MACHAME ROUTE KILIMANJARO(Whiskey)
Machame route is one among the popular route for Kilimanjaro hiking. This Machame route is considered to be the difficult route for climbing Kilimanjaro mountain than the Marangu route hence the name Whiskey.
This route gives the climbers the best views for Kilimanjaro. You will see different landmarks such as famed Lava Tower and Shira Plateau. You will come across a series of ridges and valleys. This is the reason it becomes somehow strenuous to hike through.
The Machame route provides a unique and varied landscapes to pass through on each and every day. The trail starts on the south side of the mountain, passes underneath the Southern Ice Field and makes its summit approach from the Barafu Camp.
The Kilimanjaro Machame route is most used and preferred route nowadays. This can be because of the good scenic and short length. One can climb mount Kilimanjaro through this route either for 6 days where you will spent 5 nights on the mountain. Also we have the best 7 days Machame route which provides better acclimatization schedule.
The Machame route has the best summit success rate of about 95%. But most of the people who selected 7 days are the ones who are leading for summit success.
More important is that Machame route as no fixed huts instead we use movable tents or mountain camping
Characteristics of Machame route
- It is the popular route and hence the busiest route as most climbers prefer it every year. Over 50% of Kilimanjaro climbers use the Machame route
- It has highest summit success rate
- Machame route is beautiful, has varied scenery and has good acclimatization schedule with the 7 days itinerary being preferred.
- It is has shorter lenght, hence some how difficult and being encouraged for people with tekking, hiking and backpackers experience.
Machame route Map
The Machame route begins at Machame Gate at the south west of the mountain and ascends to the primary camp at the threshold of the woodland after which keeps up and traverses the mountain for numerous days earlier than mountaineering to the summit from the very last camp at the south east aspect of the peak. The descent is nearly immediately south.
The photo on the left indicates how the Machame route ascends one facet of the mountain, keeps a slumbering altitude of round 3900m (Shira Camp, Barranco Camp and Karanga Camp) for 3 nights which aids acclimatization, after which is going as much as Barafu Camp at 4600m for the very last stroll to the top.
What is the kind of accommodation used on Machame route?
The Machame route best gives tenting/ Camping accommodation. All of your tenting equipment is furnished for you as a part of your package deal price in case you climb Kilimanjaro with Kizza Adventures.
This equipment consists of your tent, napping bag, napping mat and pillow. Also, all tents are pitched after which taken down with the aid of using our committed mountain team in the course of the trek. The campsites and gates (with corresponding elevations) are as follows:
- Machame Gate (start of trek) (1,800 m)
- Machame 9,927 feet (3,000 m)
- Shira 12,355 feet (3,800 m)
- Barranco 13,066 feet (3,900 m)
- Karanga (optional camp, used by 7-day climbers) (400m)
- Barafu (high camp before summit) 15,239 feet (4,600 m)
- Mweka (descent) 10,204 feet (3,00 m)
- Mweka Gate (end of trek) 5,423 feet (1,800 m)
What is the summit success rate of Machame route?
The Machame path presents best possibilities to climb excessive after which sleep low, this means that it has an exquisite acclimatization profile. Whilst there aren't any legitimate statistics, the common achievement fee throughout all Kilimanjaro operators is 85% for the seven-day Machame path. It drops to 73% for the six-day option. Kizza Adventures
keeps a success rate of 97% for the seven-day Machame route! As we have professional and experienced tour guides who know how to handle each client until fulfills his /her dream to reach Kilimanjaro peak
What is the Machame route scenery like?
The Machame route is one of the maximum stunning or beautiful of the seven Kilimanjaro routes in Tanzania. You byskip via extraordinarily numerous terrain the complete manner as much as the summit. In fact, you byskip via 5 exceptional weather zones: rainforest, grassland, moorland, alpine desert, and the arctic summit. The trek additionally takes you beyond
lovely herbal capabilities including the volcanic plug called Lava Tower. The Machame additionally path stops over at places that provide a number of the pleasant sunrises and sunsets on Kilimanjaro.
