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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 a six day route to the summit, but a 7 day schedule is always recommended to have one extra day before mounting to the summit. This undoubtedly increases 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 to Machame Camp

• Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

• Day 4: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

• Day 5: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

• Day 6: Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp

• Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Moshi

• Day 8: Moshi to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport to Moshi

Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Moshi town at the hotel. Depending the time of arrival, you will meet the Bujo Tours operation team. They will tell you more about the trip, share tips and safety information and thoroughly check your gear to see if you have everything you need.

Meals: BLD (Half board accommodation)

Day 2: Moshi to Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevetion: 1200m to 1830m to 3050m, Distance: 13 km, Hiking Time: 5-6 hours, Habitat: Montana Forest

After breakfast our vehicle will transport you from the hotel to Machame gate, takes about 45 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. At Machame gate you will do the required registration procedures then you will start the trek through the rainforest, at lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are good idea here. We continue until we reach the Machame Camp where you will find the tents are already set up for you. Dinner and Overnight at the Machame Campsite.

Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Elevation: 3050m to 3850m, Distance: 5km, Walking Time 4 -5 hours, Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast leave the glades of rainforest and continue ascending by crossing little valleys and steep rock ridge covering with heather plants to the western side of the mountain where the camp is situated. At this camp you will able get the spectacular views of Mount Meru, Shira Plateau, Kibo Peak and sunset. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation: 3850 to 4000m, Distance: 10km, Walking Time: 5-6 hours, Habitat: Semi-desert

This is long and important acclimatization day. From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, as we pass the junction and proceed towards Kibo. During our hiking our direction is diverted towards the south east and we proceed towards the Lava Tower, popularly called as the Shark’s Tooth (elevation 4650m). After a short journey from the tower, we would come to the second junction- to Arrow Glacier. Thereafter we would continue down to the Barranco Camp. This is the most amazing thing to know that you would end up your trip in the same elevation from where you had started yet, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: 4000m to 4700M, Distance: 9km, Hiking Time: 6-8 hours, Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco wall (elevation 4250m), through the Karanga Valley (elevation 4050m) to the junction which connects with the Mweka trail. We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angels. Here we make camp with views of the summit in the distance.

Day 6: Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp

Elevation: 4700m to 5895m to 3090m, Distance: 5km up and 13km down, Hiking Time: 5-7 up, 5-6 hours down, Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You have to ascend through scree towards the Stella point on the crater rim. Remember, this would be the most challenging trek for you: both mentally and physically and after taking a short stop at Stella Point, you would view the most magnificent view of the sunrise, you ever desired to see. The faster hikers only will have the opportunity to view the sunrise from this point. It is not the final stop; there is a one hour hike to rich at the summit. And while hiking from the Stella Point to the summit you may come across the snow all the way. Once on the summit try to take all your photographs as soon as possible as it would be too cold. Our next destination would be to descend down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Descending with the use of gaiters and trekking poles would be good for this region. You would enjoy the last night on the mountain reaching at the Mweka Camp.

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Moshi

Elevaton: 3090m to 1680m to 1200m, Distance: 10km down, Time 3-4 hours descent, Habitat: Forest

Today is your last day on the mountain. After breakfast you will descend down to Mweka park gate walking across Montana forest. This descent will take 3 -4 hours. Here at the gate you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to Moshi (about 30 minutes) at the hotel for your certificate presentation and a well deserved celebration.

Day 8: Moshi to Kilimanjaro International Airport

After breakfast at your lodge, you will be picked up and transfer to Airport to catch your flight back home or proceeding with wildlife safari or beach holiday in Zanzibar.

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