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7 Days Climb Kilimanjaro – Machame Route
Kilimanjaro’s most popular route, climbing via the Shira Plateau, Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), with a ‘climb high, sleep low’ day for better acclimatisation.
Tour Overview
The Machame Route, often called the ‘Whiskey Route’, climbs Kilimanjaro from the south-west. It crosses the rainforest and the Shira Plateau, climbs to Lava Tower and drops to Barranco Camp – a ‘climb high, sleep low’ day that helps acclimatisation – then scales the Barranco Wall and traverses below the southern ice fields to Barafu Camp for the summit night to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). You descend on the Mweka Route.
Your private climb is led by an experienced guide with a cook and porters. All meals on the mountain, park fees and transfers from and back to your hotel in Moshi are included.
Tour Highlights
- Summit Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the roof of Africa
- Scenic route across the Shira Plateau
- ‘Climb high, sleep low’ via Lava Tower (4,630 m)
- Scrambling up the Barranco Wall
- Views of the southern ice fields
- Private guide, cook and porters
Route Map
- MoshiPick-up from your hotel
- Machame Gate · 1,800 mRegistration and start
- Machame Camp · 3,000 m1 night
- Shira Cave Camp · 3,750 m1 night
- Lava Tower · 4,630 mLunch stop on day 3
- Barranco Camp · 3,900 m1 night
- Karanga Camp · 3,995 m1 night
- Barafu Camp · 4,673 m1 night
- Uhuru Peak · 5,895 mSummit on day 6 via Stella Point
- Mweka Camp · 3,100 m1 night
- Mweka Gate → MoshiTransfer on day 7
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Machame Gate to Machame Camp (3,000 m)
Pick-up from your hotel in Moshi and drive to the Machame Gate (1,800 m) to register for the climb. Meet your porters, then hike through the lush rainforest with your guide to Machame Camp, where the forest gives way to moorland.
Distance: 11 km · about 5–7 hours walking
- Overnight: Machame Camp
- Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Machame Camp to Shira Cave Camp (3,750 m)
Climb out of the forest through giant heather and moorland, with some rocky sections, onto the Shira Plateau and Shira Cave Camp, with views of Kibo’s western face.
Distance: 5 km · about 4–6 hours walking
- Overnight: Shira Cave Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Lava Tower (4,630 m) & Barranco Camp (3,900 m)
Climb east towards Lava Tower, a volcanic rock formation at 4,630 m, for lunch – an important acclimatisation point – then descend into the Barranco Valley to camp below the Barranco Wall.
Distance: 10 km · about 6–8 hours walking
- Overnight: Barranco Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp (3,995 m)
Start the day scrambling up the Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical climb, then follow a trail of ridges and valleys below the southern ice fields to Karanga Camp.
Distance: 5 km · about 4–5 hours walking
- Overnight: Karanga Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,673 m)
A short climb across rocky, barren ground to Barafu Camp, the base for the summit. Arrive by lunchtime, rest and have an early dinner before the summit night.
Distance: 4 km · about 3–4 hours walking
- Overnight: Barafu Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) & Down to Mweka Camp (3,100 m)
Start around midnight and climb by headlamp to Stella Point (5,756 m) on the crater rim, then on to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, ideally around sunrise. Descend to Barafu Camp for a rest and lunch, then continue down to Mweka Camp.
Distance: 5 km up, 12 km down · about 12–14 hours – the longest day
- Overnight: Mweka Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate & Moshi
A final descent through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate (1,640 m), where you sign out of the park, then transfer back to your hotel in Moshi.
Distance: 10 km · about 3–4 hours walking
- End of trek
- Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Mountain Camps
Machame Camp
Campsite at the top of the rainforest, where the moorland begins.
Shira Cave Camp
Camp on the Shira Plateau, with views of Kibo’s western face.
Barranco Camp
Sheltered valley camp below the Barranco Wall.
Karanga Camp
Camp on a ridge below the southern ice fields.
Barafu Camp
Rocky high camp and the starting point for the summit night.
Mweka Camp
Forest camp for your first night back down after the summit.
What's Included
Included
- Kilimanjaro National Park fees
- Experienced guide, cook and porters
- 6 nights camping on the mountain
- All meals during the trek
- Drinking water
- Transfers from and back to your hotel in Moshi
- Personalised service
Not included
- International flights and taxes
- Passport and visa fees
- Hotel nights in Moshi before and after the climb
- Tips and gratuities
- Alcohol and drinks
Prices per Person
| Package | 1 guestper person | 2 guestsper person | 3 guestsper person | 4 guestsper person | 5+ guestsper person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machame Route climb6 nights camping, full board | [LOW] | [LOW] | [LOW] | [LOW] | [LOW] |
| Package | 1 guestper person | 2 guestsper person | 3 guestsper person | 4 guestsper person | 5+ guestsper person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machame Route climb6 nights camping, full board | [MID] | [MID] | [MID] | [MID] | [MID] |
| Package | 1 guestper person | 2 guestsper person | 3 guestsper person | 4 guestsper person | 5+ guestsper person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machame Route climb6 nights camping, full board | [HIGH] | [HIGH] | [HIGH] | [HIGH] | [HIGH] |
Prices are per person in US$ and depend on group size. Contact us for larger groups or extra nights in Nairobi.
- Private mountain guide
- Tailor-made to your dates
- KATO bonded member AS/771
- Rated 4.9 on Tripadvisor
Questions? Call or WhatsApp +254 715946852
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Kennedy really thought of everything and put together a great package with Daydream Safaris.
Our guide, Jackson, was friendly, funny, and had eagle eyes—no animal escaped his notice. We got to see all kinds of animals, from elephants and rhinos to predators. And all up close!
For another trip to Kenya or another safari, I highly recommend Kennedy and especially Jackson, because they gave my friends and me an unforgettable trip! Thank you so much!
The accommodations and food exceeded our expectations, and everything was well organized from start to finish. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Highly recommend Day Dream Safari to anyone planning a trip to the Masai Mara.
But what made this trip truly special was our guide- Mr Jackson, a truly living legend. He had a sharp eye for spotting animals, endless stories about the wildlife and the land, and a way of finding the perfect spot at the perfect moment. His patience, humour and passion turned good sightings into moments I'll be retelling for years. We never felt rushed, and we always felt very looked after.
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