The Machame route is also the most popular route on Kilimanjaro and is also known as the “Whiskey” route. Machame’s draw is in its scenic beauty. However, the trail is considered difficult, steep and challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary. Therefore this route is better suited for more adventurous hikers or those with some high altitude, hiking or backpacking experience. Descent is made via the Mweka route.
The seven-day Machame variation is the ideal schedule for this route. On the 7-day Machame route, the trek from Barranco to Barafu is broken up into two days, allowing for a short day just prior to the summit attempt.
This is important because summit day begins very early, around midnight, so climbers are sleep-deprived going into the toughest day on the mountain. By having a short day beforehand, climbers can be better rested. The 7-day Machame route is highly recommended and used by most prominent Kilimanjaro operators.
| Number of Travelers | Cost Per Traveler in US($) |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $1,820 |
| 2 People | $1,800 |
| 3 People | $1,790 |
| 4 People | $1,760 |
| 5 People | $1,740 |
| 6 People | $1,730 |
| 7 People | $1,720 |
| 8 People | $1,710 |
| 9 People | $1,690 |
| Above 10 People | $1670 |
Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed anytime throughout the year. Most travelers prefer climbing during the dry seasons: December to March, June to October. Many consider the best months to climb Kilimanjaro to be January, February, and September.
Your Kilimanjaro dream climb is entirely your own to design. We will work with you to customize exactly the triumphant Tanzanian mountainous quest experience you want. You go with the people you choose. You leave on whatever day you wish. You decide on your preferred route option, pace, and the number of days you will take.
You will need a Single entry visa to enter Tanzania. It costs 100$ for US citizens and 50$ for other nationalities. There are 3 ways to apply it.
1. Apply it online from this link – Official link to apply your visa
2. Get a visa on arrival if you are eligible – Read Eligibility Guidelines
3. Apply through Tanzanian Embassy in your home Country
Climbers are strongly advised to obtain travel insurance immediately after booking their trip.
On most routes, you’ll trek 4-7 hours most days. On certain routes you’ll trek as many as 10-15 hours on the longest days.
We are. We are not agents for anybody, but run the treks ourselves through our own registered Tanzanian local company.
The maximum number of people on the trek is eight. Occasionally this may stretch to nine or ten if, for example, there are already 6 people booked on the trek and a group of four want to join. On the rare occasion where this happens we will contact those already booked on the trek to see if they have any objection to the group size to grow above eight.
We can book a trek for just one person but, as stated above, this will be quite expensive. If you are a solo traveler, therefore, we strongly advise you to join one of the scheduled treks.
As we are charged in US dollars, so all our prices are quoted in US dollars too. However, we are able to accept a wide range of other currencies too including sterling, euros, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, Israeli shekels, Singapore dollars, Indian rupees etc etc
We advise you to spend at least one full day in Tanzania before beginning your trek. Arriving by plane one day and then climbing the next is not the best way to begin a trek.
The guides have been trained in high-altitude medical care. Each trek will also be equipped with a comprehensive first-aid medical kit. The guides also carry oxygen for those people who are suffering from altitude sickness – though this is very much a last resort and the guides are trained to spot altitude sickness before it becomes necessary to use oxygen.
The guides have been trained in high-altitude medical care. Each trek will also be equipped with a comprehensive first-aid medical kit. The guides also carry oxygen for those people who are suffering from altitude sickness – though this is very much a last resort and the guides are trained to spot altitude sickness before it becomes necessary to use oxygen.
Yes, all Tanzania National Park (TANAPA) fees are included in our Kilimanjaro price. Currently, the conservation fees at Kilimanjaro National Park are: US$70 per person per day and US$50 per person per night for camping. Crew entry fees and Tanzanian Forest Services Agency (TFS) fees (applicable for Rongai, Shira and Lemosho routes) are also included in our Kilimanjaro price.
The minimum age limit set by Kilimanjaro National Park for children trekking to Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro is 10 years old.
You will have one lead guide and an assistant guide for 2-3 climbers.
For 4-6 climbers, you will have one lead guide and 2 assistant guides.
For 7-8 climbers, you will have one lead guide and 3 assistant guides.
For 9-10 climbers, you will have one lead guide and 4 assistant guides.
We never rush our trek, instead, we like to take in the views and enjoy the experience. Some trekkers may be slower than others, but with our client-to-guide ratio, we are able to support everyone along the way. Our mantra, “pole pole” (Swahili for “slowly slowly”), reminds us to take our time and ensure that all of our trekkers have the opportunity to enjoy the experience fully.
We can offer a discount for more than 2 people, please enquire at the time of booking.
Highly-trained chefs prepare three hot nutritious meals daily, as well as trail snacks and afternoon tea each day. You’ll eat all your meals in a solar-lit dining tent with your fellow trekkers and head guide. Delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other specialty meals can be provided (with advance request). We’re happy to send you a sample menu—just ask!
Your mountain camps are set up and broken down each day by expert camp porters. You’ll stay in double occupancy all-weather tents with full-ground pads to keep you and your gear dry. Private toilet tents, solar-lit dining tents with tables and chairs, and basins of hot water for washing are provided in every camp. Grand Traverse treks include upgraded solar-lit walk-in-height sleeping tents with mountaineering beds and mattresses for additional comfort.
The treks vary from six to eight days. The exact length of each trek is written on the Trekking dates and prices page. You can, of course, ask for treks that are longer than eight days and we can arrange this for you – though we don’t book treks for less than 6 days as we feel this is too short to allow you to acclimatize properly.
Always remember to maintain a slow, steady pace from beginning to end. Going slowly allows the body to acclimatize while hiking. Those who start out too quickly will have troubles higher up the mountain as the body will be overexerted. This still holds true if you are spending an extra day on the mountain.
It will depend on the route you pick and your pace. It can take from 4-8 hours to reach the summit from the high camp.
A 15% deposit is required at time of booking to hold your Kilimanjaro climb and 30% for your Tanzania safari.
