6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour Via Machame Route, Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari Whiskey Route

6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour – SAFARI OVERVIEW

 

This 6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour Via Machame Route is a 6 days Mountain Kilimanjaro climbing safari in Tanzania Whiskey Route that takes you on a breathtaking trek up to the summit of the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania! Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain on earth, rising to 5895 meters (19341 feet) above sea level.

On this 6 days Kilimanjaro hiking tour Tanzania safari, you’ll hike with experienced local guides via the popular Machame Route, one of the most scenic paths up Kilimanjaro. You’ll trek through humid, tropical rainforest to cool moorland, and onwards to a dry, cold alpine desert, before finally arriving at the snow-capped summit.

Compared to the Rongai and Marangu routes, Machame is more challenging as it has more steep sections and higher altitudes. It is busier than the Lemosho Route during the initial ascent but all converge at Baranco Camp, from where the Machame route heads on directly to Barafu Camp and the summit at Uhuru Peak.

Kilimanjaro does not need technical climbing skills but requires hiking-level fitness because an average day ranges from 6 to 8 hours of hiking.

You can book or customize this 6 days Kilimanjaro hiking tour for a safe and successful climb to the highest point in Africa – at an affordable price!

 

Mount Kilimanjaro hiking trips

6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour – PRIME SAFARI ACTIVITIES

  • Summit Uhuru Peak at 5 895m (19 340ft)
  • Hike through the rainforest, moorland, and alpine desert
  • Enjoy views of Kibo Peak
  • See the spectacular Shira Plateau
  • Sleep in comfortable tents on the mountain
  • Watch a dazzling African sunrise from Stella Point

6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour – SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1: Hike from Machame Gate (1,800 m) via rainforest zone to Machame Camp (3010 m).

Day 2: Ascend through the heath and moorland zone to Shira Camp (3750 m)

Day 3: Climb to Lava Tower (4,630 m). Descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m).

Day 4: Trek through the alpine desert to Barafu Camp (4,640 m)

Day 5: Ascend to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Descend to Millennium Camp (3,820 m).

Day 6: Descend through the rainforest zone to Mweka Gate (1,640 m).

6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1: Hike Machame Gate (1,800m) via Rainforest Zone to Machame Camp (3010m).

On day one of the 6 days Kilimanjaro hiking tour, begin your incredible trek to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. In the morning, your guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at your Arusha hotel.

After a quick briefing, you will be driven for about one and a half hours to the Kilimanjaro National Park’s Machame Gate at (5906 feet/1800 meters). Here, you will register with the search and rescue service and receive your mountain trekking permit, before embarking on the Kilimanjaro hike.

Your first day of trekking is pleasant. You will slowly hike through the gorgeous forest slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, most of which is a rainforest zone. As you hike, your expert guide will reveal insight into the rare fauna and flora you pass. Keep a look out for black-and-white colobus monkeys and exotic birds.

Please note that at these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Your trek ends after reaching Machame Camp above the rainforest. Here, you will make camp and enjoy lovely views of Kibo, the highest of Kilimanjaro’s three peaks.

Accommodation: – Machame Camp

Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner

Duration: – 5-6 hours

Distance: – (3 miles/5 kilometers)

Climb: – (3970 feet/1210 meters)

Habitat: – Rainforest

Difficulty: – Medium

Day 2: Ascend Through Moorland Zone to Shira Camp (3750m)

After a hearty breakfast on day 2 of your 6 days Kilimanjaro hike, leave Machame Camp and proceed with the climb up into the moorland zone. Though less biodiverse than the forest zone, this zone has an ethereal beauty. It is notable for the presence of two most distinctive plants: the Giant lobelia and Giant groundsel.

Your hike today comprises several uphill sections. And you will be treated to many viewpoints from which you can view the imposing Kibo and Mawenzi peaks above, as well as the plains and forests below.

The trek is not very difficult physically, but temperatures will drop, and you’ll feel the cold more acutely. Please pay attention to your body (altitude sickness) and keep in mind that choosing the proper pace is key for successful mountain trekking.

You will stunning panoramic views as you hike up to the rim of Shira Plateau, a spectacular place that stretches (13km) to the west of Kibo, and sits at an altitude of around (3,810m). You will have lunch when you arrive at the camp.

After lunch, take some time to relax and then go on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp with a 300-m gain in altitude. You then descend to Shira Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: – Shira Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Duration: – 4-5 hours

Distance: – (3 miles/5 kilometers)

Climb: – (3412 feet/1040 meters)

Descend: – (984 feet/300 meters)

Habitat: – Moorland

Difficulty: – Low

Day 3: Climb to Lava Tower (4,630m). Descend To Barranco Camp (3,960m).

Today, the trek becomes increasingly steep and challenging. And due to high altitude, some hikers may begin to feel weak/short of breath. To prevent aggravating the symptoms, trek slowly or pole pole as they say in Swahili.

