Machame Route – 6 Day Climb – King Solomon Safaris

Machame Route – 6-Day Climb

4.7 (1,127) Reviews

★★★★★ 4.7/5

Descriptions

The Machame Route is a six-day trek known for its steep sections and varied landscapes. Due to its good acclimatization profile, it’s the most popular route among trekkers.

Included

professional, English-speaking guide
mountain crew (cook & porters)
5 nights‘ stay in lodges and mountain huts
meals according to the itinerary
drinking water
all national park fees
all mentioned transfers

Excluded

flights (international and domestic)
meals not indicated in the itinerary
alcoholic and soft drinks
sleeping bag (can be rented at extra cost)
tips
personal expenses, visa fees, travel insurance

Itinerary

The Machame route stands out as one of the most picturesque paths leading to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Commencing amidst verdant rainforests, the ascent unveils intermittent glimpses of Mount Meru, the Shira Ridge, and the towering summit of Kilimanjaro – Kibo.

Distinguished by its steeper sections and greater altitudes than the Marangu and Rongai routes, the Machame route presents a slightly more challenging endeavor.

Day 1 | Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha

Distance approx. 35km; driving time approx. 45 minutes Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, our transfer driver will pick you up and escort you to the Meru View Lodge in the Usa River, just outside Arusha. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure—you may unwind at the lodge or venture into the town of Arusha (taxi services are available). Later in the evening, you'll participate in a briefing session to prepare for the forthcoming trek. Dinner and lodging will be provided at the Meru View Lodge.
Day 2 | Arusha – Machame Gate (1790m) – Machame Camp (3010m)

Altitude ↑1220m; walking time approx. 5-6 hours Following breakfast, you'll be collected from your accommodation and transported to the entrance gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. While your guide tends to registration formalities, you can observe the mountain team as they prepare for the ascent. Once all preparations are complete, your Kilimanjaro expedition will commence. Soon, you'll find yourself immersed in the awe-inspiring mountain rainforest, surrounded by ancient trees, primordial ferns, lianas, lichens, and moss that adorn the ground and cascade from the branches above. You may even hear the melodic calls and catch glimpses of the striking black and white colobus monkeys frolicking in the canopy. After a 5- to 6-hour trek, you'll arrive at today's destination: Machame Camp, perched just beyond the treeline at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Here, amidst this pristine wilderness, you'll enjoy your first dinner of the expedition before retiring for the night in tents. Breakfast lunch dinner
Day 3 | Machame Camp (3010m) – New Shira Camp (3845m)

Altitude ↑835m; walking time approx. 4-6 hours Commencing with an early morning departure, the ascent becomes steeper as the terrain transitions into heath and moorland. The expansive vistas reveal the majestic mountain range in all its splendor. Today's journey is relatively shorter than the previous day, and you'll reach the New Shira Camp by mid-afternoon. Nestled amidst this picturesque setting, the camp offers a breathtaking mountain panorama. As the sun begins its descent, the evening spectacle illuminates Kibo's rock face and glacier, creating a mesmerizing display. Breakfast lunch dinner
Day 4 | New Shira Camp (3845m) – Lava Tower (4640m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)

Altitude ↑795m|↓680m; walking time approx. 6-7 hours Today's ascent will span approximately 800 meters, yet you'll be camping at a slightly higher elevation than the previous night. This strategic approach allows your body to acclimate gradually, preparing for altitudes exceeding 4500 meters over the next two days. The journey commences with a lengthy climb above the Shira Plateau towards the iconic Lava Tower. As the landscape evolves into an afro-alpine desert, vegetation becomes sparse. En route, you'll traverse the expansive Barranco Valley, adorned with magnificent lobelia and towering giant Senecio plants. After a trek lasting 6 to 7 hours, you'll arrive at the picturesque Barranco Camp, widely regarded as one of the mountain's most scenic campsites. Breakfast lunch dinner
Day 5 | Barranco Camp (3960m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

