• Arusha, Tanzania
  • +255-714 094 921 or +255-689 332 181
  • info@maasaiwanderlust.co.tz or booking@maasaiwanderlust.co.tz

10 Days Machame Route | Wildlife Safari

  • 6 Days, 5 Nights Climb
  • 4 Days, 3 Nights Safari
  • +3 Nights Hotel Stay in Arusha City
  • Starts From:$ 4,440

Climb Highlights

Machame route also known as “the Whiskey Route” is the second most popular option among the climbers. This route is extremely physically and mentally demanding but with higher summit success rate. From the Machame Gate you will hike to the top along the exciting footpath which starts at the tropical forest, then runs through all the climate zones and finishes with the Arctic desert in the summit area.

Mountain diet includes energy-rich and highly nutritious meals prepared by our professional cooks. A typical diet on mountain includes different soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables. Vegetarian, gluten-free & halal options are available at no extra cost. All drinks on the hike (coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water).

Comfortable tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro, on sharing basis. If you travel alone, we will match you with a same-sex fellow climber.

Before and after your kilimanjaro climb, you will stay at Iboru Safari Lodge/ Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa or similar with caring staff, hot water, reliable Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool.

Why Choose Machame Route?

  • 80% of hiker summit of Kilimanjaro.
  • Extremely physically & mentally demanding.
  • Most scenic route on the mountain.
  • Single travelers can join this group climb.
  • This climb can be customized on request.
  • Best price that won't break the bank.
  • Second most popular among the climbers.
  • Suited to the more adventurous hiker.
  • Boasts excellent acclimatization.
  • Starts any day, if availability permits.
  • Joining group keeps climb costs down.
  • Signature camping & amazing meals .

Additional Info

Location

Duration

Min Age

Min Pax

Landing

Pick Up

Drop Off

Tanzania

10 days

7+

2

KIA

KIA

KIA

Safari Itinerary

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1

Day 1: Arrive at KIA and transfer to Arusha City

After you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be met by Maasai Wanderlust representative and be transferred to Arusha City. In the evening there will be a briefing with our chief guide, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.

  • -Bed & Breakfast Hotel accommodation. Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.
  • -Overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge/Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa or similar.
  • 2

    Day 2: Machame Gate- Machame Camp(1640m- 2850m)

    A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's entrance: Machame Gate (1,800 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Machame Camp (3,010 m). The trekking route includes passage through the rainforest (where tropical showers are highly probable), so we recommend you take not only spare clothes, but also your raincoats.

    At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness. This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:-

  • √Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine.
  • √Drink over 4 liters of water daily (little by little, frequently).
  • √Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness.
  • √Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip in case of potential allergies.
  • -Altitude Attained: 1,210m.
  • -Vegetation Zone: Montane Forest.
  • -Hours trekking: 5-7 Hours.
  • -Distance: 11 Km.
  • -Difficulty: Medium.
  • -Meals: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner.
  • -Dinner and Overnight at Machame Camp.
  • 3

    Day 3: Machame Camp – Shira Camp 2 (2850m- 3810m)

    The day starts with a short ascent of an hour to where the forest end, then you will emerge from the rainforest and for the first time be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you. The walk continues through moorland for about 2 hours to arocky bluff where you stop for lunch. Physically speaking, the trekking is not very difficult, but you may feel the changes in altitude, so pay attention to your body and remember that choosing the proper pace is extremely important for good trekking. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and some rest, after which the group will go on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp with a 300-meter gain in altitude. Back down at Shira Camp 2 you will be served a hot dinner.

    Acclimatization hike:

  • -Change in Elevation: Shira Camp 2 (3,810 m) — Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,120 m).
  • -Hiking distance: 2 km.
  • -Hiking time: 1–2 hours.
  • NOTE: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.
  • -Altitude Attained: 960m.
  • -Vegetation Zone: Moorland.
  • -Hours trekking: 5–6 Hours.
  • -Distance: 5 Km.
  • -Difficulty: Low.
  • -Meals: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner.
  • -Dinner and Overnight at Shira Camp 2.
  • 4

    Day 4: Shira Camp 2- Lava Tower- Barranco Camp(3810m- 4630m- 3976)

    Today you will hike Pole, pole (slowly, slowly) to the key point of the route: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,630 meters. It might be difficult, and you may feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be. Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,976m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! Next day you will be climbing it, but don't worry: it features a very simple hiking trail.

