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
- Flights, Sleeping bag, Drinks, Visa fees, Tips, Travel insurance.
Meeting point
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
FAQs
Does the package include accommodation before and after the climb?
Accommodation before and after the climb is not included in our standard trekking package. Upon arrival in Tanzania, we recommend a comfortable budget hotel in Arusha and can assist with making the reservation onclients behalf. The cost of the hotel is paid directly by the client. We will provide hotel recommendations and booking assistance once clients trek is confirmed to ensure a smooth and convenient start and finish to Kilimanjaro adventure.
Are tents, sleeping gear, and other necessary equipment provided during the Climb?
Yes. We provide all essential camping equipment required for the trek, including high-quality mountain tents, sleeping mats, dining tents, tables, chairs, and eating utensils. However, climbers are generally required to bring their own personal sleeping bag and clothing. Sleeping bags and other personal trekking equipment can be rented in Arusha before the climb.
How many guides or support staff will assist climbers throughout the trek?
The number of guides and support staff depends on the route selected and the size of the group. For most camping routes, including Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Umbwe, and Northern Circuit, a solo climber is typically accompanied by 2 professional mountain guides and approximately 6 support staff members, including porters and a cook.
For larger groups, additional guides and porters are assigned to ensure safety, comfort, and compliance with Kilimanjaro National Park regulations. The Marangu Route operates differently because climbers stay in mountain huts rather than tents, so staffing requirements may vary.
Our experienced mountain crew is dedicated to providing excellent support throughout the trek, helping maximize comfort, safety, and chances of successfully reaching Uhuru Peak.
About the guide
Kiliholidays
4.5
(14)
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
I had a fantastic climb with this group, they exceeded my expectations and I made it to the top of Kilimanjaro! This journey is not for the faint hearted but it is incredible to stand on the roof of Africa and conquer the mountain.
We did a 10 days with Kiliholidays. 6 days Kilimanjaro climbing + 4 days safari (Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater). Everyting went very well! Mack was always responsive, and he had us with great guides for both parts of our trip. Gabriel (for Kilimanjaro) is great. Very professional and experienced! And Godson (for the Safari) is a very special guide! Very professional, very experienced! We highly recommended Kiliholidays with such great level of services like we had: also thumbs up for those two leaders guides that did an awesome job!
Bart
I want to clarify that Explore Share put us in contact with Kiliholiday (Mack), as our "guide" for this trip. Mack of Kiliholidays was the problem that made my wife miserable, was not honest with us about accommodations, and ruined our trip. We worked with a total of 4 actual guides on our trip, who were independent guides contracted by Kiliholiday to help us. We had two guides on the Kilimanjaro hike (Baha and Paul), and two guides on our Safari (Godfrey and Emanuel). These were all independent and not employees of Kiliholidays, only Mack was officially with KIliholidays and we only saw him upon arrival and when he wanted more money. The Vehicle we started the Safari in broke down multiple times, and eventual we had to have another guide meet us with a working vehicle. The vehicles were owned by Kiliholiday, and it was not the guides fault. Both Safari Guides and the Kilimanjaro guides were very knowledgeable and helpful.
William
Hey Mack, Just wanted to say a big thank you to you and the team for such an amazing trip on Kilimanjaro, we had the best weekend. We wanted to pass along that the team was awesome, and felt like we were in great hands being led by Baha. He and Paul worked really well together and both brought different knowledge, they were fantastic from start to finish and we felt extremely supported throughout the climb. I think we were very lucky to have Baha and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to other groups. The team of porters, cook and other guides were truely excellent and the tour went well above expectations. Thanks for giving us the trip of a lifetime. All the best.
Rinalds
Guide was trying, but there is still a huge gap between quality service and a reality. If you are looking for advenutes, it is ok. If you want a smooth experiance, no way.
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