Altitude ↑680m; walking time approx. 5-6 hours Today's journey commences with the challenging ascent of the Barranco Wall, where safety takes precedence, and your experienced guides will offer assistance as needed. Following the undulating ridge, you'll be treated to breathtaking vistas of the southern glacier of Kibo. A well-deserved lunch awaits in the picturesque Karanga Valley, followed by a 2 to 3-hour ascent to the Barafu Camp. Upon reaching the camp, take the opportunity to unwind, savor a hearty dinner, and retire early for the night. Breakfast lunch dinner
Day 6 | Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

Altitude ↑1255m|↓2815m; walking time approx. 10-14 hours The ascent begins at midnight after having a cup of tea and a snack. Guided by torchlight, you'll navigate the rugged screes of Kibo. After 5 to 7 hours of steady ascent in the darkness, you'll reach Stella Point (5730m), marking the crater rim of Mount Kilimanjaro. A 1 to 2-hour climb along the crater ridge leads to Uhuru Peak, offering stunning views of Kilimanjaro. Witness the majestic sunrise casting its golden glow over the landscape below as you stand atop the "Roof of Africa." The descent follows a familiar route, with the journey back to Barafu Camp expected to be completed shortly before midday. Here, the porters and cook eagerly await your return. Following a nourishing meal and a well-deserved rest lasting approximately 1 to 2 hours, you'll continue your descent to Mweka Camp. Here, a hearty supper and a restful night's sleep await. Breakfast lunch dinner
Day 7 | Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka Gate (1630m) – Arusha

Altitude ↓1450m; walking time approx. 2-3 hours The concluding phase of your extraordinary journey commences following breakfast, marked by a traditional farewell ceremony conducted by the mountain crew. A leisurely descent spanning 2 to 3 hours through the enchanting rainforest leads you to Mweka Gate, where your driver awaits your arrival. From there, you'll be transported back to the Meru View Lodge. Upon your return, indulge in a refreshing hot shower before embracing the remainder of the day at your leisure. Whether you unwind by the poolside, celebrate your remarkable achievement, or rest, the choice is yours. Breakfast lunch dinner
Day 8 | Arusha – Kilimanjaro Airport

Following breakfast, you'll receive transportation to Kilimanjaro Airport for your departure. Alternatively, you can extend your stay in Tanzania and embark on a safari adventure or bask in relaxation along the shores of the Indian Ocean. Breakfast will be provided before your departure.

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What They Say

     Excellent  
     Based on 52 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Lena W 
 2023-10-26
 
 
  Best driver you can get
My experience with King Solomon was great! He organized the whole trip, so that I don't had to worry about anything. With a massive and outstanding knowledge about the animals and wildness he drove me through the parks. Especially in the Serengeti he managed the impossible: He found baby cheetahs! I saw the big five (okay, rhinos a bit far away), but about thirty to forty lions, a bunch of leopards and cheetahs and of course a lot of more common animals. With all he was very flexible and able to take my wishes into the plans. I can highly recommend the tour with Tangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Also a walking safari was included and very informative and nice. If you are looking for a driver and unsure where your money is well invested: here. I can highly recommend him.
  
 
       
   Ay J 
 2023-05-12
 
 
  Best driver and Guide ever
King Solomon is the king of the Safari for sure but also the best driver ! You feel confortable being almost all day in the car. He is very good to spot the animals and he will do his best to not miss any. Everything was well organized, the food is great. In our last day in Arusha our flight was delayed and he took care of us showing us around before dropping us at the airport. I fully recommend him for any person who wants to have the best safari ever in Tanzania.
  
 
       
   mourad 
 2023-02-19
 
 
  amazing safari
salut à tous, je viens de france et je ne connaissais pas kingsalomon s'est en cherchant sur le Web que je suis tombé sur sa page , tout de suite le contenu et les commentaires nous ont facilité dans notre choix.Puis nous avons pris en contact avec salomon et le courant est bien passé, il nous a fait un prix raisonnable pour une famille de 5.Ensuite lorsque nous avons été en tanzanie nous avons eut des souci de vol , salomon et venu nous chercher malgré 5h de retard pour nous déposé à notre hôtel. Concernant le safari,ce fut magnifique nous en avons pris plein les yeux, car en plus de la visite du parc nous avions un guide qui parlais français plus simple pour les explications.De plus salomon nous a mis dans des lodges sans rien rajouter car à la base nous devions dormir dans des tentes, merci à vous salomon. Pour conclure je recommande kingsalomon pour son professionnalisme, sa générosité, son accueil et son humanisme.
  
