Mount Kilimanjaro | Machame Route | UFO Adventure Travel
Contact Us | +91 9756600449 | [email protected]

Difficulty

Moderate- Difficult

Max. Altitude

5895m

Duration

9 Days

Best Time

Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Dec

In A Hurry?

You can download our complete tour details and guide for MT. KILIMANJARO - 7 DAY MACHAME. Also, you can schedule a callback from UFO Adventure Travel.


Tour description

The Kilimanjaro Machame route is one of our most highly recommended routes to climb Kilimanjaro as it offers great acclimatization, allowing the climber to "walk high, sleep low", and as a result enjoys one of the highest summit success rate of all the routes to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. It goes by the nickname of "The Whiskey route" although no whiskey is available! This route can also be climbed in 6 days as well. Please contact us for quotes for the same.


Virtual tour of
MT. KILIMANJARO - 7 DAY MACHAME

Is this Holiday for you ?

Kilimanjaro is a big mountain and each of the trekking routes to its summit involves around 4000 metres of ascent. The 7 day Machame Route is potentially the quickest route on the mountain with ample time to acclimatize ahead of the always difficult summit day. It is therefore very popular with climbers. Generally, the trek is on good trails and is never very steep. With the exception of the summit day (which is very long) each of the trekking days is short, usually just 4 to 5 hours of walking, which gives us the afternoons to take it easy. The summit day will present a considerable challenge to everyone, as much for the 3000 metres of descent as for the ascent.

One of the most popular routes with high success rate

Allows ample time for acclimatization by following the 'walk high, sleep low' formula

Fantastic views while crossing 5 climatic zones.





  • 9 Days, 2 nights hotel, 6 nights camping
  • 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
  • Max group size: 10
  • The weather on Kilimanjaro ranges from hot to bitter cold. Mt. Kilimanjaro has 5 major ecological zones, each with its own temperature and life as the altitude increases. January and February are the warmest months, April and May are the wettest months, June and July are the coolest months, and August and September are the driest months. These generalities about the weather in Moshi hold true for Mount Kilimanjaro as well. Temperatures at the summit can range from -7 to -29 degrees Celsius. Due to its height, the mountain makes its own weather. It is impossible to predict the weather on the mountain.

Please contact [email protected] for quotes.

  • English speaking guides
  • All land transport involved in the itinerary as mentioned
  • All accommodation as described
  • Meals as per the Meal Plan
  • All permits and entrance fees in the itinerary
  • All costs are applicable for double occupancy
  • Oxygen tanks (only for descent)
  • Private group toilets
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Some meals as per the Meal Plan
  • Airport transfers
  • Tips for local staff including the local guide and drivers
  • Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.
  • Personal camera equipment & gear
  • Flights and airfare
  • Meals will be a mix of local and comfort food. Breakfasts will consist of bread, cheese, honey, jams, fruit, tea and Nescafe along with eggs, paranthas, etc. For lunch there will be a variety of momos, thukpas, and other dishes from which we can select, or a full packed lunch. Dinner will usually be a soup followed by lentils, vegetable curry and meat as available. Vegetarians can be catered for.
  • No Airport transfers are included as people travel from different parts of the world and a single group transfer is impossible to assign. We can, however, arrange a transfer from and to the airport as per your request. Please contact the UFO office for transfer details and cost.
  • During this trip the group will spend 2 nights in hotel and 7 nights camping.. All accommodation is allocated on a twin sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. All accommodations used by UFO adhere to hygiene and comfort norms. For Hotel prices and single supplement costs please contact UFO office.
  • Day will start with a hot cup of tea at around 6- 6.30 am. At around 7-7.30 a.m. breakfast will be under way and by 8-8.30 we should be back on the trail to our next camp. While you have your breakfast, the guides will brief you for the day and do health checks. You will have plenty of time to get up and pack your trek bag which will be transported safely to the next camp by porters. Please make sure you fill you water bottles for the trek ahead. Usually, our route will involve a mix of walking through rugged terrain and scrambling over loose rocks. Be prepared for some uphill climbing every day. Usually we walk for around 5-6 hours every day. On arrival at camp, we can relax in our mess tent and take tea or coffee. Dinner is ready at around 7-7.30 p.m. in the mess tent. This is a great time of day for reliving the events of the trip so far and for general socializing. There will be time for debriefing with the guides and anything that you may have on your mind. After dark, the temperature starts to fall and everyone will soon be tucked up in their sleeping bags.

How UFO makes MT. KILIMANJARO - 7 DAY MACHAME special?

    Small Groups

We are all about small groups and personalized services! Small groups tend to bond together much more than large groups and also help us give personal attention to each client. Also are you not in the mountains to get away from the crowd?

    Transparent costs

Our adventure holidays have a lot of amenities and services included i.e accommodation, transportation, meals, staff et all. Right from picking you up at the airport we do not want you bother you with arranging or spending on anything other than personal expenses or some meals. Let us take care of you for the duration of your holiday!

