Kilimanjaro & treks
Arusha, Machame Gate, Machame Camp, Shira 2, Lava Tower, Barranco, Karanga, Barafu, Uhuru Peak, Mweka
your journey
Machame, known as the Whiskey route, takes you through rainforest, moorland, alpine desert and the Southern Circuit before the final climb to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m. It is one of the most varied routes on Kilimanjaro, with the Shira Plateau, the rock of Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall all on the way.
The seven-day itinerary gives you more time on the mountain than the six-day one. You still climb to Lava Tower and come down to sleep at Barranco, but then you split the next stretch into two shorter days, with a night at Karanga Camp before Barafu. That gentler rhythm helps your body adjust before summit night.
Machame is a camping route: you sleep in tents at the designated campsites, and our mountain guide, crew and porters set up camp and prepare your meals. We drive you from Arusha to Machame Gate and back from Mweka Gate.
Walkers who want a scenic, varied Kilimanjaro climb with sensible acclimatisation and are ready for long days at high altitude. No technical climbing is needed, though the Barranco Wall is steep and summit day is demanding.
Parks visited
Mount Kilimanjaro
what makes it special
day by day
After breakfast we drive you from Arusha to Machame Gate. Once registration and the park formalities are done, you start walking through lush rainforest, following a winding path through dense vegetation as you gradually gain height. The forest is often damp, so keep a rain layer handy. You reach Machame Camp for dinner and your first night on the mountain. From about 1,640 m to 2,835 m, about 11 km, 5–7 hours.
You leave the rainforest behind as the trail climbs into the heath and moorland zone. The path becomes steeper and more open as you approach the Shira Plateau, and the views widen across the moorland to Kibo. The last stretch crosses the plateau to Shira 2 Camp. The altitude starts to tell today, so walk slowly, drink well and let your guide set the pace. About 5 km, 4–6 hours.
An important acclimatisation day. From Shira 2 the trail climbs through striking alpine desert to Lava Tower, at about 4,630 m the highest point you reach before summit night. From there you descend into the Barranco Valley, among the giant senecios, to camp below the Barranco Wall. Climbing high and sleeping lower like this helps your body adapt to the altitude. About 10 km in total, 6–8 hours.
After breakfast you tackle the Barranco Wall. It is steep in places but does not normally need technical climbing, just careful hands and feet and a steady pace. From the top, the trail crosses a series of ridges and valleys before dropping into the Karanga Valley, and a final climb brings you to Karanga Camp. The short day leaves the afternoon free to rest. About 5 km, 4–5 hours.
Leaving Karanga, the trail climbs through alpine desert and becomes increasingly rocky as you gain height. Barafu Camp is the base for the summit attempt, and from here you look out to Kibo and Mawenzi and back across the Southern Circuit. After arriving you have an early dinner, a briefing from your guide and as much rest as you can manage, because the summit attempt begins around midnight. About 4 km, 4–5 hours.
Around midnight, after a light snack, you begin the demanding climb to Stella Point on the crater rim, then follow the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa. After time at the summit you descend to Barafu for a short rest, then continue down through the upper mountain to Mweka Camp in the forest zone, where it can turn wet and misty later in the day. About 5 km up in 7–8 hours, then 12 km down in 4–6 hours.
After breakfast you walk the final stretch down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. At the gate your guide completes the park formalities and you collect your summit certificate if you reached the required summit point. Then it is time to say goodbye to the crew and meet our vehicle for the drive back to Arusha, where your seven-day climb ends. 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.
A steep rock face you climb on the morning after Barranco Camp. It looks daunting from below, but it is a scramble on a trekking path rather than a technical climb, and your guide and crew help you through it.
In tents at the designated mountain campsites: Machame, Shira 2, Barranco, Karanga, Barafu and Mweka. Machame is a camping route; only the Marangu route uses huts.
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
7 days · 6 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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