  • NOTE: If one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing the Lava Tower and adjust the route, following instead the road for porters. In this case you will not reach an altitude of 4,630 meters, getting up only to a maximum of 4,400 meters.
  • -Altitude Attained: 820m.
  • -Altitude Loss: 654m.
  • -Vegetation Zone: Moorland.
  • -Hours trekking: 6-8 Hours.
  • -Distance: 10 Km.
  • -Difficulty: Medium.
  • -Meals: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner.
  • -Dinner and Overnight at Barranco Camp.
  • 5

    Day 5: Barranco Camp – Barafu camp (3976m- 4673m)

    Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall (we recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups). Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano. Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don't worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp you will be offered warm lunch. After a couple of hours you will have to complete ascend to Barafu Camp (4,673m) where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before night summiting.

  • -Altitude Attained: 697m.
  • -Vegetation Zone: Alpine desert.
  • -Hours trekking: 8-10 Hours.
  • -Distance: 11 Km.
  • -Difficulty: High.
  • -Meals: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner.
  • -Dinner and Overnight at Barafu Camp.
  • 6

    Day 6: Barafu Camp- Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp (4673m- 5895m- 3,068m)

    Wake up around midnight and have breakfast before you start hiking up into the night on the steepest and demanding part of the Kilimanjaro. If you are lucky enough, the moonlight will light your steps up on the northwest through the most challenging heavy loose scree and boulders trails all the way to Stella point. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental conditions. At Stella point, you will have a short rest and welcome a new dawn with amazing and stunning sunrise. Then continue to Uhuru Summit, the highest point in Africa and the world’s highest freestanding peak where you create memories of lifetime. Take time to celebrate with your fellow trekkers, and snap once-in-a-lifetime photos before descending to Barafu camp. At the camp, pack your belongings then descend to Mweka through empty rocky landscapes, moorland and lush forest. At the camp, you will celebrate the successful summit by grabbing some soft drinks or couple of beers and spend your last precious sleep on the cool mountain weather.

  • NOTE: Don't forget that 90% of all accidents occur during the descent, including all broken arms and legs. Please pay attention to your feet, as there is a high risk of damaging your toenails.
  • -Altitude Attained: 1,222m.
  • -Altitude Lose: 2,827m.
  • -Vegetation Zone: Arctic.
  • -Hours trekking: 11-14 Hours.
  • -Distance: 17 km.
  • -Difficulty: High.
  • -Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
  • -Dinner and Overnight at Mweka Camp.
  • 7

    Day 7: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate (3,068m- 1,640m) -Arusha City

    Wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction of the height and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the park's exit: Mweka Gate (1,640 m). After your descent the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the climb in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates. After tipping and saying welfare to your mountain crew, you will be transferred back to Arusha City.

  • -Altitude Lose: 1,428m.
  • -Vegetation Zone: Rainforest.
  • -Hours trekking: 3-4 Hours.
  • -Distance: 10 km.
  • -Difficulty: Low.
  • -Bed & Breakfast Hotel accommodation. Check-out starts at 11:00 PM.
  • -Overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge/Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa or similar.
  • 8

    Day 8: Arusha City- Tarangire National Park

    After a buffet breakfast, drive to Tarangire for full day game drive. En-route capture incredible photos of Maasai people grazing their herds on the savannah plains. On your game drive, you may spot vast herds of elephants, migratory wildebeest, zebra, impala and many more. Baobab trees are the landmark of Tarangire national park and it is said that God deliberately planted upside down so that you could see the root not the branches. Sight sausage trees found along the water courses and acacia trees that frame a picture for you at sunset.

  • -Distance: 115 km from Arusha City.
  • -No game-viewing drive time: 2-3 hours.
  • -Meals: Breakfast, Hot Lunch/ Picnic lunch & Dinner.
  • -Dinner and overnight at Migunga Tented Lodge/Africa Safari Glamping or similar.
  • 9

    Day 9: Lake Manyara -Serengeti National Park

    Depart Lake Mnayara for the Serengeti National park with a picnic lunch. Serengeti offers the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa such as great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, big cats (lion, leopard and cheetah), thousands upon thousands eland, topi, kongoni, impala and grant gazelle binds the Serengeti’s ecosystem much as it has done for the past two million years. Over 500 bird species ranging from the out-sized ostrich and bizarre secretary bird of the open grassland to the black eagles that soar effortlessly above the sky. Later in the afternoon, you may experience one of the blazing Serengeti sunsets, with silhouetted acacia trees and the call of the wild close at hand.