    Camping equipment

All quality equipment is used for our camping and climbing holidays. Usually a camping setup includes client tents, mess tent, kitchen tent and private group toilet tent. We use 3 person tents on twin occupancy basis for all our Kilimanjaro climbs.

    Land transport

All land transport is included in this package. We want you to enjoy your walk in the mountains and not fret about small details.

    Meals

We have extensive meal options for our meals. Meals are combination of local and international cuisines accompanied by Nutella, peanut butter, coffee, tea perpetually on the table. Packed lunch usually comes with carbs, juice, fruit and a chocolate. Dinner has atl east 3 -4 options on the table. We understand the importance of food in the mountains. We follow our mantra of ‘ Adventure by day, Luxury by night’!

    Accommodation

Your stay in Moshi will be at a clean and hygienic hotel on twin occupancy. We also make you stay in Moshi at the end of the holiday so you can relax before catching your flight the next day.

    Guide client ratio

Our guide client ratio for treks is 1:4 for treks and 1:3 for climbing holidays. As we said, personal attention is paramount to us. As a responsible company, a local guide will always the lead the group so that you get the local perspective as well as generating employment in the area.

More reasons to love the experience

Climb to the highest free standing mountain in the world
Personal attention to each client
All land transport included
Customized dietary requirements available
3 person Mountain Hardwear tent on twin basis

ITINERARY FOR THE TREK

DAY 1

MEET AT THE GROUP HOTEL IN MOSHI.

Meet at the group hotel in Moshi. where you can finally meet your Machame route trek partners and crew or mingle with other climbers if any staying at the hotel. The first day is reserved for resting and the chief guide will introduce himself and explain the week-long climb to Mount Kilimanjaro to the group. Rest is essential before you embark towards your goal of climbing the Uhuru Peak.



  Accommodation
Hotel in Moshi
  Meals
B

DAY 2

MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP (3000m)

We will make an early start after tea and breakfast to catch our transfer from the hotel to Machame Gate for registration.  Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent along the forest trail to Machame Camp.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
5-7 hrs walking (11 km)
  Habitat
Montane Forest

DAY 3

MACHAME CAMP TO SHIRA CAMP (3850m)

After breakfast, we start walking, leaving the rainforest behind, and continue our ascent, crossing a small valley and up to a steep rocky ridge, covered with heath. Our route now turns west onto a river gorge until we reach Shira 1.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
4-6 hrs walking(9 kms)
  Habitat
Moorland

DAY 4

SHIRA CAMP VIA LAVA TOWER (4600m) TO BARRANCO CAMP (3950m)

Today we will climb up to 4600m to the base of the Lava Tower for lunch and acclimatization. This will be our toughest day so far and you may, for the first time, feel the altitude. After lunch we will descend again by almost 650m to Barranco camp, following “walk high, sleep low” golden rule of acclimatisation. Our descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
4 hrs walking(7 kms)
  Habitat
Semi Desert

DAY 5

BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP (3930m)

A short, but fun day, starting with a scramble, to the top of the Great Barranco Wall. We then traverse over scree to the Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers.  We will stay overnight at Karanga campsite.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
4 hrs walking(7 kms)
  Habitat
Alpine Desert

DAY 6

KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP (4600m)

We leave Karanga campsite behind to meet the junction connecting with the Mweka descent Trail. From here we continue up to the Barafu Hut. You have now completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. At camp, we can rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be clearly seen from this position.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
3 hrs walking(6 kms)
  Habitat
Alpine Desert

DAY 7

BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT (5895m) TO MWEKA CAMP (3100m)

You will be woken at 23:30 with tea and biscuits. We start our Kilimanjaro Machame route trek to the summit between the Rebman and Ratzel glaciers through heavy scree up to Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek.  Make sure you keep hydrated throughout the Kilimanjaro Machame route trek and make the most of the shortstops with drinks and snacks. It is vital we go slow but steady. At Stella Point (5732m), we will stop to witness the magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). We are now only an hour away from the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro. From the summit, we descend down to the Mweka Hut camp site, via Barafu for lunch. Trekking poles will be needed for the loose scree going down to Mweka Camp (3100m). Later in the evening, we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. 



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
6-8 hrs walking ascent (7 kms) ; 7-8 hrs walking descent (23kms)
  Habitat
Stone Scree - ice capped summit

DAY 8

MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE (1800m)

Your final day on the Kilimanjaro Machame route trek, departing after breakfast we descend a further 1300m to the Mweka Park Gate to pick up your summit certificates from the Park Headquarters.Transfer to your hotel.



  Accommodation
Hotel in Moshi
  Meals
BL
  Time
3-4 hrs walking(10 kms)
  Habitat
Forest

DAY 9

DEPARTURE DAY

Get going for your next destination. If you want to extend your holiday in Tanzania with safari and other activities please contact UFO office.

For more information about Kilimanjaro Machame Route please contact us at [email protected]



  Meals
B

Why trekkers love us?

