Nicknamed the “Whiskey” route because the route is popularized as somewhat difficult and more expensive than Marangu route. On an overall comparison of the routes to scale Kilimanjaro, this is one of the best routes to take, both in terms of acclimatization and cost. The Machame route is considered a difficult route, and is better suited for more adventurous trekkers and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.
The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. However, due to its popularity there are increased numbers of trekkers, it loses some of its splendour. The Machame route approaches the summit from the southwest and descends using the Mweka route, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau, an optional scramble up Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco wall, and a traverse underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern ice field.
In certain sections this route is steeper than the Marangu and Rongai routes and physically more demanding but is easier overall, Great for acclimatization with lots of walk high, sleep low opportunities. Challenging trek with stunning scenery through 5 diverse climatic zones. Good opportunity to split pre-summit day climb to leave climbers rested before summiting. Very popular trail.
Drive from Moshi to Machame Gate takes about 45 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
We depart the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3050m/9950ft
Distance: 11km/7mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge past the Shira 1 camp and on to the Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.
Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3850m/12,600fAfter breakfast we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.
Elevation: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Walking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Distance: 16km/10mi
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 4km/2mi
Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
Monkey Adventures vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 60 minutes).
Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast
As the saying goes, if you only visit two continents in your lifetime…visit Africa twice! , With over 10 years of experience in the Tourism Industry we pride ourselves in connecting you to Africa’s finest! Our team of passionate safari planners and safari guides have great knowledge and expertise in what they do. Unlike other Companies that dwell on maximizing their profit margins, we put client’s satisfaction first and customize our safari to match the client’s budget as we believe that everybody deserves a taste and memory of Africa.
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All Prices are per person in a party of 2 adult sharing. Solo travelers & Private groups kindly contact us for a price quote.
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Alessio Pelella2024-01-21Unforgettable and wonderful safari experience in North Tanzania With my girlfriend we experienced a wonderful private safari for 6 days in the north part of Tanzania. The organisation was very good and Ibrahim was pretty quick to adjust our plans, to communicate and to give special recommendations. Our personal guide Haji demonstrated a lot of experience, patience and teaching skills. He always was looking for the best scenes to spot while respecting the nature. We felt very comfortable with him. The big 5 were nice to see, but they are not the core of the safari. Every day we experienced new unique habitats and unexpected events that surprised us. The several birds species that we spotted with pretty patience, were the ice on the cake. The accommodations and service were excellent for all the trip, especially in the Serengeti National Park. Finally this nature and cultural experience will be always unforgettable and it has been above our best expectations. Afrishare safari operator is defenitely recommended.VerifiedAlexandros K2023-12-05Safari and Sansibar We traveled in September for a 10-day Safari tour and Sansibar with Afrishare. Our experience was the greatest! The communication with Ibrahim was very easy, supportive and quick. He answers immedietely to any questions regardless what time it is. Ibrahim was helpful in making a new travel plan adapted to our needs and wishes. We were very happy with our acommodation and felt always secure. Our tourguides were great and we developed a beauatiful releationship to them. In Tansania we spent 10 beautiful day with Moses, who is really the best we could ever ask for. He was very kind, friendly, communicative, motivated to share his knowledge and describe things and he contributed to see the BIG FIVE. Actually he found the most beautiful spots to enjoy the wildness. He knew the locations around and was always informed about the planned schedule, additionally he was very flexible to new ideas and motivated to show us the real tansanian way of life. Overall we were very happy and lucky to do this exotic trip with Afrishare, and recommend it heartwarmly. Asante sana for this beautiful expirience!VerifiedMette T2023-11-01Amazing 4 day Safari We had an amazing 4 day/3 night Safari tour with Afrishare. Ibrahim was highly responsive and supportive to all our questions and special request during the planning and coordination, which was quite last minute. Everything was planned (including multiple last minute multiple changes) perfectly according to our requests. Okuli our tourguide was amazing! From the very beginning, he picked us up on time, waiting for us outside the airport. During the tour he was extremely helpful, accomodating, friendly and communicative and was very knowledgable and had answers to all our questions. He always went out of his way to give us the best experiences and sightings and accomodated our needs. He always would inquire about our preferences for the itiniary and timeschedule and we were always well informed of the agenda. He was very well planned each day and punctual and always gave us the option to decide what we wanted to see and when we wanted to stop for breaks. He had impressive driving skills and navigating around in the parks went smoothly. He knew his way around very well and always knew the drive durations which made the time planning very smooth, according to plan, and very relaxed. Even for the last day he was extremely helpful and