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7 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Machame Route: Popular Path Offers Spectacular Views & Diverse Habitats
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Mount Kilimanjaro
The Machame route enjoys immense popularity. It often becomes the favored choice due to its stunning vistas and diverse habitats. Roughly half of all mountaineers, particularly the well-experienced ones, choose the Machame route when they aim to ascend Kilimanjaro.
The Machame route enjoys immense popularity. It often becomes the favored choice due to its stunning vistas and diverse habitats. Roughly half of all mountaineers, particularly the well-experienced ones, choose the Machame route when they aim to ascend Kilimanjaro.
Duration:
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
Among the most popular routes, Machame is favored by the majority of tourists due to its stunning views and diverse habitats. Half of all climbers, particularly the more experienced ones, opt for this route.
The Machame route is also known as “The Whiskey Route,” contrasting with the Marangu Route, which is nicknamed the “Coca-Cola route.” This is…
Among the most popular routes, Machame is favored by the majority of tourists due to its stunning views and diverse habitats. Half of all climbers, particularly the more experienced ones, opt for this route.
The Machame route is also known as “The Whiskey Route,” contrasting with the Marangu Route, which is nicknamed the “Coca-Cola route.” This is because Machame is relatively more challenging, lacking the gradual inclines and hut accommodations found on Marangu. Instead, trekkers on Machame must camp in tents.
The Machame Route climbing journey typically spans six days and five nights, though an extra day is often added for better acclimatization, making it seven days and six nights. The trek starts at Machame Gate, situated at the southern base of the mountain in a dense rainforest. The route then heads to the Shira Plateau, circles along the southern circuit halfway around the mountain, offering spectacular views from all sides. The summit approach is from the east, with the descent following the Mweka trail.
From gate to gate, the Machame Route measures approximately 62 km. This route is recommended for those with some trekking experience and good physical fitness. The table below outlines the variation of the entire 7-day Machame climb, including altitude, distance, and total hiking time, which is considered the ideal Machame route variation.
Points of Interest
- Mount Kilimanjaro
What's Included
- Pre & Post Trek accommodation at the hotel in moshi
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees included
- 2-way private airport transfers
- All meals covered: 3 daily on the mountain, plus lunch & dinner before and after the trek
- Hydration supplied: Filtered &…
- Pre & Post Trek accommodation at the hotel in moshi
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees included
- 2-way private airport transfers
- All meals covered: 3 daily on the mountain, plus lunch & dinner before and after the trek
- Hydration supplied: Filtered & bottled water, tea, and coffee
- Quality camping equipment: 3-season mountain tents and double-layered sleeping mats
- Snacks provided throughout the trek
- All-inclusive pricing: 18% VAT on tour fees & services
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Tips to mountain crew
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry Services
- Any service not mentioned above
- Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra (US$65 per toilet + toilet tent)
- Flights
- Tips to mountain crew
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry Services
- Any service not mentioned above
- Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra (US$65 per toilet + toilet tent)
Additional Information
- Day 1: Drive To Kilimanjaro National Park Machame Gate, Hike To Machame Camp
- After a breakfast, you will be briefed on what to expect during the hiking and some secrets behind concurring the summit. And then one hour drive from Moshi town to Machame village (1490m). Guides and porters will pack your gears and food at the village. You will also be…
- Day 1: Drive To Kilimanjaro National Park Machame Gate, Hike To Machame Camp
- After a breakfast, you will be briefed on what to expect during the hiking and some secrets behind concurring the summit. And then one hour drive from Moshi town to Machame village (1490m). Guides and porters will pack your gears and food at the village. You will also be given lunch packs and mineral water at the village, which will save you as you spend seven (7) hours walking to the next stopover (Machame hut). After you have completed the registration process at the gate, you will then kick start the enjoyable hiking and will reach the Machame hut late in the afternoon. Accommodations on the mountain are tents.
- Day 2: Hike Machame Camp To Shira Camp
- We leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, we pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp.
- Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp
- Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
- Distance: 5 km/3 miles
- Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
- Habitat: Heath
- Day 3: Hike Shira – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
- Following a ridge, we move east and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower which is a 300 feet tall volcanic rock formation. We’ll be descending down to Barraco Camp following the beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. You’ll be beginning and ending the day approximately at the same elevation, but the time spend in this altitude is beneficial for acclimatizing your body.
- Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower
- Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft
- Distance: 7 km/4 miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
- Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
- Distance: 3 km/2 miles
- Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Day 4: Hike Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp
- We’ll begin our day with a descending trek into a ravine which is located at the base of the Great Barranco Wall. We’ll be climbing a 900 ft cliff which is non-technical in nature, but steep. Through a series of hills and valleys, we descend sharply into the Karanga Valley. Another set of steep climb will lead us to Karanga Camp. A short day means it is good for acclimatization.
- Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
- Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
- Distance: 5 km/3 miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Day 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp
- We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. This will mark the completion of southern circuit which provided excellent view from many different angles. We’ll set up our camp here and rest for the day. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and prepare for the next summit day. Peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are easily spotted in here.
- Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
- Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
- Distance: 4 km/2 miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Day 6: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak
- Just past midnight, we’ll begin our summit to the top. This is considered the most challenging part of the journey when the wind and cold can be extreme at any period of the day. With short and frequent breaks, we ascend in the darkness. Once reaching at the Stella Point which is at an elevation of 18,900 ft, you’ll be rewarded with one of the stunning view of the sunrise coming over the Mawenzi Peak. After spending some time at Stella Point, we continue on to the roof of Africa, the Uhuru Peak.
- As we descend from the summit, we climb down to the Mweka Hut Camp site, making a brief stop at Barafu for our lunch. The trail is rocky which can be stressful for the knees. In this scenario, trekking poles will be really helpful. The camp is situated in the upper forest where mist and rain in the late afternoon are common occurrence. Late in the evening, we’ll have our last dinner on the mountain and will relax for the rest of the day.
- Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
- Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
- Distance: 5 km/3 miles
- Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
- Habitat: Arctic
- Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
- Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
- Distance: 12 km/7 miles
- Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
- Day 7: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate
- On our last day, we’ll be descending down to the Mweka Gate where we’ll collect our summit certificates. AThe lower reaches can be muddy and wet depending upon rain. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. Youth Adventures and Safaris vehicle will meet you at Mweka Gate and transfer you to the hotel in Moshi.
- Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
- Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
- Distance: 10 km/6 miles
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
Location
Mount Kilimanjaro
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(15 Ratings)
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Cindycj506ca
Jul 28, 2022
Couldn't summit without Daniel and his team - I have to say I couldn’t summit without Daniel and his team! They made our life time experience so memorable!
I don’t know how many WhatsApp messages have been communicated between Daniel and us. He seemed always there to answer the questions instantly 24/7. The information he provided equipped us very well for the trip from the initial planning, the packing list, the special food and allergy accommodation, and communication during our hike, etc.
With 3 of us inexperienced hikers, we have two guides, one cook, and eleven porters to team up with us. Both the lead guide, Gilbert and the assistant guide, Yahya were friendly, knowledgeable, and patient with us. The first a few days were pleasant until the last two days of summit and descending. I was struck by the altitude problems at the beginning of the summit, I couldn’t stop vomiting and delayed the whole group. With my friend Ani shivering over the freezing weather, Gilbert and Yahya made a strategic decision to separate us to two groups. Gilbert and Innocent stayed with me, cheered for me, carried the day pack for me. Even when I had a few meltdowns and refused to walk they treated me with respect, patience and sympathy, and encouraged me that you can do it! The summit was a phenomenon, but descending was another hurdle, steep and slippery. Paulo assisted me all the way done to the base camp. Even though he didn’t speak much English he knew when to stop to give me a break and when to carry on. Of course, the other porters carried out the daily tasks - setting up the tents, cooking the fresh meals above 4600 meters (15,000 feet), carrying the supplies and our duffle bags, etc. Without their hard work we couldn’t summit!
Daniel and his team have helped me to accomplish one of the most difficult tasks in my life. For that I am grateful to have you on my side!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyagingirl
Jul 23, 2022
Made our dream come true! - My friend Cindy wanted to go on this trip 3 years ago, but because of COVID, we had to postpone until July ‘22. Meanwhile, Daniel and his team patiently and graciously waited for us to finally rebook.
We found out about Youth Adventures by word of mouth. With a 100% success rate, Daniel and his amazing team made our dreams come true 100%. Our goal to summit was their goal, and they made sure we did it safely, showing us care and consideration all the way thru, and coaxing and coaching us when we needed it.
Daniel, the company owner, was there to answer every question within minutes, for months before we even got there. When we finally arrived, he picked us up from the airport, took us to dinner, and checked our gear to make sure we were good to go. When my flight was changed at the last minute, he was there to help me with airport and hotel changes to make and made sure I got out safely and on time. He even messaged our family to let them know how we were doing when we were up on the mountain and didn’t have internet access. He continuously checked in with the guides to make sure we were doing alright.
Gilbert & Yahya, our Super Guides, were absolutely amazing. They literally know every rock on the mountain and we trusted them with our lives. They checked our vitals every day to make sure we were ok to proceed to higher altitudes. And when the going got tough, which it did, they were there to cheer us on and coax us to keep going even when we ourselves did not know we had it in us to do so. They believed, so we believed.
