This non-technical Kilimanjaro camping route is one of the most popular and commonly referred to as the ‘whisky’ route due to its popularity and strong nature of the route. Machame starts at the southwest mountain rain forest and involves steep and challenging hikes on the southern circuit which is well designed for acclimatization with natural features taking you high and low. Although this is a non-technical route, there is a small ‘scrambling’ (using your hands and legs) section at the Barranco wall which truly gives you that mountain climbing feeling without any special equipment or experience. 

Today has no planned activities and is only an arrival day for you to reach your base lodge in time for a pre-climb briefing (time to be confirmed) with your mountain guide. A shared shuttle airport transfer is included from Kilimanjaro International Airport (time and flight to be confirmed) to Moshi. 

Approx. driving distance: 1-2 hours

Approx. trekking time: None

Approx. trekking distance: None

Start altitude: Unknown

End altitude: Unknown

Highest Altitude reached: Unknown

Altitude gain: Unknown

Meals included: None

You will be transferred by road from Moshi town (09:00am) to Machame gate. After registration you begin your trek through the rain forest zone with your guide. The forest is thick and diverse with flora / fauna, and you may experience rain this afternoon which is common in this zone making the path slightly slippery. A steady but relatively steep hike takes you to the edge of the forest and heather zone.

Approx. driving distance: 1-1.5 hours

Approx. trekking time: 5-7 hours 

Approx. trekking distance: 9km / 5.5mi

Start altitude: 1790m or   5870ft 

End altitude: 3010m or   9875ft

Highest Altitude reached: 3010m or   9875ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +1220m or +4005ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today’s hike is a little shorter and begins with a trek through the heather & moorland zone up a steep ridge till the semi-circular cliff known as Picnic Rock. From here you have excellent views (on a clear day) of Kibo peak, the tallest cone on the mountain where your goal of Uhuru peak is. You should also see the jagged peaks of the Shira Plateau to the west. Shira is the third peak of Kilimanjaro which has been molded by lava flow, erosion, and volcanic activity. Tanzania’s second highest mountain (Mt Meru 4563m or 14970ft) may be seen in the distance. The remainder of your day is a much gentler / flat trail to your camp, where the views are equally as spectacular.

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 5-7 hours 

Approx. trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi

Start altitude: 3010m or   9875ft 

End altitude: 3845m or   12615ft

Highest Altitude reached: 3845m or   12615ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +835m or +2740ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

 Your   hike today takes you towards to Kibo cone steadily climbing up and over the   edges of the alpine desert to your first high altitude at the lava   tower (4630m or 15190ft). Today helps you to acclimatize and also is a great   indicator to see how your body can handle the higher altitude. From the Lava   Tower you begin your steep descent anti clockwise around Kibo and into the   Barranco Valley passing the large flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro   Senecios) unique to Kilimanjaro. The day ends around the same elevation as   you started on the edge of the heather and moorland. 

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 6-8 hours

Approx. trekking distance: 10km /     6mi

Start altitude: 3845 or     12615ft

End altitude: 3960m or     12990ft

Highest Altitude reached: 4630m or     15190ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +785m or +2575ft     / -670m or -2200ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch,     dinne

This morning you will leave the camp and ascend the Barranco wall. This is an impressive non-technical scramble and gives a feeling of mountain climbing (without any previous experience or advanced equipment required) and is rewarded with a superb view from the top back into the camp and the Heim glacier on the peak. The remainder of the hike will be through the alpine desert slowly winding around the mountain till the Karanga valley which you descend into and again up till your camp. Karanga valley is the last water point. 

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 3-5 hours 

Approx. trekking distance: 6km / 4mi

Start altitude: 3960m or   12990ft

End altitude: 4040m or   13255ft

Highest Altitude reached: 4250m or   13945ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +290m or +955ft   / -210m or -690ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today you climb almost casually through the empty landscape of the alpine desert where you keep a slow pace even though the path is not extremely steep. Kibo cone starts to near and you may finally glimpse the Mawenzi peak (Kilimanjaro’s second peak) in the east. The short distance means you have plenty of time at your summit camp to rest and prepare for the summit attempt tonight.

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approx. trekking distance: 4km / 2.5mi

Start altitude: 4040m or   13255ft 

End altitude: 4640m or   15225ft

Highest Altitude reached: 4640m or 15225ft 

Altitude +gain / -loss: +600m or +1970ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

 In the early morning (around 00:00am) you begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru peak through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep hike over loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night and takes a slow pace in a zig-zag pattern towards Stella point (5685m or 18650ft) which is your first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here a short (but difficult) hike remains to take you to Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), the highest point in Africa. You usually don’t spend that long at the peak due to the extreme altitude and will descend back down to the base camp for your breakfast / brunch. After your gear is packed up you continue the descent through the alpine desert, heather and moorland and eventually stopping at Mweka camp in the rain forest zone for a well-deserved rest. 

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 14-18 hours

Approx. trekking distance: 19km / 12mi

Start altitude: 4640m or   15225ft 

End altitude: 3700m or 12220ft

Highest Altitude reached: 5895m or   19431ft

Your final day on Kilimanjaro is a descent through the southern rain forest until Mweka gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Moshi town. Usually, the crew will leave you at Mweka gate and it’s a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to your crew who all generally head directly home from the end gate. 

Approx. driving distance: 1 hour

Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approx. trekking distance: 10km / 6mi

Start altitude: 3080m or   10105ft 

End altitude: 1630m or   5350ft

Highest Altitude reached: 3080m or   10105ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: -1450 or   4755ft

Meals included: Breakfast

Today has no planned activities and is only a departure day for you head home (time and flight to be confirmed), continue with your next tour activity or book extra nights to recover. Speak to a tour consultant for all of your options.

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: None

Approx. trekking distance: None

Start altitude: Unknown 

End altitude: Unknown

Highest Altitude reached: Unknown

Altitude gain: Unknown

Meals included: Breakfast