6 days Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route
Overview
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa
Our 6 days Mount Kilimanjaro hike via Machame Route, also known as the “Whiskey” route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Machame’s drawing is in its scenic beauty. However, the trial is considered challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary. Therefore this route is better suited for more adventurous folks or those with some high altitude, hiking, or backpacking experience.
Note: see alternative 7 days Machame with an extra day for acclimatization.
Trip Highlights
- Reaching the summit! Experiencing that incomparable, ‘roof of the world feeling
- A more relaxed pace than other routes, but longer in time and distance. But very challenging!
- Stunning views as you ascend.
- Discover Shira Plateau and Barranco.
- Climb the Lava Tower.
- Dedicated guides, porters, and cooks – a great team to help you on your way.
Trip Style
Trekking, Medium.
Itinerary 6 days Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route
Day 1: Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame Camp (2980m)

After breakfast in the morning, you will drive about 2 to 3 hours to the Londorosi Gate where you will be able to register and obtain entry permits. After that, you will drive again for an hour to the Lemosho starting point where you will get off the jeep and stop for a picnic lunch. After lunch, you will meet all the staff including some chief guides, cooks, and porters. Your journey will start by crossing through a rainforest for about 2 to 3 hours to walk 7km to Mti Mkubwa Camp. Along the way, you will see many beautiful flowers such as the Kilimanjaro impatiens, and if you are lucky, you may see black and white Colobus monkeys and other wildlife.
Day 2: Machame camp (2980m) – Shira camp (3840m)

On this day will go too far parts of the Serengeti north, south, east, west depending on wildlife movements, so after an early breakfast will go on an early game drive, we will later have lunch and continue the game drive to evening then return to the campsite for dinner & overnight stay
note; animals can be spotted on campsites.
Day 3: Shira (at 3840m) to Lava Tower (at 4630m) to Barranco camp (at 3950m)

Seronera, Serengeti National Park
After an early breakfast will go on an early game drive seeing a lot of animals till the afternoon where will head to camp for lunch and pack doing a game drive while we exit the Serengeti heading to Simba campsite (2hrs drive) near the rim of Ngorongoro crater.
note; animals can be spotted on campsites.
Day 4: Barranco camp (3950m)- Barafu camp (4550m)

Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha Region
After an early breakfast will descend the crater (6:15 am) on a journey to find the black rhino, rhinos are the hardest to spot in the beautiful crater as most animals will be easier to spot from this park due to it being a floor crater
After lunch will do a game drive and ascend the crater to camp and pack for the trip back to Arusha for dinner and overnight or drive you to the airport.
Day 5: (Summit attempt) Barafu camp (4550m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)

Today’s walk will take a few hours because the route is steep and needs slowly walk so to avoid tiredness. You will completely walk across an alpine desert with strong and cold winds blowing from the ever closer Kibo peak and its ice. You will have an early dinner at 1700hrs then rest until midnight when we, commence your push for the summit. Elevation : 3900m to 4620m. Distance: 8km. Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 6: Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)

Wake at midnight to a simple and lite breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. Leave to the peak at 12; 00 AM, switch back up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 5 AM. At this point, you will be having views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then after 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snow takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak, where you will spend some time taking photos and celebrating. After celebrating and making memories, you will descend back to the Barafu Huts campsite, for lunch, rest, collect your belongings, and continue down through the moorland and heath zone to Mweka Huts campsite. Dinner and overnight at Mweka hut campsite.
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- Accommodation
- All park entrance fees
- Budget hotel before & after
- Fly & bug spray (for use in parks)
- Meals
- Professional Guide
- Transfer to & from the airport (can be done any day before & after the trip)
- Transportation/Car
- Value added tax (vat) – 18% of tour price
- Water
- Items of personal nature
- Tips
- Visas