Machame Route 7 Days Western Breach

Starts at: Moshi

Ends at: Moshi

Country: Tanzania

Max Altitude: 5895 M

Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Activity: Sightseeing and High Altitude Trekking

Best Season: January to Mid-March, June, July, August, September, October & December.

Kilimanjaro Machame Route Overview

Kilimanjaro Machame route also known as the “Whisky route”, has become very popular. This is camping route which offers spectacular views of various landscapes such as Mt. Meru, Pare Mountains, Lake Chala and Lake Jipe. It is possible to climb the mountain within 6 days, but an additional day is recommended for the rest and ultimately this would maximize the success rate. Doing this will maximize your chance of reaching the top.

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport to Moshi

• Day 2: Moshi to Machame Gate – Machame Camp

• Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Cave

• Day 4: Shira Cave to Lava Tower Camp

• Day 5: Lava Tower Camp to Arrow Glacier Camp

• Day 6: Arrow Glacier Camp to Crater Camp

• Day 7: Summit Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

• Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi

• Day 9: Departure to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport to Moshi

Pick up from Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to Moshi town for overnight at your designated hotel.

Day 2: Moshi to Machame Gate – Machame Camp

After a transfer to the park gate and registration, a seven hours you would just head for the Machame camp (3000m) through the forest. The crews would take the best care of you during all through your climb. They would do the jobs like erecting and dismantling the camp, and providing you with tasty, filling food.

Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Cave

This is an initial steep climb which is followed by a gentle incline. The descent and ascent would bring you to Shira Cave camp (3800) after your lunch. Walking time approximately five hours.

Day 4: Shira Cave to Lava Tower Camp

Today’s trek is shorter than yesterday’s, though your overall gain in height is modest. Starting at 3800 meters, by the time you reach camp this afternoon you will only be 760 meters higher, finish you climb up to the base of the famous Lava Tower at 4627 meters. Your acclimatization would bring you a lot of benefits. The distance is around 5 kms which can be covered up within 5 hours excluding the breaks on the way. Once again, your day will begin with breakfast at 08.00 and departure at 09.00, when you begin your trek across the stony landscape of Shira Plateau. You would experience the sparse vegetation here at first with just a few hardy lichens to admire. During your climb towards the Lava Tower, your picnic lunch is taken at 13.00 high point of the day. Dinner tonight is served at 19.00

Day 5: Lava Tower Camp to Arrow Glacier Camp

Today you are back to your early 08.00 breakfast time and 08:30 departure. Distance will be around 5km; you climb from 4553 meters to approximately 4846 meters. Today altitude is perfect opportunity for acclimatization, but the terrain is steep, with a few scramble sections to get over the Great Barranco Wall. The scenery today changes to the predominantly Alpine desert. You retire to your tents after lunch, in order to prepare for our biggest day, climbing the Western Breach and dinner at about 19.00.

Day 6: Arrow Glacier Camp to Crater Camp

You climb from 4800 meters to 5638 meters. You will wake up just before sunrise and cross the Western Breach while the ground is still frozen and into the crater rim. You then walk past the Northern Ice Field and Furtwangler Glacier. You will make your way to your tents, relax and have lunch. At this point, you can relax in the lunch tent or your personal tent for the rest of the day. Or you can walk to the actual crater rim and Reusch Glacier (Ash Pit) with one of your guides. You camp at Crater Camp.

Day 7: Summit Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

To Uhuru Peak the highest point, then down to Millennium Camp or Mweka Camp.

Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi

A descent of some 4 hours takes you to Mweka Village where you met our driver and transferred back to the Hotel.

Day 9: Departure to Kilimanjaro International Airport

After breakfast at your lodge, you will be picked up and transfer to Airport to catch your flight back home. But if you wish to extend your program and proceed with safari kindly let us know so that we can arrange it in advance.

Group Expeditions

The price per person for group expeditions are fixed based on a group size. However, we have optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family and friends.

See Group Booking Discount

Tailor Made Expeditions

Based on individual tour preference, Bujo tours welcomes ideas and all sorts of clients’ options for their expedition. Our consultation team will bring your ideas and options creating an unforgettable trip. For your Tailor booking requests, please Contact Us

Private Expeditions

We understand that some clients want their adventure expedition to be a private affair, so that it would enable them to spend some of their memorable moments with their near and dear ones at their own Schedule. Considering this, Bujo Tours organizes private journeys as well. For your private booking requests, please Contact Us

Proper equipment is real extremely important to the success, comfort and safety of your trip.

Recommended clothing has four features;
Manages moisture – Wicks perspiration from your skin, use for the base layers.
Should be a durable – comfortable, insulating, breathable, soft fabrics are polarity wind, Gore-Tex wind stopper.
Windproof – waterproof and breathable like Gore-Tex or similar (outer layers)
Insulating material – should be down fill or synthetic-fill and fit cover all layers like, down, prim aloft and polar guard.

For sleeping:

3-4 season sleeping bag and silk liner(optional), on the mountain temperature can get down to zero degrees Fahrenheit (-18° C) at night, so bring a warm bag.
Sleeping pad, a closed cell form camping mattress is OK; an inflatable Thermo-Rest is more comfortable.

