9Day Kilimanjaro trekking via Machame route
Overview
The second most popular option among the climbers is the Machame route, also known as “the Whiskey Route”. This route offers a wide variety of views, landscapes and experiences. The starting point of the route, Machame Gate, is only a 20-minute drive from Aishi Machame Hotel. Located on the southern slope of Mt Kilimanjaro, Machame Gate will lead you to the top of Kilimanjaro along the exciting footpath which starts at the tropical forest, then runs through all the climate zones and finishes with the Arctic desert in the summit area.
Camps along the trek are favourably located for a smooth and gradual acclimatization transition process. On the 3rd day, Machame Route converges with Lemosho and Umbwe at Barranco camp.
You can choose between a six or seven-day climb. The latter one is highly preferred for better acclimatization transition.
Included/Exclude
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides:
- All Park fees
- Rescue fees
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Crisis management and safety procedures
- Fair and ethical treatment of porters
Tour Plan
You will be collected by one of our staff at Kilimanjaro Airport for transfer to your hotel as per the programme booked. After some rest at the hotel where you can avail yourself of all its amenities including hot showers, comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi and swimming pool, a briefing and pre-climb check of your readiness will be conducted by your climb manager.
NB: Start of hotel check-in: 2:00 PM.
A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's entrance: Machame Gate (1,800 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Machame Camp (3,010 m). The first stage of climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route includes passage through the rainforest (where tropical showers are highly probable), so we recommend you take not only spare clothes but also your raincoats. This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:
- Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine
- Drink over 4 litres of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently)
- Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip in case of potential allergies.
- F
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
NB: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro up the Machame Route and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness. Acclimatization hike:
- Altitude: Shira Camp (3,845 m) — Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,120 m)
- Distance: 2 km
- Time: 1-2 hours
The next part of the day is rife with ups and downs where your guides will choose the best place for individual climbers. A lunch break at Karanga Camp shall be followed by an acclimatisation climb towards Barafu with its highest point being 4,270 m. The group then drops back to Karanga Camp for the overnight. Acclimatization climb:
- Altitude: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — highest point reached: 4,270 m
- Distance: 2.5 km
- Time: 1-2 hours
Acclimatization climb:
- Altitude: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)
- Distance: 2 km
- Time: 1-2 hours
- Altitude: Millennium Camp (3,820 m) — Mweka Gate (1,650 m)
- Distance: 12 km
- Time: 4–5 hrs.
Related Tours
