7 Days Machame Route Hike

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Duration

7 Days

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

10 people

Languages

English

About this tour

Tour Overview

The second most popular and indeed one of the most beautiful routes up the mountain is the Machame Route. Also known as the Whisky Route, this trail is both longer and slightly more challenging than the Marangu Route. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only. The route is better suited to the slightly more adventurous hiker, however rewarding him with a scenic splendor such as not seen on the Marangu route. Provided of its challenge about 80% of hiker makes to the summit of Africa.

How to reach there: Transfer from you hotel and drive from Moshi to Machame gate which takes about 45 minutes passing the Machame village which cultivate bananas and coffee. This is probably the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. All your equipment and supplies are pottered and a cook prepares all your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only This makes Machame (also referred to as the “Whiskey route”) better suited to the slightly more adventurous hiker, however rewarding him with a scenic splendor such as not seen on the Marangu route.

From late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, the Machame route offers the adventurous hiker a stunning scenic “slide show” over 6 days. The Machame route is normally completed in a minimum of 6 days. There is an added benefit to this, as you are afforded the most valuable commodity on the mountain – acclimatization. The Machame route takes you high to Lava Tower (4630m) on the day 3 and brings you down by nearly 700m for an overnight at Barranco camp (3950m). This is the secret to successful acclimatization.

Included/Excluded

Airport Pickup and Drop – Off
2 Nights’ accommodation in Moshi is included
All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel.
Professional, experienced, mountain guides
Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
Quality, waterproof, four seasons private mountain sleeping tents
Sleeping Mattress
All meals while on the mountain
Quality mess tents with table and chairs
Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
Clean purified drinking water
Kilimanjaro National Park Entrance fees
All Government taxes and levies including 18% VAT
Community Development Fund & Conservation Fund

Drinks at your hotel before and after the climb.
Travel insurance
Flights
Laundry (Available at the hotel)
Personal items and toiletries
Tips for guides, porters and cook

Itinerary

levation (ft): 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft; Distance: 11 km; Hiking Time: 5-7 hours; Habitat: Rain Forest

The drive from Moshi to Machame Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

Elevation (ft): 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft; Distance: 5 km; Hiking Time: 4-6 hours; Habitat: Heath

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.

Elevation (ft): 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft; Distance: 10 km; Hiking Time: 6-8 hours; Habitat: Alpine Desert

From the Shira Plateau, we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we walk, our direction changes to the southeast towards Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth." Shortly after, we come to the second junction which brings us near Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000 ft. We now continue down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,044 ft. Although we end the day at the same elevation as we started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help prepare for summit day.

Elevation (ft): 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft; Distance: 5km; Hiking Time: 4-5 hours; Habitat: Alpine Desert

Our first challenge is a climb and scramble over the volcanic rock of the 1,200 ft Barranco Wall. On reaching the top, we have a well earned lunch break and enjoy fantastic views of Barafu and Mount Meru. We continue across the ridges and valleys to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

Elevation (ft): 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft; Distance: 4 km; Hiking Time: 4-5 hours; Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to Barafu Hut. At this point, we have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy an early dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are visible from this site.

Elevation (ft): 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft; Distance: 17 km; Hiking Time: 11-14 hours; Habitat: Arctic.

Very early in the morning (midnight), we put on many layers of clothing and begin our climb to the summit. We head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), we stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. From Stella Point, we have just one more hour before reaching the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Elevation (ft): 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft; Distance: 10 km; Hiking Time: 3-4 hours; Habitat: Rain Forest.

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Moshi for hot shower.

Durations

Multi day

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

Airport transfers are not included in the price of this tour, however you can book for an arrival transfer in advance. Our representative will be at the airport to greet you. To arrange this please contact our customer service team once you have a confirmed booking.

You are expected to carry your own day pack, with only things which should be able to sustain you until you reach the next camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your personal backpack/ duffel pack - It will be carried by our porters.

No worries about that - this is a common concern. It is much better for your body if you proceed slowly and guides will permanently remind you about this (“pole-pole” - which means “slowly slowly”). By walking slowly, your body will much better acclimatize to high altitude.

There is plenty of time allocated each day for the treks, even for those who like to go very slowly.

Some climbers may fall short of reaching the summit, but not at the expense of their overall experience. Even for those who never reached the top, the experience of the wonders of Kilimanjaro is very rewarding.

If one or more members of the group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted to the most convenient campsite or Hut.

Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.

On the Marangu Route, there are simple basic Huts. The first 2 Huts sleep four people each and the last Hut is a dome-style with bunk beds.

On all the other routes, you will sleep in 3 dome-style Tents, two people each. The Tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules keep equipment from the elements. They are set up, broken down and carried- along with everything else- by our porters.

There are public toilets set up at every campsite, but portable toilets are available upon request at the cost of $ 100 per group for the whole tour. Hot water is provided for each person every morning but No showers during trek

There will be dining tents with chairs and tables where all meals will be served. Before any meal, we will provide soap and hot water for washing your hands.

For each trek on the Mount a dedicated cook will be part of the logistical team. They are professional chefs and have the ability to prepare different kinds of dishes. Please see a sample page for Dietary Menu.

You shouldn't worry- You are in safe hands. Our guides are professionally trained to handle all sorts of distress and respond quickly and accordingly. They all have Wilderness First Aid Responder qualification and they will all time bring you to safety. They will directly call for an emergency evacuation if the situation worsens.