The porters that helped us summit, Innocent and Paolo, were super positive, pleasant and definitely on team US. John (aka Hallelujah) was always there to help us clean up and make sure we got up, our “mommy” for the trip. And so many more amazing porters who carried pounds of gear and food for us up the mountain. Not sure how they did it, but they left after we started our daily trek, and were always there to greet us at the next camp
with smiles and high fives. Our tents were always set up when we arrived and we always had hot water ready for us for washing off the ever-present mountain trekking dust. Entering camp after a long day of trekking felt like coming home ❤️
On the way back, I met a few people that did not summit for one reason or another. Not that summitting is everything, but it was our goal, and this made me realize we chose the best Adventure Guides in Tanzania! You won’t be disappointed! They really are AMAZING!
Thank you Youth Adventures for the adventure of a lifetime.
I would definitely recommend Youth Adventures in a heartbeat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marc
May 21, 2021
Second time up Kili. Solo Trip. Fantastic Personalized Experience. Far exceeded expectations. - Visiting Moshi a decade later than the first time I went I couldn’t resist trying to Summit Kili via the Machame route (first time Marangu). Daniel met me at the airport and arranged steller accommodation at Keys hotel. He also put together an amazing team of 7 to support me on the mountain. Gilberto the head guide was friendly, experienced, calm, helpful, and caring. This mountain man is the reason I was able to summit again with relative ease. When I needed pacing he told me to slow down, reminded me when I needed to drink water, and when a hike went faster than planned we were able to do an extra small acclimatization hike. The rest of the team made sure to make me feel as much a part of the team as well as providing an at home feel on the mountain. Hallelujah my waiter promised to “love me like a baby”. With daily wake up calls and timely food service he did just that every single day of the trek. Mojamoja the head chef put together a fantastic menu every day from morning to evening. He checked with my dietary needs to see if I had any restrictions and was willing to accommodate. More impressively the meals were proportional to the exertion of the trek day and the day to come. Sometimes this would be a lot of food, tho the appetite at altitude doesn’t always match its important to replenish calories. It’s easy to get swept away by the majestic nature of Kilimanjaro’s biomes but I must say Daniels procurement of top notch people and attention to detail may yet be more impressive. There wasn’t a minute of the trip on and even off the mountain where I felt that my needs were not taken care of.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cathyjamy
Apr 23, 2020
Amazing Kilimanjaro Hiking - A great thank you to Youth Adventures for a fantastic trip, from the hotel accommodation and to the leading guide John and his awesome team on the mountain.
Their proficiency in running a smart operation where everything was well run and organised was amazing. We were well fed, well informed, there was no guess work as to what to expect the following day, or what was expected of us. We had a trip of a lifetime with lots of laughter and memories.
I'll definitely recommend Youth Adventures for their patience in answering all my trip questions before, to assisting in organizing my climbing gears in Moshi Kilimanjaro, and in helping when we arrived at the airport. A huge thumbs up to Daniel and the Company.
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Onair26048375851
Mar 10, 2019
Awesome experience till top of Kilimanjaro with Youth Adventures - We hiked Kilimanjaro via the Machame route with Youth Adventures in February 2019 and we're extremely satisfied with the service they provided.
The communication ahead of our trip ran smoothly, the team answered all our questions in a timely manner.
Once in Moshi, the day before the trek, our guide came to our hotel to brief us on the programme and check our equipment to make sure we had everything required for a safe and successful climb. We were able to hire the missing gear from the agency (namely a very warm and good quality sleeping bag which turned to be perfect for the cold nights in the mountain).
The whole team (guides, cook, porters) who went with us during the trek was extremely professional, friendly and very supportive. They made our trip enjoyable with many attentions (setting the tent in quiet and nice locations at each camp, delicious and (more than enough) food, etc.). Our guides, Makashi and Gilbert, were very knowledgeable about Kilimanjaro, gave useful tips to increase our chances of success and took good care of us. We learnt a lot about Kili, Tanzanian culture and people by speaking with them during the hikes and the meals. We will never thank them enough for their help during summit night as they made things easy for us when we started feeling exhausted (took one of our backpacks, helped with the gears, reminded us to drink regularly, etc.).
Once the trek finished, Daniel, the founder of the agency, welcomed us warmly in his office to celebrate our success (with Kilimanjaro beers!). He also organised a one-day trip to the Chemka hot springs, which was the best option to relax after the trek.
Hiking the Kilimanjaro was a dream to us, Youth Adventures helped us achieve it in the best conditions. We strongly recommend it to anyone wishing to take on the challenge!
Asante sana Youth Adventures!