  • -Full day game-viewing drive.
  • -Meals: Breakfast, Hot Lunch/ Picnic lunch & Dinner.
  • -Dinner and overnight at the Thorn Tree Tented Camp/ Katikati Tented Camp in the Serengeti or similar.
  • 10

    Day 10: Full Day Exploration at Serengeti National Park

    After breakfast,depart for the morning game drive at the Serengeti National. Before mid day, transfer to the lodge for hot lunch at leisure. Embark for an afternoon game drive in the search for the “Big 5” – lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. Famed for its annual migration, Serengeti offers the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa such as great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, big cats (lion, leopard and cheetah), thousands upon thousands eland, topi, kongoni, impala and grant gazelle binds the Serengeti’s ecosystem much as it has done for the past two million years. Later in the afternoon, you may experience one of the blazing Serengeti sunsets, with silhouetted acacia trees and the call of the wild close at hand.

  • -Full day game-viewing drive.
  • -Meals: Breakfast, Hot Lunch/ Picnic lunch & Dinner.
  • -Dinner and overnight at the Thorn Tree Tented Camp/ Katikati Tented Camp in the Serengeti or similar.
  • 11

    Day 11: Serengeti National Park -Ngorongoro Crater -Arusha City

    After having a hearty breakfast, you descend down into the Ngorongoro Crater. At nearly 2300m, the mornings are brisk and low cloud sometimes covers the area. As you drive down the descend road, the black dots below becomes discernable shapes, with the crater becoming ever more beautiful and irresistible. With over 30,000 animals across all species, the Ngorongoro Crater can be regarded as a “Garden of Eden”. The 100 sq km caldera also has the highest density of lions anywhere in Africa. Also, Zebra and wildebeest mix on the crater floor along with lions, buffalos, elephants, rare rhino, hyenas, gazelles, cheetah, antelopes, hippos, various types of jackal, greater and lesser flamingo and many other species. By lunch time you will arrive at the lake side, where you will be offered lunchboxes, after which the safari will continue, ending in a few hours with a transfer to Arusha City.

  • -Distance: 255 km from Arusha City.
  • -No game-viewing drive time: 3 hours.
  • -Overnight at Tulia Boutique hotel & Spa/ Charity Hotel in Arusha City or similar.
  • 12

    Day 12: Departure

  • Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport or prolong your stay in Tanzania to Mt. Kilimanjaro / Mt. Meru climbs or luxury and relaxation holiday in Zanzibar Island.
  • Note

  • Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.
  • Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes Map

    Included

  • √ Professional & licensed guides (10+ years of successful climbing experience).
  • √ Private professional experienced English-speaking safari driver/guide.
  • √ Services of dedicated mountain crew (assistant guides, cooks, porters.) 
  • √ Pick-up & Drop Off at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
  • √ Transfer to park entrance gate and back to the hotel in Arusha city.
  • √ Accommodation on sharing basis before & after climb (double room, breakfast included).
  • √ All accommodation before and after safari (double room, breakfast included) as specified in the Itinerary (Unless listed as upgrade).
  • √ Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (bring your own sleeping bag).
  • √ Equipments (comfortable sleeping & dining tent, camping table and chairs).
  • √ All park fees (conservation fees, camping fees, crew fees, vehicle fee, rescue fee & VAT.
  • √ Three meals on the mountain & during the safari as specified in the day-by-day Itinerary.
  • √ Boiled & purified water on the mountain and mineral water during the game drive.
  • √ Bottled drinking water and soft drinks throughout the safari.
  • √ 1 Binocular per safari vehicle.
  • √ First Aid kit.
  • Excluded

  • ∆ International flights tickets (from/to home)
  • ∆ Visa fee.
  • ∆ Personal items or souvenirs.
  • ∆ Personal gear climbing rentals.
  • ∆ Mountaineering insurance.
  • ∆ Tips for the mountain crew.