7 Days Machame Route Trek

Route Overview

The route is commonly known as the Whisky Route, this is one of the most scenic and therefore popular routes on the mountain and offers adventurous climbers stunning scenic outlooks. With paths through magnificent forests, leading to a ridge that traverses moorland zones, and ending with late sunset at Shira Plateau, the journey continues to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall.
Due to its more managiable incline and the possibilty of competing it over longer periods, this route boasts a significantly higher success rate of reaching the summit.

7 Days Trek - Machame Route

Route Itinerary

DAY 1

10.75k /7mi | 5-6 hrs. | Rainforest
Elevation: 1811m/5942ft to 3021m/9911ft
Altitude gained: 1210m

Your chief guide will give you a briefing immediately after your breakfast at the hotel. You will drive about an hour from the hotel to Machame gate (1800m). The guides and porters will be packing your supplies and equipment while you are doing paperwork and registration. You will then start hiking up to Machame Camp (3000m) through the rain forest zone for 6-7 hours (11km).

DAY 2

5.3km/3mi | 4-5hrs | Moorland
Elevation: 3021m/9911ft to 3839m/12,595ft
Altitude gained: 818m

On this day you will start from Machame Camp (3,000m) to Shira Camp (3,800m). You will hike 6 kilometer through short savannah forest and other vegetation for about 4-6 hours to Shira Camp.

Day 3 – Acclimatization Day

10.75km/6mi | 5-6hrs | Semi Desert
Elevation: 3839m/12,595ft to 3986m/13,077ft
Altitude gained: 147m

This day starts at Shira Camp (4160M) to Barranco Camp (3950m). We will start at Shira Camp (4160m), ascending for about 4-5 hours to Lava Tower (4500m), then descending through Senecio Forest to Baranco Camp (3959m) for 2-3 hours. Baranco Camp is in the shadow of huge Barranco wall with easterly foggy winds from the Barranco valley. The distance between these camps is about 11km.

DAY 4

5.2km/3mi | 3-4hrs | Alpine Desert
Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft
Altitude gained: 48m

In this day you will hike from Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karanga Camp (3995m). The main task of the day will be to climb Barranco wall which is about 150m stiff. On top of the wall we will have a short rest, enjoying the view, taking photos and then descending to Karanga Valley and then ascending to Karanga Camp where we will spend the night. The total distance is 5 kilometers which takes about 5 hours hiking time.

DAY 5

3.3km /2 mi | 3-4hrs | Alpine Desert
Elevation: 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft
Altitude gained: 628m

In day 5 you will start from Karanga Camp (3995m) to Barafu Camp (4600m). You will start hiking early in the morning – just after breakfast. The hike is slow and steady uphill pace to the arctic zone about 4km which takes 3-4 hours.

Day 6 (Summit Day)

The hike starts at 01:00 a.m. from Barafu Camp (4600m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) back to Barafu Camp (4600m) then to Mweka Camp (3100m). The journey takes 12 – 14 hours to hike about 21km. This is the most challenging day to reach the most beautiful point.

DAY 7

9.1km/6mi |3-4hrs | Rainforest
Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
Altitude lost: 1473m

This is the last day on this Mountain; you will descend from Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1650m). Your vehicle will be waiting for you at the gate and you will start your trip back to the hotel after finishing all the paper work. The descending distance for this day is 10km which takes 3 – 4 hours.