Tanzania
MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMB
"Whiskey Route"
From
$1,920 PP
Duration
7 Days
Pickup
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Best Time
1 january to 28 February
The 6-day Machame Route is an exhilarating challenge for hikers seeking adventure and stunning scenery. Nicknamed the “Whiskey Route” for its rugged terrain, it takes you through lush rainforests, surreal alpine deserts, and dramatic ridgelines, leading to the epic Uhuru Peak (5,895m). The final midnight push to the summit rewards you with a breathtaking sunrise over Africa—a moment of pure triumph after days of determination. Are you ready for the climb of a lifetime?
Highlights
- Epic Summit Ascent – Reach Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa, with a breathtaking sunrise view from the top.
- Scenic & Challenging Machame Route – Trek through diverse landscapes, from lush rainforests to alpine deserts, with dramatic ridgelines and glaciers.
- Expert-Guided Trekking Adventure – Climb with professional guides, enjoy high-altitude camping, and experience a well-supported trek to the summit.
Day 1:– Arrival in Moshi
Day 2:– Machame Gate to Machame Camp
After breakfast, a 45-minute drive takes you to Machame Gate, where your trek begins through the lush rainforest zone. Expect occasional rain and muddy trails as you ascend to Machame Camp, where porters will set up tents and prepare a warm meal.
- Altitude: 1,800m – 3,010m
- Hiking Distance: 11 km
- Hiking Time: ~6 hours
- Overnight at Machame Camp (3,010m)
Day 3:– Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Leaving the rainforest, you’ll ascend through moorland and heather zones. A steep ridge leads to the Shira Plateau, offering the first breathtaking views of Kibo Peak and the Western Breach glaciers.
- Altitude: 3,010m – 3,840m
- Hiking Distance: 5 km
- Hiking Time: ~4-5 hours
- Overnight at Shira Camp (3,840m)
Day 4:– Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (via Lava Tower)
This acclimatization day takes you into the alpine desert, with a gradual climb to Lava Tower (4,630m)—the highest point of the day. After lunch, you descend to Barranco Camp, passing through surreal glacial valleys and giant Senecio trees.
- Altitude: 3,840m – 4,630m (Lava Tower) – 3,960m (Barranco Camp)
- Hiking Distance: 11 km
- Hiking Time: ~7-8 hours
- Overnight at Barranco Camp (3,960m)
Day 5:– Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
The morning starts with a thrilling scramble up the Barranco Wall, a steep but manageable climb offering spectacular views. The trail continues through alpine desert to Barafu Camp, the final stop before the summit push.
- Altitude: 3,960m – 4,640m
- Hiking Distance: 11 km
- Hiking Time: ~7-8 hours
- Overnight at Barafu Camp (4,640m)
- Summit Night Preparation: After an early dinner, rest for a few hours before the midnight ascent.
Day 6:– Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak & Mweka Camp
Midnight Ascent: The most challenging part of the climb begins as you trek 6 hours to Stella Point (5,685m), where you’ll witness an unforgettable sunrise. From here, it’s another 1-2 hours to Uhuru Peak (5,895m)—the highest point in Africa!
- Altitude: 4,640m – 5,895m (Uhuru Peak) – 3,090m (Mweka Camp)
- Hiking Distance: 17 km
-
Hiking Time: ~15+ hours
- Overnight at Mweka Camp (3,090m)
- Summit Celebration: After soaking in the views, descend to Barafu Camp for a short rest before continuing to Mweka Camp for a well-earned sleep.
Day 7:– Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate & Return to Moshi
After breakfast, descend through the lush rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you’ll receive your climbing certificates. A short transfer takes you back to Springlands Hotel, where a hot shower and celebratory lunch await.
- Altitude: 3,090m – 1,650m
- Hiking Distance: 10 km
- Hiking Time: ~4-5 hours
- Overnight at Springlands Hotel (Bed & Breakfast)
Day 8:– Departure
Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your onward flight or participate in a safari extension.
What's Included
- Two nights’ accommodation at Springlands Hotel in Moshi (before & after the climb)
- Round-trip transportation from Moshi to the Machame Gate (start/finish point)
- Professional, experienced mountain guides and support crew
- All national park fees
- Tents & sleeping mattresses
- Dining equipment: cutlery, crockery, mess tent, mini camping chairs, tables, and candles
- Rescue fees
- Pulse oximeters & first aid kit
- Salaries for guides, porters, cook, and waiter
- Boiled drinking water throughout the climb
- All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Accommodation & entry fees for guides, porters, waiter, and cook
- Emergency oxygen supply
- Airport transfers
What's Excluded
- Single room supplement at Springlands Hotel (except for solo climbers)
- Tips for guides, porters, cook, and waiter
- Meals & drinks not specified
- Personal climbing gear & equipment
- Additional hotel nights beyond the two included
- Visas & personal expenses
Important Notes
- USD notes must be from 2006 or later.
- Final payment must be completed at least 45 days to travel
- Donations of used mountain gear for the Mt. Kilimanjaro Porters Society (MKPS) are greatly appreciated.