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Andrew
Jan 16, 2018
Hiking in Old Growth Forest at Kilimanjaro National Park - My wife and I had a beautiful day on the mountain. We were greeted by a troop of monkeys on entering the park. Then we followed the Machame route up to the lunch area. Along the path were saw a variety of birds and old growth trees. The flora was beyond description and can only be described as "pre-historic" with the enormous trees smothered in flowing mosses. Ferns that could hide a nest of dinosaur eggs. An experience that will stay with me for ever. Also, thank you to our guides for providing with food and water and detailed information along the trail. This was a great introduction to Kilimanjaro National Park for anyone who wishes to do a climb to the top. Thank you Daniel of Youth Adventures and Safaris for giving us such a wonderful experience.
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Ellee19
May 2, 2017
Amazing Kilimanjaro Climb with Youth Adventures!! - My boyfriend and I climbed the Machame route of Mount Kilimanjaro with Youth Adventures with a successful summit in February! We had a wonderful experience with the company starting even before the trip started with timely email responses and advice for what to bring, where to stay, ect. We were picked up at the airport upon arrival by Daniel, who owns the company, and brought to our hotel in Moshi. The climb itself is such an amazing experience and we were so lucky to have a wonderful time with great guides and the friendliest of porters. The food was great as well! There are fancier companies out there but the people with Youth Adventures can't be beat. Our only criticism was needing an upgrade in the tents, which Daniel took note of. Overall, would highly recommend!!
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Vanrijss
Feb 18, 2017
Youth Adventures and Safaris took us to the sunrise at Kilimanjaro summit - Together with my son I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro via the 7-day Machame route. We booked this trip with Youth Adventures, a local company run by Daniel Mlangwa. It turned out to be a fantastic adventure and great experience, in large part thanks to Daniel and his staff.
Youth Adventures had been recommended to us via a local contact we have in Arusha. The email exchanges we had with Daniel in preparation for our trip created a sense of trust and professionalism. On arrival at Kilimanjaro airport we were welcomed by one of Daniels’s staff who took us to Moshi town. There we were able to rent any remaining gear that we had not brought ourselves. Basically anything that you need to climb Kilimanjaro can be rented via Daniel against reasonable prices.
The climb itself was carried out with 2 guides, a cook, and nine porters provided by Daniel. These guys were all very friendly, caring and professional. The two guides, Gerard and Pascal, walked with us throughout the climb and were great company. The cook, Emanuel, turned out to be able to provide a good variety of dishes with fresh ingredients every day.
Ultimately, we made it to the summit of Kilimanjaro! We arrived there just at sunrise, providing us with beautiful views.
During our climb my wife and daughter were involved in voluntary work in Arusha. When my son and I returned from our climb and arrived in Arusha, I heard that Daniel had been in daily contact with my wife to inform her about our progress and to check if she needed any support. A wonderful thought! Daniel’s care for his clients, but also for his staff, was evident throughout our trip. I fully recommend him and his company for any trip, Kilimanjaro or safari, that you may want to make in Tanzania.
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Ausward13
Oct 23, 2016
Fantastic local company for Safari and Kilimanjaro - We had an amazing experience with a truely great company.
It started by dealing with Daniel (Director of the company) online from Australia. From the first email onwards, everything was a piece of cake.
He helped us organise our accommodation before we arrived, picked us up from the airport (3:30am), drove us around town (if and when he could), and gave us everything he possibly could in terms of service!
4 day safari was our first adventure - Serengetti, Ngorrongorro crater and Tarangire. Without elaborating too much, unreal experience. Camping in/near those National parks is once in a lifetime stuff! Our guide- Sharima and cook- Hamisi were brilliant. Food was delicious and plentiful. Sharima was like a neverending book of knowledge, it was great!
Mt Kilimanjaro- 6 day Machame route. What an experience. Lead by our guide Sanke with almost 100 climbs to his name. A really great trek made easier by a wonderful group of Porters, Guides and Cook. The camp always ready each time we arrived, clean and tidy for us. The food always tasty and again plentiful. Without all the work these guys do, im not sure we would've made it to the top.
All in all, thankyou Youth Adventures! A truely wonderful experience, one that we will NEVER forget!!
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Stacey
Mar 15, 2016
Amazing trip with Youth Adventures and Safaris! - My husband and I did the combined 10 day tour with Youth Adventures and Safaris in Feb 2016 (6 days hiking Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route and 4 days safari into Serengeti and Ngorongoro). We would HIGHLY recommend this company - Godfrey was very quick to respond and answered all of our questions, and adjusted things when needed based on our timeline (even helping change our flight at the end of the trip). The entire team of porters and guides for the hike were wonderful - so friendly and helpful, and enjoy working for the company. The safari was excellent, our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We wouldn't change a thing about our trip, and would definitely recommend booking with Youth Adventures and Safaris for any activity in Tanzania!!!
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