The tours are scheduled to start in Moshi, departing on Daily basis. However, circumstances like clients’ arrival time, activities to be done and client’s preference could affect the program. Our company is flexible for such arrangements and adjustments. Normally the program starts around 7:30 AM

The tours are scheduled to End in Moshi. You may also wish to be dropped outside Moshi at an extra cost depending on the place of drop off. However, our travel specialists will need to know your specific drop-off point prior to the hike to get aligned with the program

See Group Booking Discount

The price per person for group expeditions are fixed based on a group size. However, we have optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family and friends.

Number of Clients	Price Per Person
Solo Traveler	$ 2,180
2 to 4 Pax	$ 1,765
5 to 7 Pax	$ 1,670
8 to 10 Pax	$ 1,600
11 to 13 Pax	$ 1,550
14 and above	$ 1,500

What customers have to say about what we do

    
 
 
        
   Kevin B 
 2023-09-12
 
 
 Verified Great hike with a great team
Emanuel and his team were amazing from start to finish. He took the time to help us plan the route and walk us through all the preparations. On the mountain, the Topi guides and porters were experienced, friendly, and a joy to climb with. I can't speak more highly of this team and everyone considering climbing Kilimanjaro should work with Topi Adventures.
  
 
       
   Kyle 
 2023-09-12
 
 
 Verified A true mountaintop experience
Look no further - you have found your next adventure. Kilimanjaro is an incredible, but challenging endeavor. In order to get the most out of it, you're going to need the right team. I could give no higher recommendation than to consider Topi for your choice. Emmanuel and his team were incredibly organized and made sure that we were not only safe, but well taken care of the whole way. I was blown away by the attention and care each and every one of the thirty (!!) crew members took for our group of six climbers. Topi takes every detail into account so that you can focus on experiencing everything the mountain has to offer, which is indescribable.
  
 
       
   Kim B 
 2023-08-26
 
 
 Verified The perfect day in Arusha
Today I enjoyed a wonderful tour of Arusha with my local guide Nickson. We went to multiple markets and I especially loved the food and spice markets. Also toured the cultural museum which was really special. Nickson is very knowledgeable explaining local customs, history.
  
 
       
   Laura S 
 2023-07-21
 
 
 Verified Nice Way to Spend the Day in Arusha
Park was full of baboons! We also saw giraffes, flamingos, warthogs. The walking safari to a waterfall was nice. The game drive was enjoyable.
  
 
       
   Scenic31190382571 
 2023-03-01
 
 
 Verified What a memorable experience - thank you!
Thank you to the whole Topi Tours crew for an unforgettable memorable experience. Everything was absolutely well organized and taken care of. Hope to see you all very soon again.
  
 
       
   jim 
 2023-02-18
 
 
 Verified Topi adventures... brilliant
I would highly recommend Topi adventures and Safari based in Moshi at the foot of Kilimanjaro. Emanuel, John, and the rest of the team were highly professional in the caring of our safety and wellbeing, so friendly and approachable, they made climbing Kilimanjaro an absolute pleasure... we are hoping to go back next year and embark on a Safari with this great company...Thanks
  
 
       
   Patrick C 
 2022-10-10
 
 
 Verified Amazing trek, great team!
My wife and I did the seven day Machame route with Topi Adventure - we could not be happier with our choice! Emmanuel got us all settled before the hike, ensured we were prepared with all necessary items, and John and the team gave us a great experience on the mountain. The food was great, the service was above and beyond, and we truly had a wonderful experience - including making it up to the peak before sunrise! We will happily recommend Topi to all of our friends / family that are looking for a Tanzanian adventure!
  
 
       
   Wilfred Thompson 
 2022-09-13
 
 
 Verified World-class Kili climb and the best deal possible
Embarked in the 6-day trip up the Marangu route to Uhuru peak. Topi Adventures were extremely helpful in sorting accommodation and travel whilst I was in Kilimanjaro. Emanuel, the owner, was very pleasant, as were all the porters and guides. My guide John was the true star, however. The pace set was perfect, and his knowledge of the nature surrounding us was spectacular. All my needs were catered for, and I honestly felt I was better looked after than the other more established and well-known organisations also taking people up Kilimanjaro. Without question the best deal you can get when it comes to climbing Kili, but also a company which values porters and guides much better than mainstream and foreign companies. I cannot recommend Topi high enough, and I hope they see the future success they deserve.
  
 
       
   Martin P 
 2022-07-10
 
 
 Verified Great experience
This is a great 1st time experience . It was rainy and cold but fun we had . Our guy is wonderful I had a small problem coming down with my leg and he helped Be all the way . Would definitely recommend this tour company
  
 
       
   Srikant 
 2022-01-01
 
 
 Verified Best Guide/Operator for Mount Kilimanjaro climb
Topi Adventure is the best tour operator one can rely upon to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. It's owner Emanuel is very polite, humble, well mannered and supportive person. All his crew members are very much experienced and well trained. They will leave no stone unturned to provide you with the best possible facilities and food up on the mountain. Each and every minute thing is very well taken care of by them and additionally, they also click beautiful pictures of you☺️. The guide, cook, porters, helpers everyone are well cultured and disciplined guys. You can blindly trust them on the mountain and they will not let you down. I personally liked the cook, Emanuel provided me with. Each and every meal prepared by him was absolutely mouthwatering and finger licking, which in return provided me with extra strength for my climb. Also, before and after the climb, one will be provided with the best hotel stay there is in Moshi, that too for no extra charges ;) Hence I strongly recommended everyone who is reading this post to blindly trust this review and plan your trip with Topi Adventure. Further, for any other questions or clarifications you can contact me on srikant.seerapu896@gmail.com. Just in case you need any additional information for your climb.
  
 
  
  
 
 
   Tripadvisor rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 28 reviews