I have done two treks, Rumtse to Tsokar , Ladakh & Gosaikunda Trek, Nepal with Ultimate Frontier Outlands. I am pretty sure that i will do my third trek with the same team! Thank you to the UFO team for always taking care of me.

Deepa Agarwal

I joined UFO on their Twin peaks initiative in Ladakh attempting Stok Kangri (6150m) & Golep Kangri (5900m) in Ladakh, India and the experience could not have been better curated. From the start of the trip till the very end, everything was well organised to meet the best quality standards. The team is beautifully welcoming and cheerful! The guides, equipment and food were all top notch.

Shuchita Grover

I wanted to introduce my 9 year old girl to trekking & camping and make it like a yearly family ritual. UFO team made this experience very memorable! Small details were taken care off and very well coordinated. The food was great and the team was warm and eager to help and share their experience with us.

Roopali Rawat

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Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a Tour Operator to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?

There are hundreds of companies who service the mountain. Selecting an operator can be a daunting task. You want to be sure that your operator staffs experienced, competent guides, who practice high safety standards and treats porters well. You want an operator that has proven expertise, successfully serving a wide range of clients for many years.

How much does it cost to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?

Do not select a company strictly based on price! Price should be only one component in your overall decision. Prices vary significantly between operators, however high prices and low prices should both be viewed with caution. UFO offers excellent quality climbs at reasonable rates. At our price levels, we can satisfy all park fees, pay real wages to staff, supply good food and equipment, while still providing great service to our clients, equal or better than climbs costing much more.

What are the best months to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?

The best times to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro tend to be the warmest and driest months -January, February, and September. June, July, August and October are also good months. However, temperatures and weather are unpredictable, and can change drastically based on the time of day and altitude. It's best to avoid the long rainy season, from the end of March to early June, and the short rainy season from November through the beginning of December.

Which route should I choose to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?

Mt.Kilimanjaro routes have different characteristics, which may or may not appeal to you. Consider the difficulty, scenery and crowds when you select your route.Other factors that should be considered are your age, fitness level, medical conditions, backpacking and hiking experience, experience at high altitude, degree of motivation, and any other special considerations. UFO recommends Lemosho,Machame and Rongai route to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

How can I prevent altitude sickness?

1.Stay hydrated. Try to drink at least 4-6 liters per day.
2. Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and other depressant drugs including barbiturates,tranquilizers and sleeping pills.
3. “Don’t go up until symptoms go down”. People acclimatize at different rates,so make sure that you properly acclimatized before going higher.
4. Before your trip, maintain a good work/rest cycle, avoid excessive work hours, and last minute packing.
5. Listen to your body. Do not over-do things the first day or two. Avoid heavy exercise.
6. Take your time. Pace is a critical factor on all routes. "Pole pole" (go slowly) is the phrase of the day.
7. Walk high sleep low: If you have enough energy, take an afternoon stroll further up the mountain before descending to sleep. (Not if you have any symptoms of altitude sickness!)
Factors that affect the incidence and severity of altitude illness:
1. Rate of ascent
2. Altitude attained
3. Length of exposure
4. Level of exertion
5. Hydration and diet
6. Inherent physiological susceptibility

What safety measures are taken while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro?

Our guides perform health checks twice per day on to monitor oxygen saturation levels and pulse rate. Additionally our guides administer the Lake Louise Scoring System (LLSS) to help determine whether climbers have any symptoms of altitude sickness and if so, the severity. UFO guides receive annual training in emergency first aid and can prevent, recognize and treat altitude-related illnesses. Bottled oxygen is carried on every climb as a precaution and added safety measure.

What is the coldest temperature to be expected at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro?

Temperatures vary considerably with altitude and time of day. On the plains surrounding of Mt.Kilimanjaro the average temperature is about 30°C. At 3000m frosts can be encountered at night while daytime temperatures range from 5 to 15°C. Nighttime temperatures on the summit can be well below freezing especially with the strong winds at times.

How many days are the Rongai, Machame and Lemosho routes?

Rongai route entails 6 days on the mountain while the Machame route has two options, a 6-day hike and a 7-day hike.For those that need extra time to adjust to the altitude, the Lemosho route is best, with 8 days total on the mountain. We would advise to take minimum 7 day trek up Kilimanjro.

What are the main differences between the Rongai, Machame, and Lemosho routes?

The Rongai, Lemosho, and Machame routes are camping routes that take longer and are considered more scenic than other routes.The Rongai route takes you up the north side of the mountain and you descend down the Marangu route. The Lemosho and the Machame routes traverse the mountain and descends down the Mweka route.

Why are some company's prices so low?

There is a fair share of budget operators who offer cheap climbs. However, these operators engage in shady practices such as paying porters less than minimum wage or not at all, feeding porters only once or twice a day, forcing porters to carry loads greater than the weight limit, allowing porters to climb with insufficient clothing and providing poor shelters for porters to sleep in. Never climb Mt.Kilimanjaro with a budget operator.