For the head and face:

• Pile or a wool hat-Bring one that covers ears, a balaclava
• Shade hat or cap and scarf to cover your neck
• Dark sunglasses with strong UV protection (glacier glasses)
• Sunscreen-30 SPF
• Lip salve
• Head torch(flashlight) with spare batteries

For the upper body:

• T-shirts-Synthetics are the best approx 4.
• Upper body layers-long sleeved thermal tops, a fleece/warm jumper (thick winter fleece) and a pile jacket.
• Rain gear-Bring a good of Gore-tax or waterproof clothes.
• Wind stopper (optional you can use rain gear)
• Gloves for summit night (e.g. ski gloves with silk liner or down Mittens are ideal)
• 25-35 liters day sack/rucksack with good waist strap to carry water, camera, snacks etc.

For the legs:

• Quick dry hiking short.
• Long underwear bottoms
• Warm trousers/for the evening and summit day
• Rain paints and wind paint as well.
• Undergarment (enough for duration of the trek)

For the feet: 

• Thin socks-Three pair of synthetic socks.
• Thick socks-3/4 pairs of specialist trekking socks, one warm pair for summit day.
• Hiking boot (one pair medium weight)
• Gaiters-To keep dirt, scree and snow out of your boots.
• Tennis shoes (to wear in the camp after a day of hiking)

For hydration:

• Water bottles(minimum 2 liters) Camel back packs(with dust cup) Nalgene bottles, aluminum Sigg, Ideally one bottle should be able to contain hot liquids(optional)
• Water treatment-Bring a water treatment. We will filtrate the water before you use.
• Water flavoring (optional)

Additional Items:

• Trekking poles
• Camera/film or memory card, extra batteries
• Casual clothes for traveling, spare day and celebration dinner.
• Isotonic drink powder or tablets (optional)
• Energy bars/chocolate/nuts or energy tablets
• Plastic bags (to protect clothes from rain, for dirty washing, etc)
• Sunglasses (spare)
• Swiss army knife (optional)
• Credit card (in case of emergencies) – let your credit card company know you are traveling to Tanzania
• Money belt to be worn inside trousers or skirt
• If you wear contact lenses it is advisable to also bring your glasses
• Playing cards, reading material etc.

Health and Hygiene

• High-factor sun cream (30SPF) and lip salve (mountain sun can be very strong)
• Wet wipes
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Biodegradable nappy sacks (optional, but useful to store rubbish)
• Personal toiletries (please only bring biodegradable products)
• Earplugs (in case of snorers!)
• Toilet paper (will be provided)
• Lightweight trekking towel
• Vaseline/talcum powder

Small Medical Kit

Although you will have a team Medically Trained Guide in your trip, it is advisable bring along a small personal medical kit.

• Dimox (Accetomalozide) for altitude adjustment

Dexemethasone (Emergence medicine)

• Antiseptic cream
• Plasters (band-aids)
• Lint wound dressing
• Knee support
• Crepe bandage
• Safety pins
• Pain killers (Paracetamol and ibuprofen)
• Insect repellent
• Deep heat ointment
• Diareze/Imodium, Cipro and Pepto-Bismol
• Oral rehydration salts
• Compeed blister plasters (Moleskin)
• Malaria tablets /Malaron

Note: Malaron, Dimox and Dexamethasone are prescription medicine we highly recommending you to discuss with your Doctor. We are not carrying this medicine in our First Aid Kit.
Hiring any additional clothing upon booking we will provide equipment hiring price list, upon arrival in Moshi we will check over any clothing/equipment you have.
COTTON clothing must be avoided, because its dries very slowly, choose wool or synthetic fabrics that wicks the sweat and moisture from your skin.

Mountain medication (A few drugs that help AMS)

Note: Malaron and Dimox are prescription medicine we highly recommending you to discuss with your Doctor. We are not carrying this medicine in our First Aid Kit

Price includes;

• Park fees, camping fees, Hut fees & rescue fees
• Twice a day medical health checkup, monitoring with pulse-oximeter and stethoscope with basic first kit
• Oxygen Cylinder
• Orientation meeting in Moshi and gear check as well.
• 18% Value Added Tax on tour fees & services
• Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mat, camp chairs, camp tables, mess tent & cutlery for meals) and 3 Season mountain tents
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Transportation to & from the mountain gate
• Medically qualified mountain guides, cooks and porters
• 3 Meals while on the mountain + evening tea with popcorn or peanuts.
• Hot water for washing up daily and treated water for drink while climbing.
• Pre & Post Trek accommodation in Moshi. Bed & Breakfast Basis with storage facilities for excess luggage during hikes.
• Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
• 3-4 porters per climber, which includes porters to carry up to 30 lbs of your personal gear.
• Kilimanjaro certificate for your successful summit attempt.

Price excludes;

• Flights
• Tips to mountain crew
• Items of a personal nature
• Laundry Services
• Entry visa for Tanzania

Bujo Tours and Safaris LTD lead your dream to the roof of Africa