How many days does it take to climb Kilimanjaro via Machame route and What is the cost?
The Machame direction may be finished in at the very least 6 days, however we constantly advice the 7 days Machame route itinerary. The more day offers you greater time to acclimatize. The Machame route may be very beautiful, so it might be a disgrace to hurry it.
On our experience most people who used 7 days Machame itinerary had excellent summit success rate compared to 6 days itinerary. Kizza Adventures provide affordable price to trek Kilimanjaro Mountain.
What is the Machame route distance?
The Machame Route is approximately 62 km/ 39 miles from gate to gate, with an elevation gain of about 16,000 to 17,000 feet
Machame route is designed for those with above average fitness and some hiking experience. But, most of first time trekkers use the route as well and do just fine. It is rated as one of Kilimanjaro’s better routes and thus is recommended. It is certainly a better choice than the typical tourtist’s route – Marangu.
6 and 7 Days Machame route itinerary
In the 6 days Machame route itinerary the Karanga Camp is skipped. The walk will be from Barranco camp to Barafu Camp.
Day 1:Machame Gate to Machame Camp
In the morning after breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and a drive to the Machame Gate. It takes bout 50 minutes to arrive there. we will pass through the Machame village which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
After registration process is completed at the Gate a climb to Machame Camp begins. You will encounter rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery which requires a climber to have Gaiters and trekking poles.
After a short while you will arrive at the Machame Camp where you will have dinner and overnight.
- Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
- Distance: 11 km | 7 miles
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast, we leave the Machame Camp and have our way through the forest. Continue on an ascending we will cross the little valley. We will walk along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather up to where the ridge ends. Dinner and Overnight at SHIRA CAMP.
- Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
- Distance: 7km | 4 miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5hours
- Habitat: Health
Day 3 : Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
This is an acclimatization day that helps our body to prepare for the summit day. The day begins by passing through the junction towards the KIBO peak. We will come across the LAVA TOWER (Shark's Tooth), second junction and ARROW GLACIER, on our ascending. Thereafter we will arrive at the Barranco Hut which is 13,000ft and is at the same elevation from when we started . Dinner and Overnight at Barranco Camp.
- Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft
- Distance: 10 km | 6 miles
- Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
Day 4 : Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
We will start leaving the Barranco Camp after the breakfast, we will walk through a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall. this is the second day for acclimatization so as you can adapt the higher altitudes. we will come across several ridges and valleys before arriving at the KARANGA CAMP. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Camp.
- Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
- Distance: 5 km | 3 miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
Day 5:Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
After breakfast, we will leave Karanga passing through the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. This point is the completion of the SOUTH CIRCUIT and views of the summit can be seen from many different angles, also KIBO and MAWENZI peaks can be seen clearly. Delicious dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp. It takes 3-4 hours for hiking.
- Elevation:13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
- Distance: 4 km | 2 miles
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
Day 6: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
At around 2am in the midnight we will continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers using headlamps and finally arrive at the STELLA POINT on the crater rim. We will have a short rest and enjoy the sunrise. we will begin hiking towards the SUMMIT which takes about 1-hour and snow may be encountered on the way. The place is so cold so you need to protect yourself. We will have some photos and enjoy to the SUMMIT, there after we will begin descending to the MWEKA CAMP.
- Elevation:15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
- Distance: 5 km | 3miles
- Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
- Habitat: Arctic
Descent
- Elevation:119,341 ft to 10,065 ft
- Distance: 12 km | 7miles
- Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
- Habitat: Rain forest
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Moshi
After breakfast, we will continue descending to the Mweka Park Gate where summit certificates will be awarded. Notice that on descending muddy mighty be encountered so it is necessary to have Gaiters and trekking poles. We will enjoy our lunch and say goodbye to your mountain crew. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka Park Gate to drive you back to hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
- Elevation:10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
- Distance: 10 km | 6miles
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Rain forest