6 Days | Climb Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route

Marimbo Expeditions offers a unique service throughout the climb:

Climbing Kilimanjaro is the ultimate challenge! You will be accompanied by professional guides, porters and a cook during your ascent to Uhuru Peak via the Marangu route. Our crew will take care of you and perform a health check every morning and evening to make sure everything is in order. In addition, the accompanying cook will serve you delicious food during this tour. The quality of the food is at the top of our priority list, as you depend on good food during the strenuous climb. If you would like to have a look at the menu in advance, we will be happy to send it to you.

Our customers experience climbing Kilimanjaro via the Machame route as an unforgettable experience! As soon as you have confirmed your booking with us, we will send you a comprehensive document to prepare for the trip.

How fit do you need to be to climb Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route?

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a real challenge due to the altitude, rate of ascent and different temperatures. During an average climbing day you will walk six to seven hours per day. If you are healthy and fit it is absolutely within reach. There are many things you can do to increase your chances to reach the summit and to make sure you enjoy the trek.

1. It’s important you take your time. Don’t hike too fast so your body has time to adapt and acclimatize.
2. Prepare. Being in good shape also makes the climb much easier. Go hiking a few months before the climb, especially multiple day hikes are excellent training. But also running and aerobic exercise are a good preparation.
3. Add an extra day. It is always difficult to predict who will be affected by altitude sickness. By adding one extra day to your climb, you will reduce this risk. Since you spread the climb over more days and your body gets more time to get used to the higher altitude. We do really advice to do this to increase the chance of making it to the top.

If you like advice on how to prepare yourself for climbing Kilimanjaro, you can always contact us or read our blog How to Prepare for climbing Kilimanjaro?

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route | 6 Days:

Route Descriptions.

The Machame route, known as the “Whiskey” route, is now the most popular route on the mountain.

Machame approaches from the southwest and descends using Mweka, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau, an optional scramble up Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco Wall, and a traverse underneath Kilimanjaro Southern Ice field. The descent occurs on the Mweka route.

Climbers sleep in supplied tents at designated campsites, and eat meals either outdoors or inside a large dining tent. Staff prepares all meals and sets up the tents.

Many people list Kilimanjaro as a lifelong dream adventure. This itinerary allows you the time to see all of Kilimanjaro main areas and with a 6 day ascent and descent it also allows you a great chance of successfully making it to the roof of Africa! If you are looking for a great adventure that does not compromise safety or ethics then climb with us.

Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Hut

Elevation: 1800m/5,940ft to 3000m/ 9,360ft
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

Pick-up from the hotel is around 8.00am. The drive to the Machame route gate takes about 1 hour. At the Machame route gate, We have some paper work to do before you start. Heading into the jungle, a 4-wheel drive track climbs gently for about 1 hour. Here you enter thicker forest, often with cloud swirling through the trees and monkeys calling from the canopy above. The trail is well maintained. 2 hours from the end of the 4-wheel drive track you arrive at a clearing that we use for lunch stops.

Heading on after lunch the trail gets slightly steeper and as you climb and the trees begin to thin you can see that you’re climbing a narrow ridge between 2 shallow valleys. After 2 hours of climbing you reach the end of the forest; from here you enter the heather and moorland zone and after 15 minutes you reach Machame Camp, your first night’s stop on the Machame route. Camp will have been set up for you by the porters and when you arrive you’ll get hot drinks, popcorn and warm water for washing followed by dinner. The evening views of Kibo from Machame Camp are breath-taking.

Day 2: Machame Hut to Shira Cave.

Elevation: 3000m (9,360 ft) to 3800m (12,500 ft)
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Heather and Moorland

From Machame camp you hike to Shira Camp. The first section is relatively steep and altitude is gained rapidly. A picnic lunch is taken on trail today. The zone you pass through today is known as the heath  and moorland zone where attractive Helichrysum and lobelia plants become apparent. Various geologic features can be seen today from lava tubes to glacial valleys.

 Day 3: Shira Cave to Barranco Hut

Elevation: 3800m (12,500 ft) to 3950m (13,044 ft)
Distance: 10 km/ 6miles
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Heather and Moorland

Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will be come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower if the weather is permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath.

After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 680m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Hot drinks and Pop corn will be served as hikers view the sun set.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation:  3950m (13,044 ft) to 4667m (15,331 ft)
Distance: 8 km/ 5 miles
Hiking Time: 7-9 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert

You climb the Great Barranco Wall, which looks more intimidating than it really is, and down into the Karanga Valley, this day has many ups and downs and crosses many small streams before crossing the Karanga River  You will stop at Karanga Camp for Lunch before we continue our way up to Barafu.

Day 5:  Summit attempt: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka camp

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
Elevation: 4667m (15,331 ft ) to 5895m (19,341 ft)
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic zone

Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Elevation: 5895m (19,341 ft) to 3100m (10,065 ft)
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Your guide will wake you around 23:00 for tea, biscuits and porridge. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree  in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short breaks. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. Near Stella Point (5756m/18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the Africa continent, (5895m/19,341ft). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment!

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for short break and lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 6:  Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation: 3100m (10,065 ft) to 1650m (5,180 ft)
Distance: 7 km/4 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return and drive to the hotel, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower and cold Kilimanjaro or Safari beer..!