9-Day Machame Route – “Whiskey” Trail to Uhuru Peak

Day 1 | Welcome to Tanzania

A Jacana Serengeti Safaris driver greets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and whisks you to a leafy lodge in Moshi. Enjoy a sunset gear briefing, meet your crew and rest up—tomorrow the forest calls.

Day 2 | Into the Emerald Realm

Machame Gate 1 820 m → Machame Camp 2 850 m

• Hike: 5 – 6 hrs | Distance: 11 km

• Eco-zone: Lush montane rain-forest

Register at the bustling gate, shoulder your day-pack and step beneath towering fig trees alive with colobus monkeys and turacos. A picnic lunch fuels the final push to Machame Camp, where porters have already pitched snug expedition tents. Sip hot cocoa and watch clouds curl around Kibo’s summit.

Day 3 | Shira Plateau Panorama

Machame Camp → Shira Camp 3 840 m

• Hike: 4 – 5 hrs | Distance: 5 km

• Eco-zone: Moorland

Climb steep forest ridges, break the treeline, and stride onto the vast Shira Plateau with its surreal sculpted lava. Glacier views glint to the east while dinner simmers in the mess tent.

Day 4 | Climb High, Sleep Low

Shira → Lava Tower 4 630 m → Barranco Camp 3 940 m

• Hike: 6 – 8 hrs | Distance: 10 km

• Eco-zone: Alpine desert → Moorland

Traverse a moonscape of dust and giant senecios en route to the dramatic Lava Tower. Lunch at 4 630 m, then descend nearly 700 m to Barranco Valley for a rosy-hued sunset under the looming Barranco Wall—an acclimatisation master-stroke.

Day 5 | The Iconic Barranco Wall

Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp 3 995 m

• Hike: 4 – 5 hrs | Distance: 6 km

• Eco-zone: Alpine desert

Hands-on scrambling up the “Breakfast Wall” delivers heart-thumping thrills and jaw-dropping glacier views. A gentle descent to the Karanga Valley leaves time for an optional afternoon acclim-hike.

Day 6 | High-Camp on the Edge of Ice

Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp 4 673 m

• Hike: 3 – 4 hrs | Distance: 4 km

Cross windswept ridges to Barafu (“ice” in Swahili), a narrow, rocky eyrie where tents perch above the clouds. Early dinner, summit briefing, lights out by 19:00—summit night awaits.

Day 7 | SUMMIT DAY!

Barafu → Uhuru Peak 5 895 m → Mweka Camp 3 100 m

• Ascent: 6 – 7 hrs | Descent: 5 – 6 hrs

• Total distance: ≈ 17 km

Wake at 23:30 for ginger tea and biscuits, then follow a galaxy of head-torches up scree to Stella Point for a once-in-a-lifetime sunrise. Another hour along the crater rim delivers you to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. After photos and high-fives, descend to Barafu for brunch and continue down to the green world of Mweka Camp.

Day 8 | Forest Finale & Certificates

Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate 1 649 m → Moshi

• Hike: ≈ 3 hrs | Distance: 10 km

A jubilant stroll through bird-filled rain-forest brings you to the gate for your well-earned climbing certificate—green for Stella Point, gold for Uhuru. Cold drinks, hot showers and a celebration dinner await back at the lodge.

Day 9 | Farewell—or Next Adventure

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, swap summit stories, then transfer by private car to Kilimanjaro Airport—or continue the journey with a Serengeti safari or Zanzibar beach escape.

Ready to Tackle Kilimanjaro’s Most Dramatic Route?

Contact us for a personalised quotation, lock in your dates, and start counting down to summit day.

The mountain is calling—let’s answer together.