 
       
   חן ז 
 2023-02-14
 
 
  Best safari tour guy in Tanzania
Hey, I’m Hen from Israel and I was looking a lot for a tour guy that will be good and that I can trust him. I found king Solomon after a friend’s recommendation and I booked him. I found out that he’s the best tour guy I could have asked for, he’s very nice very responsible and the most important he’s the most professional tour guy there’s, he can find everything and everywhere, never get lost and always takes care for us. I’m glad I made this decision and for sure highly recommending about him. If you are looking for the best safari experience King Solomon is the guy! Looking forward for our next experience with him!
  
 
       
   Tomer M 
 2023-02-14
 
 
  If you look for the best tour guy than he’s here…
I’ll start by saying, if you think about him, choose him! Solomon is the best driver we could have found and the best tour guy in Tanzania! He knows everything about everywhere and every animal, he will do anything to find you all the best location and rare animals, he can find animals hiding in the bushes with his bare eyes where I barely could’ve found them with the binuclear And the most important he knows every route and never get lost (which some other tour guys are getting lost sometimes). We had the best experience with him and I’m highly recommending about him, you will have the best safari experience that can be! Go King Solomon!
  
 
       
   iamkeith18 
 2023-02-04
 
 
  Such good company. Felt like we had the most knowledgeable guide
We spent 6 days with King Solomon, who was friendly and good company. It’s clear that he is well connected with the parks and other guides which meant that he often knew what had been seen recently and where. His knowledge of the parks is fantastic and he has a super-human eye for spotting things you otherwise would miss. We had a great time and found King Solomon to be really funny and knowledgable. Would definitely highly recommend.
  
 
       
   Foued BH 
 2023-01-14
 
 
  Unique experience with an unique guide
Our safari was amazing with king Solomon as a guide. he is very professional, he can find all the animals in the savannah. we loved his company!! thank you King we are a fan of you and the experience you made us live
  
 
       
   Jazlyn H 
 2023-01-02
 
 
  Amazing 5 stars
Solomon was excellent at spotting animals that weren't visible to the naked eye. He found a black and white colobus money high us in the trees and a Jaguar. Solomon is a great guide with lots of stories to tell. He is extremely knowledgeable and has had over a decade years of experience. I highly recommend booking through Solomon as his attention to detail will ensure your trip is a cut above the rest. Meals were provided on the trip in hampers every day for the 3 days that we went which was excellent. There were also facilities around the park to occasionally stop for a toilet break. Overall I will be coming back to Tanzania and booking through Solomon again. He also offers hot air balloon rides over the Serengeti which I am keen to do next time.
  
 
       
   Hanen 
 2023-01-01
 
 
  It was A wonderful experience
The best safari guide ever I recommend 100% It was a wonderful experience Thanks to king solomone, the safari was top top top
  
 
       
   Tomasz M 
 2022-03-20
 
 
  Amazing safari!
Solomon is a great, professional safari guide who knows exactly when and where to go to give you the best possible safari experience. Moreover he's a very good driver, with whom you feel safe, and a super friendly person. We had great time and we saw a lot of animals thanks to Solomon's "eagle eye" and big experience. The whole safari was very well organized, we didn't need to worry about anything from the moment when Solomon picked us up at the airport in Kilimanjaro to the moment when he left us at the Seronera Airstrip 5 days later. I enjoyed every minute of it. The hotels, which he chose for us, were amazing (one in a coffee plantation and the other one in the middle of Serengeti - wow!). The food that he provided us with was very good and more than we could eat. Overall the whole experience was awesome and worth every penny!