7 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE

Overview
Itinerary
Terms
Booking

Tour Overview

The 7-Day Machame Route is widely considered the best choice for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, especially for first-time trekkers, as it offers a great balance of scenic beauty, physical challenge, and optimal acclimatization. Known as the “Whiskey Route” (in contrast to the easier Marangu/Coca-Cola Route), it provides an excellent profile for a successful summit attempt.

INCLUDES & EXCLUDES

What's INCLUDED

Park fees
Rescue fees
Crew Fees
Food 3meal a day
Airport Transfer
Transport two ways
Guide and porters salaries
Hut fees/camping fees
Camping facilities e.g. tent and mattresses
Accommodation before and after
Water
Office commission

What's NOT INCLUDED

Tips for Guides and Porters
Drinks like alcohol
Mountain equipments
Items of personal nature.

Detailed Itinerary

Arrival and transfer to the hotel booked in moshi town B/B.
Machame Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft) Elevation Gain: 1,200 meters, 3,935 feet, Distance: 10 kilometers At 9am, leave Moshi to Machame Gate, The drive through coffee farms and villages to Machame Gate takes about 1 hours.Your first day’s destination is Machame Camp. Each day, porters and cooks will walk ahead to set up the camp in time for your arrival. On the first day, hike through the moss-covered trees of Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. The forest will thin at the end of the hike and vegetation will change to include heathers, tall grasses and wildflowers. If the weather is clear, view the surrounding area and your ultimate destination, Kibo Peak
Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft), Elevation Gain: 840 meters, 2,760 feet, Distance: 7 kilometers Although considered to be the easiest day on the Machame Route, today’s trek includes several uphill sections. Carry plenty of drinking water, as the exposed hike can be hot on a clear day. There are several viewpoints from which you can see the plains and forests below and Kibo and Mawenzi peaks above. As you gain altitude, notice the change in vegetation. The trees diminish in size, giving way to Kilimanjaro’s famous high altitude plants, Scenecio kilimanjari and Lobelia deckenii. After eating lunch, climb the Shira Plateau, created when Kibo’s lava flows filled the Shira crater. Continue to Shira Camp, where you will relax for the rest of the day. Kibo lies to the west and Mount Meru to the east.
Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft), Total Elevation Gain: 690 meters, 2,264 feet, Distance: 10 kilometers Although this up and down day ends with an elevation gain of only 110 meters, by early afternoon you will have climbed 690 meters to a height of 4,530 meters before beginning your descent to Barranco Camp. This day is crucial for acclimatization. After breakfast, hike east on the Shira Plateau before reaching the junction for the Shira and Lemosho Routes. Continue on through the barren landscape before stopping for lunch. Shortly after lunch, reach the highest point of the day before descending quickly to Barranco Camp. Faster hikers can take a the tour via Lava Tower, a 300-foot lava formation jutting out of the mountainside. Barranco Camp, set among stands of Senecio kilimanjari, is considered to be the most scenic campsite on the Machame Route.
Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) to Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft), Elevation Gain: 250 meters, 820 feet, Distance: 7 Kilometers Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with a 1.5 hour scramble up Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and in some places you will have to use your hands to pull your body up. After reaching the top make a short descent into the greener Karanga Valley. We generally camp on the ridge above the valley to allow for greater acclimatization.
Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft), Elevation Gain: 400 meters, 1,320 feet, Distance: 6 kilometers After breakfast, begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail. During day four, hike by the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu passes through alpine desert with little vegetation, Barafu Camp offers stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Try to sleep as soon as you finish dinner as you will awake before midnight for your summit hike.
Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) Elevation Gain: 1,295 meters, 4,240 feet, Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters, 9,170 feetDistance: 18 kilometers Around midnight, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. For the next six hours, hike by the light of your headlamp. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point.The hike from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. The crater rim hike takes approximately one hour. Upon reaching Uhuru, take photos with your guide and group at the peak before beginning the descent to Mweka Camp. On the way down from Uhuru, enjoy views of the mountain, crater, clouds and glaciers. At Barafu Camp, eat breakfast and take a short break. You still have another three to five hours to go before reaching Mweka Camp.
Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) to Mweka Gate (1,500m/4,920ft) Elevation Loss: 1,600 meters, 5,250 feet Distance: 10 kilometers After breakfast, finish the trek with a descent to Mweka Gate. Your last hike on Kilimanjaro is a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. Watch your step during the descent, as the trail can be slippery. African spoonbill tours vehicles will be waiting at the lower station of Mweka Gate to take you back to Moshi for overnight.

Booking conditions:-

Before you book one of our tours, please have a look at our Tanzania Safari booking conditions here below, to have a clear picture of the terms of booking with African spoonbill tours. Please note that the booking conditions may change time to time and may vary from one tour to another depending on the terms that are set by partner service providers like airlines, and accommodation properties as well as the government regulations.

  1. Bookings

All confirmations of bookings shall be made by email and upon the filling of our booking form.

All Bookings will be considered and recognized as confirmed only after the booking is accompanied by a 25% deposit of the total cost of tour 4 months before client’s arrival. The balance within 45 days before client’s arrival in Tanzania The deposit shall be considered valid after acknowledgement and confirmation of receipt by our Bank in Tanzania.

  1. Cancellation and Refunds

All tours and or service cancellations must be in writing either by email and shall be effective only after receipt and acknowledgement by writing by African spoonbill tours Sales Staff.

Cancellations done between;

  • More than 60 Days before arrival: Full Credit Note issued for future travel.
  • 60 Days and 45 Days before arrival: 50% of the tour cost shall be charged.
  • 44 Days and 31 Days before arrival: 60% of the tour cost shall charge.
  • 30 Days and Arrival day: 100% of the tour cost shall be charged.

There shall be no refunds for the below:

  •   Any travel time lost or any kind of substitution of services
  •   Itineraries and travel programs amended after their departure.
  •  Any arise of circumstances that shall be beyond the company’s control, and that shall require some alternative measures and arrangements with the sole purpose to ensure the further participation and completion of your tour.
  •  Lack of show up by travelers at any accommodation property, activity or service or segment of the tour with no notice in prior.
  • Premature termination of your tour after commencement of the tour activities.
  •  
  1.  Payment

Since payments are done mostly in US Dollars in the lodges, flights and Park entry fees. All our bills shall be in US Dollars. Payments shall be done by money transfer to our account in Tanzania.

  1.  Amendments

Any amendments done on a confirmed tour shall not be charged with African spoonbill tours shall however charge any charges that will be above the cost of the earlier booked services. (Price Supplements).

  1. Terms and conditions

These are the general terms and conditions that will govern the relationship between you and the company; African spoonbill tours there shall be no alterations to these terms and conditions that may be done by the sales staff of the company, representative or any other employees unless it is done in writing by an authorized officer of the Company. African spoonbill tours reserves the rights to subcontract part or the whole service offered and paid for.

  1. Disputes

In case of the unlikely circumstances and or causes of any complaints while on tour it must be brought into attention of the company immediately. The company will do its best to resolve the situation promptly.



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Tour Highlights  

High Success Rate
Five Ecological Zones
The Shira Plateau
Barranco Wall
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