You’ll ascend into the Alpine Desert. This eco-zone gets its name because it’s generally rocky with small hardy plants, very few flowers, and the odd tussocky grass. Then trek east on the plateau and continue up to the Lava Tower (4,630m).

To successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least one to two hours at the Lava Tower so this is where lunch will be.

Then, descend to Barranco Camp (3,960m) and enjoy the beautiful landscape as a reward for the day’s difficult hike. Here, you can see the famous Barranco Wall and the area has an amazing view of hanging glaciers and the Kibo massif.

Please note: Today’s hike consists of two parts: the hike up to Lava Tower (4,630m), followed by the hike down to Barranco Camp (3,960m). This means you ‘hike high, and sleep low, which is an excellent strategy for acclimatization.

Accommodation: – Barranco Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Duration: – 6-8 hours

Distance: – (7 miles/11 kilometers)

Climb: – (2887 feet/880 meters)

Descend: – (2198 feet/670 meters)

Habitat: – Alpine Desert

Difficulty: – Medium

Day 4: Trek through the Alpine Desert to Barafu Camp (4,640m)

On day four of your 6 days Kilimanjaro hiking tour in Tanzania, enjoy an early breakfast at Barranco Camp. After breakfast, conquer Great Barranco Wall. While it may look intimidating from afar, it’s easy to climb and needs no technical rock-climbing skills. The hike up the wall takes around one hour.

After the climb, you can relax and take photos in front of Mount Kibo. From there, continue on a more difficult trek through the alpine desert to Karanga Camp. Upon arriving have a warm lunch and unwind for a while.

Then finish your ascent to the Barafu Camp (4,640m). It’s getting real! You’re now very close to the summit. You may experience a combination of nerves and excitement but it is worth trying to sleep as early as possible.

Tomorrow, you will be woken around midnight by your crew with tea and biscuits to get ready for the start of the long summit trek.

Accommodation: – Barafu Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Duration: – 8-10 hours

Distance: – (7 miles/11 kilometers)

Climb: – (2231 feet/680 meters)

Habitat: – Alpine Desert

Difficulty: – Hike

Day 5: Ascend To Uhuru Peak (5,895m). Descend To Millennium Camp (3,820m).

Be ready for a very early start between midnight and 2.00 am today.

This last push to the summit is the most mentally and physically challenging section of this 6 days Kilimanjaro hiking tour. You’ll climb through heavy scree up to Stella Point (5,756 m) where a magnificent sunrise makes the surrounding glaciers sparkle.

From there, continue on one hour hike through constant glaciers and snow to reach the summit of Uhuru Peak (5895m). It will be a difficult hike, but once you get there, you can content yourself with the knowledge you’re on the ‘Roof of Africa.’

After taking time to enjoy your achievement and taking photographs at the summit sign, you’ll descend back down to Barafu Camp for a rest and something to eat, before descending further down the mountain to Millennium Camp.

Accommodation: – Millennium Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Duration: – 8-12 hours

Distance: – 9.3 miles (15 kilometers)

Climb: – 13509 feet (1255 meters)

Descend: – 6808 feet (2075 meters)

Habitat: – Arctic

Difficulty: – High

Day 6: Descend Through The Rainforest Zone To Mweka Gate (1,640m).

After breakfast, embark on a hike of four to five hours down from Millennium Camp to the Kilimanjaro National Park’s exit point: Mweka Gate.

This concludes your incredible 6 days Kilimanjaro hiking adventure! You will be rewarded a certificate of completion and transferred back to Arusha (Kilimanjaro International Airport), where you will catch your flight home. Safe journey!

Please note This 6 days Kilimanjaro hiking tour can be extended with an affordable safari in Tanzania’s top wildlife safari destination and/or a relaxing holiday on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar. We can also arrange extensions to Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee tracking adventures or a safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park and other incredible Kenya safari destinations.

For more details, don’t hesitate to contact us.

End of the 6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour

6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour − SAFARI INCLUSIONS

  • Accommodation on Kilimanjaro – modern comfortable 4-season tents.
  • Kilimanjaro National Park fees.
  • Meals on the hike.
  • Drinks on the hike – coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water.
  • Four-inch thick and comfortable sleeping mats.
  • Group equipment – dining tent, table, chairs, crockery, and cutlery.
  • Oxygen cylinders and oximeters.
  • GPS-tracking service.
  • Complete medical kits including Diamox.
  • Professional guides licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park.
  • Dedicated support crew – assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.
  • Taxes: 18% VAT, 1% TDL and 0.3% Service Levy.

6 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS

  • General tips for the driver guide, site guides, and service staff,
  • Visa fee
  • Optional Activity fees
  • International flights
  • Airport transfers – can be arranged on request.
  • Accommodation in Arusha – can be arranged on request.
  • Personal gear rentals
  • Lunch and dinner at the hotel – before and after the climb.
  • Portable toilets – if required.
  • Special mountaineering insurance.