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Trip Itinerary
The Kilimanjaro hike via Machame Route, also known as the Whiskey Route, is one of the most popular routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. Approximately 50% of the trekkers are believed to have used the Kilimanjaro Machame Route to ascend Kilimanjaro in the past. Choosing this path means smooth acclimatization and amazing views on the hiking trail. The Kilimanjaro Machame Route itinerary leads through very scenic landscapes and it provides hikers with incredible views and varying landscapes. The Machame route is relatively difficult but there are no parts on the route that require technical skills. The route is suitable for more adventurous people or those with some high altitude hiking experience. Vi Glaciers offers Machame trail on a more enjoyable way to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro through stunning terrains.
- Stand atop the world’s tallest free-standing mountain of Africa
- Encounter widespread high alpine deserts
- Experience amazing views of ice fields and the Uhuru peak
- Enjoy the views of the Shira Ridge and the Kibo mountain range
- Ascend through fascinating landscapes including the iconic Lava Tower
Overview
Arrival City
Moshi, Tanzania
Departure City
Moshi, Tanzania
Meals
7 dinner, 7 breakfast, 6 lunch
Trip Grade
Demanding
Maximum Altitude
5,895m/19,341ft
Activity
Trekking and Hiking
Styles
Active Adventures
Outline Itinerary
| Itinerary | Maximum Altitude | Walking/Hiking |
|---|---|---|
| Day 01 Arrival in Kilimanjaro, drive to Moshi | 950m/3,117ft | - |
| Day 02 Trekking from Machame Gate to Machame Camp | 3,010m/9,876ft | 5-6 hrs |
| Day 03 Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp | 3,900m/12,796ft | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 04 Trekking Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower; descend to Barranco Camp | 3,960m/12,993ft | 6-8 hrs |
| Day 05 Trekking from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp | 4,640m/15,224ft | 9-10 hrs |
| Day 06 Climb Uhuru Peak and Descent to Millennium Camp | 5,895m/19,341ft | 9-12 hrs |
| Day 07 Descent from Millenium Camp to Mweka Gate | 1,640m/5,381ft | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 08 Final Departure | - | - |
- Accommodation in Standard Hotels on Twin Sharing Basis
Kilimanjaro climb is a camping-style climb where you cannot expect a hotel or guesthouse unlike expecting warm lodges during the trek to Everest Base Camp Trek in the Himalayas. Our camping crew will carry all the logistics that we need on the mountain for sleeping. Usually, we have a tent sharing basis for two people which is comfortable and enough space to keep your stuff inside the tent. If you want a single tent, it is possible for you to get, but will be charged a single supplement for USD 499 that includes two nights in Moshi hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on the research published by the Climb Kilimanjaro Guide, the average summit success rate across all the routes is 65%. The Machame route is considered to be the easiest one amongst all different routes to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. While all different routes on Kilimanjaro climb have their own difficulties and own experiences, Mt. Kilimanjaro is seriously a high-altitude mountain. Even though the normal routes of Kilimanjaro climb are not technically difficult, the altitude has hit hard and taken its toll on climbers annually thereby bringing the success rate down to 65%. Different operators have different success rates based on numerous factors and Vi Glaciers has an impressive success rate of over 85% on its Kilimanjaro trips.
Climbing a mountain 5,895 m (19,341 ft.) high is definitely a dangerous thing to do. An estimated 50,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year from which around 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain and approximately 10 fatalities are reported. It means that the chance of death on the mountain is only 0.0002% which is practically zero. In other words, there is just one death per 5,000 climbers and the main cause of death is altitude sickness.
Yes and no! You may want to climb Kilimanjaro alone without other hikers or crowd – it is possible. But even then, you will be assisted by guides and porters. Although you will be the only trekker, you will not be alone in the truest sense as the Tanzanian Tourism Board does not permit trekking without a guide, porter and other crew members. The ratio of trekkers to support crew is 1:4 meaning that if you are the only climber, you will be assisted by 4 other members of your trekking company.
When you look at the difference between Kilimanjaro Climb and Everest Base Camp Trek, you are going to higher altitude much quicker on Kilimanjaro than Everest base camp. From Moshi (2,932 ft.) to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft.) it takes 4 to 6 days depending on the route, which is more than 16,000 ft. gain in altitude. From Kathmandu (4,600 ft.) to the base camp of Everest (17,599 ft.) it takes 8 to 9 days, which is almost 13,000 ft. gain in altitude but trekkers need to walk longer daily distance on the Everest Base Camp trek. In the Everest region, trekkers will sleep at teahouses or luxury lodges throughout the entire trip whereas on Kilimanjaro, except for the Marangu route, trekkers will have to sleep inside tents. While there are lots of ups and downs on the Everest trekking route, the summit night on Kilimanjaro is harder than anything on the entire Everest trail. The overall summit success rate on Kilimanjaro, as per the statistics is 65% while the success rate of Everest Base Camp is over 90%. So, Kilimanjaro climb is harder than Everest Base Camp trek especially because of the quick ascent and rapid altitude gain on Kilimanjaro.
The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, also known as Uhuru Point, lies in the glacial zone with an average temperature hovering around -6°C (21°F) during day time. However, all summiting attempts begin around midnight in order to reach the Uhuru peak at dawn. So, you will be trekking during the night time when the temperatures range between -7 to -29°C (19 to -20°F).
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