flexible to change the initial plan for the day on the evening before. On the last day he picked us up well on time and delivered us safely to the airport. Overall an amazing trip and Okuli was the best!VerifiedDiego R2023-09-25Just incredible We did a 5 day safari trip plus a one day Kilimanjaro trekking and we cannot be happier, the experience was simply amazing and Ibrahim and its team organised it perfectly. It has been even more than expected; food was ok, accomodations were perfect, car was great. I strongly reccomend travelling with them!VerifiedDavid J2023-09-17Amazing Kili Hike and Serengeti safari We had an amazing holiday with Afrishare - a combination of a 7 day Kilimajaro hike for myself and my 16 year old son, and then a 4 day safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater for the whole family after my wife and other son had flown out to join us. In all of it Afrishare organised everything perfectly, from the fundamentals of the hike and the safari through to all the interconnecting transfers. We made the decision to go with a local Tanzanian company rather than some big international tour operator, and do not regret that decision at all. Right from day one, Ibrahim and team were very responsive (do they ever sleep?!) answering my endless questions and tweaking the itinerary so it was exactly as we wanted. They then delivered. The Kili hike was the 7 day Machame route. The team taking us up were great, had all the required kit, and looked after us well. It was hard going but we made it to the summit and have amazing memories and sense of achievement. The safari in the Serengeti was amazing - we saw the big 5, including 46 lions in 2-3 days, and a cheetah and cubs a few metres away. Through it all our guide Kazi, was fantastic - really knowledgeable about the animals and conservation more widely, also good fun (which is important when you have 4 full days together!). I would definitely recommend Afrishare.VerifiedLaura S2023-08-08Very happy with our safari experience and our guide Fredy! I found Afrishare on SafariBookings.com and it had a lot of good reviews so I decided to contact them via email since there were so many safari options to choose from. Ibrahim answered really fast and was very welcoming. At first I didn't know how many days we (me and my boyfriend) should book and which parks to visit but Ibrahim helped us a lot. We decided to go to Tarangire and Ngorongoro for 2-day private safari trip. We arrived to Arusha one day before and contacted our driver to give directions for pickup. Our guide Fredy arrived on time and was super nice. On the way to Tarangire Fredy informed us about everything we should know beforehand. We were a little worried how many (if any) animals we would see but Fredy calmed us down. A few minutes into exploring Tarangire we already encountered some zebras and impalas! Fredy told us interesting facts about every animal we saw. At the end of the day we had already seen elephants, giraffes, lions, a leopard(!!) and many others. We stayed the night at Ngare Lodge. It was very peaceful and nice. The second day started super early. Fredy told us that we should arrive early at Ngorongoro for best safari experience. And he was right! It took some time to drive up the rim and then into the crater but waking up at 5 am was totally worth it! He navigated the crater like a pro and knew exactly where the animals would be at that time of the day. After 2 days of safari we saw all Big5 and many more. After lunch we headed back and visited some local souvenir places. Fredy dropped us off at our hotel in Arusha. It was a short trip but totally worth the price! Thank you again, Fredy!VerifiedCharilena G2023-08-04Perfect everything was very organized. The drivers were very kind and helpful.the camp tent it was safe and clearVerifiedJay K2023-07-01MOSES is GOD Our first time safari experience with afrishare was fabulous. We were 4 and had 5 days safari tour including Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongo. It was such a great time that we couldn’t forget for the rest of our lives! Ibrahim was communicative responded quickly to our requests. Actually that was the main reason why we chose afrishare. Plus, all accommodation reservations were secure and the administrative procedures during the trip went smoothly. And I can’t forget to mention MOSES!! This guy was REALLY an expert. He was very supportive to make us to have the most comfortable time possible, and communicated with the other guides in every way to ensure that we didn't miss a single animal, while allocating the time efficiently. I think his long time experience in arranging the safari helped us to make all the schedule effective. His sense humor and good personality also made our trip enjoyable. I’d like to wrap up this short post with some pics. Thanks again to afrishare & MOSES the GOD!!! We really appreciate all of your effort during the trip. MOSES is afrishare. MOSES is Tanzania!!! ????????????VerifiedCindy F2023-06-23Luxury Safari to Ngorongori, Serengeti, Tarangire National Parks We are on our last day of this Luxury Safari with AfriShare Treking and Safari, what a great trip! Excellent accommodations and our tour guide Mosses was 10 stars. He was so friendly and knowledgeable about every park we went to and every animal we saw!!! He located all the Big 5 and many more birds and animals, excellent time!!! When we return we will definitely book again through AfriShare as Ibrahim did a great job for us as well. Will also request Mosses as he was the best!!!!VerifiedPatrickPratt2023-06-22Everything we wanted and more! Our safari with Afrishare was nothing short of spectacular. I have done safaris in six other countries previously, and this one quickly rose to the top of my list. From customizing our itinerary to the bargain pricing, it was easy to choose. But we got so much out of it than we bargained for - comfortable accommodations, a top-notch guide (Rama!), and tons of animals (big 5 plus others). This was the first time for my sister and nephew to go on safari and I wanted to make sure they had the best experience possible - Afrishare delivered more than I could have asked for. So grateful for the kind, dedicated and professional staff at Afrishare for making it happen. Highly recommend booking with Afrishare for an exquisite experience. Thank you so much!
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