Kilimanjaro & treks
Arusha, Machame Gate, Machame Camp, Shira Camp, Lava Tower, Barranco, Karanga, Barafu, Uhuru Peak, Mweka
your journey
Machame, often called the Whiskey route, is one of the most scenic ways up Kilimanjaro. From the gate on the southern slopes the trail climbs through rainforest, heath and moorland to the Shira Plateau, crosses the alpine desert past Lava Tower, and follows the Southern Circuit beneath the Southern Ice Field to Barafu Camp.
Six days is the shorter Machame itinerary, so the climbing is steeper and the days longer than on the 7-day version. Day 3 matters most: you climb to Lava Tower and come back down to sleep at Barranco, which helps your body cope with summit night. You leave Barafu between midnight and 2 am to reach Stella Point on the crater rim around sunrise.
Machame is a camping route. Our mountain crew carries and pitches the tents, cooks and handles the equipment, and your guide collects you from your hotel in Arusha at 8 am on the first morning.
Fit, adventurous walkers who want a scenic route and can handle steep sections and long days at altitude. No climbing skills are needed, but with one day less than the 7-day climb, previous hiking experience helps.
Parks visited
Mount Kilimanjaro
what makes it special
day by day
Your mountain guide meets you at your hotel in Arusha at 8 am for the drive to Machame Gate, through Machame village on the lower slopes. From the gate you walk through rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down the path can be muddy and slippery, so gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea, and a picnic lunch is served on the way. You reach Machame Camp for dinner and the night. From 5,400 ft to 9,400 ft, about 11 km, 5–7 hours.
After breakfast you leave the glades of the rainforest on a rising path, cross a small valley and walk along a steep, rocky ridge covered in heather until the ridge ends. The route then turns west into a river gorge and on to the Shira campsite on the Shira Plateau, where there is time to rest before dinner. The views open up today, and the altitude starts to tell, so go slowly and drink often. From 9,400 ft to 12,500 ft, about 5 km, 4–6 hours through moorland.
The key acclimatisation day. From the Shira Plateau you climb east up a ridge, past the junction towards Kibo, then turn south-east to Lava Tower, the rock known as the Shark's Tooth. Shortly after the tower, a second junction leads up towards the Arrow Glacier at about 16,000 ft. You then descend to Barranco Camp at 13,000 ft. You end the day close to your starting height, but the climb helps your body prepare for summit day. About 10 km, 6–8 hours.
After breakfast you climb the steep ridge of the Barranco Wall and continue to the Karanga Valley campsite. From Karanga the trail meets the junction with the Mweka trail and climbs on to Barafu Camp. This completes the Southern Circuit, which shows you the summit from many different angles, and from camp both Mawenzi and Kibo are in sight. Dinner, a briefing and early rest before summit night. From 13,000 ft to about 15,000 ft, about 9 km, 8–10 hours.
You set off between midnight and 2 am, climbing between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers and heading north-west through heavy scree to Stella Point (18,600 ft) on the crater rim. Rest here and, weather permitting, watch the sunrise. The last hour to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) may be on snow. You then descend, stopping at Barafu for lunch, and continue to Mweka Camp (10,000 ft) for dinner; gaiters and poles help on the loose gravel. About 5 km up in 7–8 hours, 12 km down in 4–6 hours.
After breakfast you continue down to Mweka Gate, where you receive your summit certificate. Lower down the path can be wet and muddy, so keep gaiters and poles to hand; shorts and a T-shirt are usually enough, with rain gear and a warm layer in your pack. From the gate you walk about another hour to Mweka village, where our vehicle meets you for the drive back to your hotel in Arusha. From 10,000 ft to 5,400 ft, about 10 km, 3–4 hours.
the price
Price on request
before you ask
Kilimanjaro needs no ropes or technical climbing skills, but it is a serious high-altitude trek. You walk for several hours a day on uneven ground, nights are cold, and summit night starts around midnight in thin air. Walking regularly on hills before you come, with a loaded daypack, is the best preparation.
We choose routes and itineraries with enough days on the mountain, and we follow the principle of climbing high and sleeping low. On the Machame route, for example, you take short walks above camp at Shira, Lava Tower, Karanga and Barafu before returning to sleep lower. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide straight away about any headache, nausea or dizziness.
Many climbers use acetazolamide (Diamox) to help with acclimatisation, but it is a prescription medicine and not right for everyone. Talk to your own doctor before the trip, especially about allergies and side effects, and tell your guide if you are taking it.
Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year, but the driest months are mid-January to mid-March and late June to October, which are also the busiest. The long rains from late March to early June bring wet trails and cloud, and we generally advise against climbing then unless you are experienced in those conditions. November brings short rains, often in the afternoon.
On our Kilimanjaro packages with hotel nights, you stay at our partner hotel, Weru Weru River Lodge near Moshi, or a similar hotel, on the night before and the night after the climb. Your guide holds the pre-climb briefing and gear check there.
You need good broken-in hiking boots, warm layers including a down jacket, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, a warm hat, a headtorch and a daypack. Tents, mats and all group and cooking equipment are provided. Your specialist will confirm what can be rented locally, including sleeping bags, and send you a full packing list.
Both follow the same line from Machame Gate over Shira, Lava Tower and Barranco to the summit and down via Mweka. The 6-day climb goes from Barranco over the Barranco Wall and Karanga to Barafu in one long day; the 7-day climb splits that into two days with a night at Karanga Camp, which gives more time to acclimatise.
Enquire
Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
Price on request
6 days · 5 nights
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Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
Price on request
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