Machame Route 9 Day - Small Group Tours

7 Days / 6 Nights On The Mountain, 2 Nights In Arusha Hotel  |  Small Group Tours  |  Basic |  KSB1

Route Introduction

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Although it is considered to be more difficult than the Marangu, the Machame or ‘Whiskey’ Route is actually now the most popular way up Kilimanjaro. Compared with Marangu (the next most popular route) the walking stage are actually longer and steeper, so it is perhaps favoured by those more used to hiking. The Machame begins its course in the south, then continues eastwards. It skirts along the mountain’s southern ice field before heading for the summit.

Those choosing the Machame for their ascent can look forward to varied and spectacular scenery, though its popularity means that you are never too far from the crowds! And if you choose to spend seven days on the mountain with this longer route, then the extra day to acclimatize will improve your chances of reaching the summit!

Route Highlight

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Words can never describe the breath-taking views enjoyed from the summit, the very ‘Roof of Africa,’ but the incomparable, exhilarating sense of achievement in getting to the top of Kilimanjaro is surely in itself the highlight of any trip.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Month Season Traffic Weather Road Trails Sky Recommendation
January Peak Medium Little to no rainfall Dry Sunny & Cloudy Highly Recommended
February Peak High No Rainfall Dry Sunny & Cloudy Highly Recommended
March High Low Short Rainfall Wet & Muddy Cloudy Highly Recommended
April Low Low Long rainfall Wet & Muddy Cloudy Recommended
May Low Low Short Rainfall Wet & Muddy Cloudy Recommended
June Peak High No Rainfall Dry Sunny & Cloudy Highly Recommended
July Peak High No Rainfall Dry Sunny Highly Recommended
August Peak High No Rainfall Dry Sunny Highly Recommended
September Peak High No Rainfall Dry Sunny Highly Recommended
October Peak High No Rainfall Dry Sunny Highly Recommended
November High Medium Little to no Rainfall Wet & Muddy Sunny & Cloudy Recommended
December High Medium Little to no Rainfall Wet & Muddy Sunny & Cloudy Recommended

Physical Level

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Challenging. Guests undertaking one of our trips categorized as ‘challenging’ will require a good level of fitness and proper physical preparation –perhaps two or three months – in advance of arriving in Tanzania. To take one of these trips, you must be confident in your own level of fitness and stamina. Our ‘challenging’ trips involve a significant degree of high-altitude hiking, and at times a degree of discomfort can be expected. For example, on a summit day to reach the top of Kilimanjaro, a total of around 13 hours is required of participants and this is combined with a great deal of ascent and descent. Special clothing and equipment are required for these trips, as advised on our trip notes, and accommodation is in tents or mountain huts, depending on which trip is undertaken.

Accommodation

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Accommodation on this tour is in our Basic category, with two night’s hotel accommodation in Arusha and six nights out on the Mountain in the public campsite. Our Basic level accommodations are selected by Easy Travel to focus on good value.

Route Summary

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9 Days, 8 Nights 2 nights in Arusha, 1 night in Machame Camp, 1 night in Shira 2 Camp, 1 night in Barranco Camp, 1 night in Karanga Camp, 1 night in Barafu Camp, 1 night in Mweka Camp
  • Day 1 – Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha
  • Day 2 – Arusha – Machame Gate – Machame Camp
  • Day 3 – Machame Camp – Shira 2 Camp
  • Day 4 – Shira 2 Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
  • Day 5 – Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp
  • Day 6 – Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp
  • Day 7 – Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp
  • Day 8 – Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate – Arusha
  • Day 9 – Arusha – Kilimanjaro International Airport

Tour Map

Elevation Chart

Day Start (Location) Altitude (Meter) Altitude (Feet) Finish (Location) Altitude (Meter) Altitude (Feet) Time (Hrs) Vegetation(Zone) Distance (km) Distance(Miles)
1 Machame Gate 1640 5381 Machame Camp 2972 9751 5-6 Rain Forest 11 7
2 Machame Camp 2972 9751 Shira 2 Camp 3804 12,480 4-6 Heath & Moorland 5 3
3 Shira 2 Camp Lava Tower 3804 4630 12,480 15,190 Lava Tower Barranco Camp 4630 3950 15,190 12,959 4-5 2-3 Alpine Desert 7 3 4 2
4 Barranco Camp 3950 12,960 Karanga Camp 4033 13,232 4-5 Alpine Desert 6 3
5 Karanga Camp 4033 13,232 Barafu Camp 4556 14,948 4-5 Alpine Desert 4 2
6 Barafu Camp Uhuru Peak 4556 5895 14,948 19,341 Uhuru Peak Mweka Camp 5895 3100 19,341 10,171 7-8 4-6 Ice Camp Rain Forest 5 12 3 7
7 Mweka Camp 3100 10,171 Mweka Gate 1640 5381 3-4 Rain Forest 10 6
63 37

Tour Itinerary

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After your long flight, you’ll be pleased to spend your first night in comfort at your hotel, the Planet Lodge in Arusha. If you have chosen to be picked-up by us from Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Easy Travel driver will be waiting to meet and welcome you and take you to your hotel in Arusha to relax after your flight. Your adventure has begun!

              • Accommodation
              • Planet Lodge Hotel
    • Meal Plan Dinner at hotel.
    • Journey time and Distance 1 hour, 55 km drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha
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This morning we take a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, before setting out in our vehicle at around 08.00hrs to allow for a scheduled arrival at Machame Gate (1640 meters) at 10.00hrs. Our first job will be to complete the registration formalities, before we start our trek. You will also enjoy the introduction to your mountain team: your guides, porters and everyone else who will accompany you as you make your ascent.

Today’s walk is a long one: in pure numbers, you will gain around 1332 metres of altitude over a distance of just under 11km/7miles and can expect to be walking for between 5 and 6 hours.

The beginning of the walk today is characterised by a wide track that winds its way up through dense forest, beautiful tall trees laden with green moss. As the route becomes steeper and narrower, so the vegetation changes and the appearance of flowers such as impatiens kilimanjari and impatiens pseudoviola introduce some bright colours to the scenery. You will also be able to see Kibo Peak, away to the east. The birdlife around the camp is surprisingly rich, so look out for species such as olive thrush and stonechat. We hope to reach camp at about 17.00hrs, giving you a couple of hours of welcome rest before dinner is served

        • Accommodation in tents, at Machame Camp
    • Meal Plan Breakfast, Picnic Lunch box and Dinner
    • Journey time and Altitude 5 – 6 hours walking, from 1640m at Machame Gate to 2972m at the Machame Camp
    • Walking distance 11km/7miles
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Today’s stage is short and steep, as we push on up to an altitude of over 3804 metres. Our hard work in the morning, on a narrow path, is well rewarded at lunchtime with wonderful vistas both to the south and over to Kibo. Surely there can be no better locatio