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7-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek with KLA Adventures
Overview
Known affectionately as the “Whiskey Route,” the Machame Trail is one of the most popular and scenic routes up Mount Kilimanjaro. Compared to the easier Marangu route, Machame offers longer days and steeper climbs, making it a favorite among adventurous trekkers with some hiking experience. This route takes you from lush rainforest through moorlands and alpine desert, passing beneath Kilimanjaro’s southern icefields before reaching the summit.
While the minimum recommended time is six days, we suggest seven days to allow better acclimatization and increase your chances of success. Due to its popularity, some sections can be crowded, but the dramatic landscapes make every step worthwhile.
Key Stops Along the Route
Machame Camp → Shira Camp → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Moshi – Machame Gate – Machame Camp Begin your adventure with a 50-minute drive from Moshi to Machame Gate. From here, you trek through dense rainforest on a winding path up to Machame Camp. The trail can be muddy and slippery, so trekking poles and gaiters are recommended. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Machame Camp
Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira Camp After breakfast, leave the rainforest and ascend along a steep ridge covered with heather, crossing a small valley. The path then heads west into a river gorge leading to Shira Camp, surrounded by open moorland. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Shira Camp
Day 3: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp Depart early for a challenging day through desert-like terrain. Reach Lava Tower after approximately five hours of hiking. After lunch and optional exploration of the tower, descend for two hours to Barranco Camp at the base of the famous Barranco Wall, which you will climb tomorrow. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Barranco Camp
Day 4: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp Today is a shorter day focused on acclimatization. After climbing the Barranco Wall, continue along a ridge to the Karanga Valley campsite. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Karanga Camp
Day 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp After breakfast, trek a relatively short distance to Barafu Camp, the base camp for your summit attempt. Prepare for the final climb during this rest day. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Barafu Camp
Day 6: Barafu Camp – Summit (Uhuru Peak) – Mweka Camp Begin your summit ascent between midnight and 2 a.m., navigating steep scree paths toward Stella Point on the crater rim. Pause to enjoy a spectacular sunrise before continuing to Uhuru Peak, Africa’s highest point. After celebration, descend to Mweka Camp via Barafu for lunch. The descent requires caution on loose gravel, so poles and gaiters are helpful. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Mweka Camp
Day 7: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate – Moshi Complete your final descent through the forest to Mweka Gate, where you’ll receive your summit certificate. Depending on weather, trails may be muddy. From the gate,
continue to Mweka Village to be picked up and driven back to your hotel in Moshi. Meals: Breakfast