka Camp 3080m to Mweka Gate 1630m to Arusha
Altitude: ↓ 1,450 m to Finish
Walking time: 2-3h
After breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony, a descent of 2 to 3 hours through the rainforest takes us to Mweka Gate. From here, we’ll drive you back to the Tulia Hotel and Spa or similar in Arusha, ending the incredible trip.
Included: Bed and Breakfast
About the guide
Kiliholidays
5.0
(9)
Tour Operator
Mack was born and raised in Arusha, northern Tanzania, within a warm and close-knit Maasai family. He is the eighth of twelve children and has dedicated much of his career to guiding tours across East Africa.
Although Mack pursued studies in Information Communication Technology and specialized in Procurement and Supply Management, he feels most at home in the African wilderness. His passion lies in Travel and Tourism Management, and as he gained experience, he was inspired to create his own Adventure and Wildlife expeditions, bringing a personal touch to each journey. Driven by a deep love for nature and conservation, Mack has shaped his safaris into unique, high-quality experiences.
Mack’s talent for coordinating and organizing group tours ensures a hassle-free, seamless experience, allowing his clients to fully immerse themselves in the adventure of a lifetime.
Languages
French | English
What people are saying about Kiliholidays
Kalys
My friend and I recently trekked to Mt. Kilimanjaro with Kiliholidays. We had a wonderful time!!! Our guides Paroko and Baracka were AMAZING! They were so friendly, patient, encouraging, and helpful! We loved talking to them and learning more about Tanzania! The rest of our team, the porters and cook, were just as friendly and warm. Everything we had discussed in our e-mails with Mack prior to the trek were executed as advertised! My only recommendation is you might want to bring a warm blanket as it can get very cold and the sleeping bags they provide are not the most warm. As with all tours, especially something as serious as going on a week-long climb, make sure to discuss all the fine details of the trip beforehand to ensure you know precisely what is included and what will cost extra, such as oxygen, sleeping bags, walking poles, etc. We made sure to ask these questions and Mack was excellent with communicating with us. Loved his transparency and honesty. For the price and service provided, I would definitely recommend booking with Kiliholidays!!!
We (couple, 29 years old) had a great experience with our Team and the Rest of the group at the machame Route. The Team really took a lot efforts to make us happy, more than we expected at a Mountain Tour. Keep on :)
Communications were smooth and planning with this company made me no troubles. The hiking itself was also hustle-free, guides were proffesional, chef was cooking tasty, porters did their work properly. So our way to summit was easy-going (and succesful too). Reccomended
I am so glad we booked with Kiliholidays! Mack, the owner of the tour company, was excellent in communicating with me via email! He was quick to respond to all of my questions and concerns. We booked two tours: Mt. Kilimanjaro 6-day Marangu route and also a 3 night/4 day safari. Both were amazing and unforgettable experiences! For Mt. Kilimanjaro tour: what can I say, we LOVED our guides Paroko and Baracka!!! They were so friendly, encouraging, helpful and wonderful to talk to! Our porters and cook were also fantastic! Perhaps bring an extra blanket to keep you warm during the cold nights as the sleeping bags they provided could have been better, but other than that, we had a great time! For our safari, we went to Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. Each park was beautiful and our guide, Thomas, was excellent! He was able to find so many animals for us. It was crazy how sharp his eye was! We saw the big 4 on the first day thanks to him! We stayed at Farm of Dreams Lodge andTukaone Camp. WOW!!! Loved both!!! Loved the comfort of a wonderful hotel at Farm of Dreams Lodge and the awesome experience of “glamping” at Tukaone!!! Very glad we booked with Kiliholidays! Very transparent, trustworthy company that delievered what they promised in our discussions!
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