Moshi Town/Pick-up Location to Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - The journey begins with a road transfer from Moshi Town or the designated pick-up location at 9:00 am to Machame Gate. After completing registration, the trek commences through the lush rainforest zone, accompanied by a guide. The forest is rich in diverse flora and fauna, and afternoon rain is common, making the path slightly slippery. A steady yet relatively steep hike leads to the forest’s edge and the heather zone.

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - Today’s hike is shorter, starting with a trek through the heather and moorland zone up a steep ridge to the semi-circular cliff known as Picnic Rock. From this vantage point, there are excellent views (weather permitting) of Kibo Peak, the tallest cone on the mountain, and the ultimate goal of Uhuru Peak. The jagged peaks of the Shira Plateau are visible to the west. Shira is Kilimanjaro’s third peak, shaped by lava flow, erosion, and volcanic activity. In the distance, Tanzania’s second-highest mountain, Mt Meru (4563m or 14970ft), can be seen. The rest of the day involves a gentler, flat trail to the camp, where the views remain spectacular.

Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - Today’s hike leads towards the Kibo cone, steadily climbing up and over the alpine desert edges to the first high altitude at the Lava Tower (4630m or 15190ft). This day aids acclimatization and serves as a good indicator of how the body handles higher altitudes. From the Lava Tower, a steep descent begins, moving anti-clockwise around Kibo into the Barranco Valley, passing the large flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro Senecios) unique to Kilimanjaro. The day concludes at approximately the same elevation as it started, on the edge of the heather and moorland.

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - The morning starts with an ascent of the Barranco Wall, an impressive non-technical scramble that offers a sense of mountain climbing without requiring prior experience or advanced equipment. The reward is a superb view from the top back into the camp and the Heim Glacier on the peak. The remainder of the hike traverses the alpine desert, winding around the mountain to the Karanga Valley, which is descended into and then ascended to reach the camp. Karanga Valley is the last water point.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - The day involves a leisurely climb through the barren landscape of the alpine desert, maintaining a slow pace despite the path not being extremely steep. As Kibo cone draws nearer, Mawenzi Peak (Kilimanjaro’s second peak) may finally be glimpsed to the east. The short distance allows ample time at the summit camp to rest and prepare for the summit attempt that night.

Barafu Camp to Stella Point to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro - The final ascent to Uhuru Peak begins in the early morning (around midnight) through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep climb over loose volcanic scree in the dark and cold night, progressing slowly in a zig-zag pattern towards Stella Point (5685m or 18650ft), the first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here, a short but challenging hike remains to reach Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), the highest point in Africa. Due to the extreme altitude, time at the peak is usually brief before descending back to base camp for breakfast or brunch. After packing up, the descent continues through the alpine desert, heather, and moorland, eventually reaching Mweka Camp in the rainforest zone for a well-deserved rest.

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi Town/Drop-off Location

Mount Kilimanjaro - The final day on Kilimanjaro involves descending through the southern rainforest to Mweka Gate, where a vehicle awaits to transport you back to Moshi Town or the drop-off location. Typically, the crew departs at Mweka Gate, providing an ideal opportunity to bid farewell to the team, who generally head directly home from the end gate.

• Twice daily health checks with guides and a high-grade medical oximeter
• Boiled drinking water on trek (from 1st camp onwards)
• Hand washing station and small personal wash basin at campsites
• 1 x approx. 100Ltr rubberized hold all bag / packsack
• Trained, certified, and experienced English-speaking Mountain guide/s at KINAPA minimum ratios
• Lunch
• Shared public toilet facilities at campsites
• Dinner
• Pre-climb briefing / equipment check with the guide / tour consultant in Moshi
• Breakfast
• Luggage storage while on trek
• All meals on the mountain and eating utensils, cutlery, bowls, cups etc.
• Specialist tent crew to service and set-up campsites
• All taxes and VAT applicable
• 1 Emergency oxygen cylinder per 5 passengers and first aid kit
• 1 x transfer from a Moshi based lodge/pick up location to park gates per group
• Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project monitoring on Kilimanjaro treks for fair treatment standards
• 1 x luggage porter carrying luggage of 15kg per person of personal luggage
• Four season tent(sharing for even numbered+1 single tent for odd numbers)chairs, tables, dining tent
• Basic 1” foam sleeping mattress per person
• All National Park conservation, park entry, camping, and rescue fees as applicable
• Trained and experienced personal mountain cook and waiter
• 1 x transfer from park gates to a Moshi based lodge/drop off location per group

• Tips / gratuities
• Beverages such as soft drinks, alcohol etc.
• Insurance
• Visas
• Items of a personal nature
• Water on first day of trek
• Metal & hard plastic water bottles, etc. (note: soft plastics are not permitted on the mountain)
• Extra Single tents ($20 per extra tent, per day)
• Comfort upgrades as portable toilet(45 per day-Max 5 pax), foldable bed($20 per bed, per day) etc.
• Flying Doctors Emergency Evacuation membership
• Personal mountain equipment such as sleeping bags, walking poles, etc(Please request pack guideline)
• Extra guides or extra luggage porters ($35 per guide per day, $20 per luggage porter per day)

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.

• Not recommended for travelers with lung problems or other known altitude related medical conditions

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.