7 Days Hiking Kilimanjaro Machame Route with AFRICA NATURAL TOURS LTD
The Machame route, also known as the "Whiskey" route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Machame’s draw is in its scenic beauty. However, the trail is considered difficult, steep and challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary. Therefore, this route is better suited for more adventurous folks or those with some high altitude, hiking or backpacking experience. The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, beginning with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate. The path leads hikers through the rain forest to Shira Plateau. Here, many of Kilimanjaro’s routes converge. Then the route turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Itinerary
Day One (1): Machame Gate 1800 m to Machame Hut>
Rise (ft):1,800 m to 2835 m
Stretch: 11 km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Climatic habitat: Montane Forest/ Rain Forest.
Full Board at Machame Camp The climb starts from Machame gate (1830m), we walk through the lush lower slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Slowly gaining altitude while enjoying the diverse flora and fauna of the rain forest, you will arrive to the first Machame Camp, situated at 3000m above sea level If is a clear day, we may get our first closer look at the glaciated dome of Kibo if the evening clouds permit.
Day Two(2): Machame Hut 2835M to Shira Camp (3,750 M): 4-6 hours walking.
Rise (ft):2835 m to 3,750 m
Stretch: 5 km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Climatic habitat: Moorland
Full Board Shira Cave Camp. A shorter day climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as Picnic site, and continue up a gentler ascent through the lower alpine moorland, which is known for beautiful wild alpine flowers. The most spectacular views of Kibo peak can be seen from Shira Camp.
Day Three (3): Shira Camp 3750 M to Barranco Camp 3900M {VIA Lava Tower camp 4600M
Rise (ft): Shira Cave camp 3,750 m to Barranco Camp 3,900 m
Stretch: 10 km
Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours
Climatic habitat: Moorland
Shelter: Barranco Camp
On day three, hiker(s) walk on a gentle ascent and panoramic views. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and after hot lunch the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m.) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,950 m.).
Day Four (4): Barranco Camp {3900m} to Karanga camp (3995 m)
Rise (ft): Barranco Camp 3,900 m to Karanga Camp 3995 m
Stretch: 6 km
Hiking time: 3.5 to 4 hours
Climatic habitat: Moorland
Shelter: Karanga Camp.
A steep climb up the eastern wall leads hikers just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. We then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo, the trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, finally we have a steep climb up to Karanga Camp
Day Five (5): Karanga Camp 3995m to Barafu Camp (4,673 m.)
Rise (ft): Karanga camp 3995 m to Barafu Camp 4,673 m
Stretch: 4 km
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Climatic habitat: Alpine Desert
Shelter: Barafu Hut Camp.
A steep climb out of Karanga, and an easy path on compacted scree with wide views through this empty and dry landscape up to Barafu Camp. The two awesome peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi can been seen from Barafu Camp. After a hot lunch at the Camp, the remainder of the day is spent resting as we prepare for the final ascent before an early night summit walk.
Day Six (6): Barafu Camp 4673m to Uhuru peak 5,895 m to Mweka Camp (3100 m)>
Rise (ft): Barafu Camp 4,673 m to Uhuru peak 5,895 m {Via Stella Point 5756m}
Stretch: 4.3 km ascent to Stella Point
Stretch:5 km Barafu to Uhuru Peak Ascent.
Hiking time: 6-7hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent
Climatic habitat: Alpine Desert
Shelter: Mweka Camp.
Hikers wake up before midnight in the cover of darkness. Hikers will begin a steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5,735m. Hikers will rest there for few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling good can continue slowly to make the two hours round trip from here along the crater rim to main peak (5,895 m), which is the highest point in Africa! After a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment hikers descend to Barafu is amazingly fast, and we stop at Barafu Camp for some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach Mweka Camp. Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp (3100 m): 13-15 hours walking Rise (ft):15,100 ft / 4,600 m to 19,300 ft / 5,895 m 19,300 ft / 5,895 m to 10,200 ft / 3,100 m
Stretch: 7 km ascent / 23 km descent
Hiking time: 6-8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent
Climatic habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Full board at Mweka Camp.
Day Seven (7): Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Rise (ft): Mweka camp3,100 m toMweka Gate 1,640 m
Stretch: 10 km
Hiking time: 4 -5 hours
Climatic habitat: Montane Forest
Half Board A gentle walk takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka gate successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. After lunch hikers drive back to Moshi to your hotel.
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