This non-technical Kilimanjaro camping route is one of the most popular and commonly referred to as the ‘whisky’ route due to its popularity and strong nature of the route. Machame starts at the southwest mountain rain forest and involves steep and challenging hikes on the southern circuit which is well designed for acclimatization with natural features taking you high and low. Although this is a non-technical route, there is a small ‘scrambling’ (using your hands and legs) section at the Barranco wall which truly gives you that mountain climbing feeling without any special equipment or experience.
All taxes and VAT applicable
1 night at a pre climb and 1 night at a post climb lodge in Moshi on bed & breakfast basis (sharing or single with supplement)
Four season tent (sharing or single with supplement) set up and serviced by a specialist tent crew
All National Park conservation, park entry, camping or hut and rescue fees as applicable to the planned tour
Trained, certified, and experienced English-speaking mountain guide(s)
1 x luggage porter carrying luggage of 15kg per person
Trained and experienced personal mountain cook and waiter & all meals on the mountain and eating utensils, cutlery, bowls, cups, chairs, tables, shared dining tent etc
Pre-climb briefing and equipment check with the guide / tour consultant in Moshi
1 transfer from a Moshi based lodge to park gates per group / 1 transfer from park gates to a Moshi based lodge per group
Luggage storage while on trek
Boiled drinking water on trek (from 1st camp onwards)
1 Emergency oxygen cylinder per group and first aid kit
Twice daily health checks with guides and a high-grade medical oximeter
Shared public toilet facilities at huts or public campsites
1 x approx. 100Ltr rubberized hold all bag / packsack
Basic sleeping mattress per person
Tips and gratuities for the crew
Beverages such as soft drinks, alcohol etc.
International or domestic flights
Insurance for your tour
Visa's for your entry into Tanzania
Any items of a personal nature not indicated as included
Any personal equipment not indicated as included including sleeping bags, walking poles, duffel bags etc.
Water on first day of hike
Metal & hard plastic water bottles, water bladders etc. (note: soft plastics are not permitted on the mountain)
Today has no planned activities and is only an arrival day for you to reach your base lodge in time for a pre-climb briefing (time to be confirmed) with your mountain guide. A shared shuttle airport transfer is included from Kilimanjaro International Airport (time and flight to be confirmed) to Moshi.
Approx. driving distance: 1-2 hours
Approx. trekking time: None
Approx. trekking distance: None
Start altitude: Unknown
End altitude: Unknown
Highest Altitude reached: Unknown
Altitude gain: Unknown
Meals included: None
You will be transferred by road from Moshi town (09:00am) to Machame gate. After registration you begin your trek through the rain forest zone with your guide. The forest is thick and diverse with flora / fauna, and you may experience rain this afternoon which is common in this zone making the path slightly slippery. A steady but relatively steep hike takes you to the edge of the forest and heather zone.
Approx. driving distance: 1-1.5 hours
Approx. trekking time: 5-7 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 9km / 5.5mi
Start altitude: 1790m or 5870ft
End altitude: 3010m or 9875ft
Highest Altitude reached: 3010m or 9875ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +1220m or +4005ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
Today’s hike is a little shorter and begins with a trek through the heather & moorland zone up a steep ridge till the semi-circular cliff known as Picnic Rock. From here you have excellent views (on a clear day) of Kibo peak, the tallest cone on the mountain where your goal of Uhuru peak is. You should also see the jagged peaks of the Shira Plateau to the west. Shira is the third peak of Kilimanjaro which has been molded by lava flow, erosion, and volcanic activity. Tanzania’s second highest mountain (Mt Meru 4563m or 14970ft) may be seen in the distance. The remainder of your day is a much gentler / flat trail to your camp, where the views are equally as spectacular.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 5-7 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi
Start altitude: 3010m or 9875ft
End altitude: 3845m or 12615ft
Highest Altitude reached: 3845m or 12615ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +835m or +2740ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
Your hike today takes you towards to Kibo cone steadily climbing up and over the edges of the alpine desert to your first high altitude at the lava tower (4630m or 15190ft). Today helps you to acclimatize and also is a great indicator to see how your body can handle the higher altitude. From the Lava Tower you begin your steep descent anti clockwise around Kibo and into the Barranco Valley passing the large flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro Senecios) unique to Kilimanjaro. The day ends around the same elevation as you started on the edge of the heather and moorland.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 6-8 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 10km / 6mi
Start altitude: 3845 or 12615ft
End altitude: 3960m or 12990ft
Highest Altitude reached: 4630m or 15190ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +785m or +2575ft / -670m or -2200ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinne
This morning you will leave the camp and ascend the Barranco wall. This is an impressive non-technical scramble and gives a feeling of mountain climbing (without any previous experience or advanced equipment required) and is rewarded with a superb view from the top back into the camp and the Heim glacier on the peak. The remainder of the hike will be through the alpine desert slowly winding around the mountain till the Karanga valley which you descend into and again up till your camp. Karanga valley is the last water point.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 3-5 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 6km / 4mi
Start altitude: 3960m or 12990ft
End altitude: 4040m or 13255ft
Highest Altitude reached: 4250m or 13945ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +290m or +955ft / -210m or -690ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
Today you climb almost casually through the empty landscape of the alpine desert where you keep a slow pace even though the path is not extremely steep. Kibo cone starts to near and you may finally glimpse the Mawenzi peak (Kilimanjaro’s second peak) in the east. The short distance means you have plenty of time at your summit camp to rest and prepare for the summit attempt tonight.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 4km / 2.5mi
Start altitude: 4040m or 13255ft
End altitude: 4640m or 15225ft
Highest Altitude reached: 4640m or 15225ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +600m or +1970ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
In the early morning (around 00:00am) you begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru peak through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep hike over loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night and takes a slow pace in a zig-zag pattern towards Stella point (5685m or 18650ft) which is your first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here a short (but difficult) hike remains to take you to Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), the highest point in Africa. You usually don’t spend that long at the peak due to the extreme altitude and will descend back down to the base camp for your breakfast / brunch. After your gear is packed up you continue the descent through the alpine desert, heather and moorland and eventually stopping at Mweka camp in the rain forest zone for a well-deserved rest.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 14-18 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 19km / 12mi
Start altitude: 4640m or 15225ft
End altitude: 3700m or 12220ft
Highest Altitude reached: 5895m or 19431ft
Your final day on Kilimanjaro is a descent through the southern rain forest until Mweka gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Moshi town. Usually, the crew will leave you at Mweka gate and it’s a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to your crew who all generally head directly home from the end gate.
Approx. driving distance: 1 hour
Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 10km / 6mi
Start altitude: 3080m or 10105ft
End altitude: 1630m or 5350ft
Highest Altitude reached: 3080m or 10105ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: -1450 or 4755ft
Meals included: Breakfast
Today has no planned activities and is only a departure day for you head home (time and flight to be confirmed), continue with your next tour activity or book extra nights to recover. Speak to a tour consultant for all of your options.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: None
Approx. trekking distance: None
Start altitude: Unknown
End altitude: Unknown
Highest Altitude reached: Unknown
Altitude gain: Unknown
Meals included: Breakfast