Please use the form below for bookings or questions
Voices of the Journey: Gorilla African Tours Reviews
Posted on Journey44143128532Verified 5 days visit to Akagera National Park I had an amazing 4-night stay in Akagera National Park. The tented lodge is new and beautifully designed. There were not too many visitors, plenty of wildlife, and an incredible level of biodiversity. Excellent value for money and very well organized. I had two fantastic guides whom I can highly recommend: Godefroid Nyamurangwa and Andrew Nzeyimana. Having Emmy Nkusi as a private photographer was also fantastic. Thanks again for the perfect organization.Posted on Katie NVerified Worth every penny! My husband and I just returned from our full day of gorilla trekking in Volcano National Park. We decided to take the trek last minute and reached out to a couple of licensed tour operators and we’re so impressed with how quickly Gorille Africain Tours got back to us. From the beginning, the communication was excellent and timely. We could not have been more impressed with our tour operator Simon, who was already downstairs at our hotel when we came downstairs at 4:15am. He already had a big smile on his face! He was so lovely and kind and was able to navigate the bumpy dirt roads leading to our hiking trail with ease! What a lovely, lovely gentleman. If you book with them, you won’t have to worry about a thing. They pack your water, gators (the trek is sooo muddy), will stop for coffee on your way to the park from Kigali, and if you have Simon, you will know he is basically the mayor and knows everybody at every stop. (: Once we arrived at Volcano National Park, he took care of everything and all we had to do was start hiking. And when we went to lunch after, they professionally cleaned our hiking boots and they looked like new! I could not recommend this company enough. ❤️Posted on Ira PVerified Gorille Africain Tours provides expert guided, immersive Rwanda trips with great care, service, and attention to detail. Attending the Gorilla Naming Ceremony (Kwita Izina 20) on September 5th, 2025, at Kinigi, Musanze, was truly unforgettable. Huge thanks to Gorille Africain Tours for taking care of everything—from transport to accommodation and meals. Their thoughtful service made my trip smooth, exciting, and so special. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone wanting to explore Rwanda!Posted on Iman OVerified Kwita Izina Musanze Amazing experience with Gorille Africain Tours! From smooth transport and comfortable accommodation to delicious meals and VIP treatment at the Musanze gorilla naming ceremony, everything was perfect. Highly recommend for an unforgettable Rwanda adventure!Posted on Cj BVerified Excellent Trip Our trip to Africa was short planning due to personal circumstances. Mwaka from GAT helped enormously in developing a proposal based on what we liked and disliked, and being our first safari, what we thought we wanted to see and do. A very successful trip. Would highly recommend GATPosted on Couch CVerified 7 Days, Best of Rwanda and Victoria Falls Tour We recently completed a wonderful trip designed by Gorille Africain Tours (GAT). We wanted to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe but we only had a week to do both. GAT was able to create a tour that exceeded our expectations! We stayed at top-notch hotels in Kigagli, Volcanoes National Park, Harare and Victoria Falls. We were met with local drivers and guides who provided transfers to and from hotels as well as tours of points of interest in and around the places we were staying. All the people we interacted with were friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating – in particular Makosa in Harare and Godfrey in Kigali. The trek to meet the mountain gorillas was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Visitors in groups of 8 were accompanied by guides and trackers up into the mountains to find the gorilla family assigned to them. We spent an hour with the gorillas, watching them go about their daily life, eating, grooming, playing and relaxing. Victoria Falls is spectacular – we live near Niagara Falls in Canada so are familiar with huge waterfalls. In addition to a guided walking tour, GAT included a helicopter tour over the falls and a private sunrise cruise on the Zambezi River by Pure Africa Tours the next morning. Both were great experiences, not to be missed! Throughout all of our tour, Mwaka Utanje from GAT was in contact with us, making sure everything went smoothly. We cannot say enough about her professional conduct and pleasant attitude. Mwaka’s dedication ensured that we had a first-rate experience. We highly recommend Gorille Africain Tours.Posted on Dale CVerified Gorrile Africain Tours We contacted Gorille Africain Tours about a safari to Tanzania in October. After a few emails we had a phone conversation with one of their representatives that we felt was very benificial.Gorille put a perfect 10 day tour of Tanzania, Zanzibar and Mafia Island together for us Our Guide Albert picked us up at the airport in Kilimanjaro and we toured Tarangire,Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater all very unique from each other National parks.Be prepared for rough roads ( called an African Massage). We found standing up in the Landcruiser and holding on to the handrails the most comfortable way to ride and view wildlife. A good pair of binoculars is a must. We went in December which is the slow season a sometimes we were the only guests at some of the lodges. This meant less traffic and uncrowded roads and if we did get rain it didnt last for long. The Landcruiser can hold 7 passengers but we felt 2 or 4 is the best for viewing and communication. Our guide Albert was amazing, competent, knowledgeable and fun to be with. We flew to Zanzibar for our last 3 days, lots of history of the Spice trades and excellent museum on the history of the slave trade. We stayed one night in Stone town and toured and then were driven to the NE side for 2 nights. Long beaches, amazing sand. Beach shoes are a must as the shallow pool between the beach and the reef is full of urchins. No swimming but wading in the incredible warm water There are Snorkel and Scuba trips available right from the beach.. We flew to a remote island called Mafia one day and after a few hours of searching ( no guarantees) we found a pod of 6 Whale Sharks and were able to snorkel amongst them for over an hour,an amazing experience! We can’t thank Goriile enough for arranging such an amazing trip for us and we wouldn’t have changed a thing.We travelled to Africa to find adventure and we found it and a whole lot more!Posted on sallyVerified Legends Safari. We went into the Kruger with Legends Safari and we had so many amazing sightings all up close. Within 2 hours we had seen the Big 5. Our guide Bradley was outstanding....highly recommendPosted on Kdot InnocentVerified Gorilla Trekking Experience On Sept 28 I went gorilla trekking with my friend, and it was an incredible experience! Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat was absolutely breathtaking. The team from Gorille Africain Tours went above and beyond to make our trip unforgettable. Everything was well-organized, and our driver was fantastic so friendly and professional. I’d highly recommend them to anyone planning a gorilla trekking adventure!
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