Also known as the “whiskey route” due to its reputation as being more difficult than the oldest route Marangu.
Prices from
6 Days
Challenging
5,895m
Also known as the “whiskey route” due to its reputation as being more difficult than the oldest route Marangu. This route has some amazing scenic views along the way. On the 3rd day, the route will intersect with Lemosho and Umbwe routes. This route is the most used of all the routes, making it the busiest and most crowded on the mountain. The views here can be worth the crowds trekking from the rainforest through the unique giant heathers and finishing in the arctic zone covered with snow and glaciers.
This route can be done in 6 or 7 days. Still, we always recommend the longer 7 days due to your ability to acclimatize better.
1 person | $2085 |
2 persons | $1898/ person |
4 persons | $1695/ person |
6 persons | $1565/ person |
Upon arrival, a Mahiri African Tours representative will pick you up and greet you at Kilimanjaro Airport. You will be transferred to your accommodations for the night in Moshi, where you will have a briefing about the trek and a review of your equipment and trekking gear.
We will drive from Moshi to Machame Gate, a short drive. Here your guides will finalize registration, and all the bags the porters will be carrying will be weighed. You will then begin your trek through the rainforest. Here is an excellent chance to see the black and white colobus monkeys. Today you will have a picnic lunch while on the trek, and upon arrival at Machame camp, a warm dinner will welcome you. We camp at Machame Camp for the night.
Elevation: 1,800m- 3,000m
Distance: 9kms
Hiking Time: 6-7hrs
Today you will leave the rainforest behind and trek into the heather and moorland regions. Here you can see views of Kibo as you walk through the Shira plateau, where the trail becomes easier as it flattens out, have lunch and then continue to Shira camp, where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Elevation: 3,000m- 3,840m
Distance: 6kms
Hiking Time: 4-6hrs
Today after breakfast, we start the trek towards lava tower, a unique lava plug that is 300m tall. The route just before getting to Lava Tower connects with the Lemosho route, where more crowds appear as the two trails intersect. Today's route will have a lot of ascents and descents on the trail.
You will come across the fascinating lava tower and stop for lunch here. This will allow you time to acclimatize better before descending to a lower elevation to Barranco Camp for the night. You will camp between massive valley walls and Kibo, able to view the glaciers on the sides of Kibo.
Elevation: 3,840m - 4,640m (lava tower) - 3,950m
Distance: 11kms
Hiking Time: 6-7hrs
The day will begin early with the trek up the famous Barranco Wall, where you will need to use your hands and feet to maneuver the wall for a short time. This makes for an exciting experience. After the wall, this is a great place to stop for photos of Kibo before continuing toward Karanga Camp. This part of the trek has numerous ascents and descents along the way. We will stop at Karanga Camp for a warm lunch before continuing to Barafu Camp for dinner and the night. You will sleep right after dinner tonight, as your summit attempt will start at midnight.
Elevation: 3,950m- 4,640m
Distance: 13kms
Hiking Time: 8-9hrs
Today is your summit night, with a very early start to the day. The trek will start at about midnight as you walk towards the summit, making this your most challenging day on the mountain, between the significant elevation gain to the summit and the significant descent after the summit.
The high altitude makes this a very challenging summit night. This will be your most difficult day, but your guides will assist you. The lack of oxygen, the closer you get, will be challenging, and you will need to focus on your breathing. Walking along the crater rim towards Uhuru Peak, you can see the glaciers covering Kibo up close.
After reaching the summit, the amount of time spent here will depend on the weather and your health status at the current time. You will then descend back down to Barafu Camp for lunch and a quick rest. After this, you will pack up your belongings and continue your descent to Mweka Camp. This camp is the final stop of the day, where you will relax for the night and have a delicious dinner as you will be exhausted from the long day.
It is important to go slowly during your descent from the summit and make sure you are watching your footing as you will get tired. The descent is a common place for injuries to occur from falling and losing your footing if moving too fast.
Elevation: 4,640m - 5,895m (Uhuru peak) - 3,100m
Distance: 18kms
Hiking Time: 14-15hrs
Today is your final day on the mountain as you leave camp and head towards Mweka Gate. You will walk through the beautiful forest before arriving at the gate. At the entrance, you will receive your summit certificate if you successfully summited Uhuru Peak. Your driver will be waiting for you here and will drive you back to your accommodations for the night.
Elevation: 3,100m - 1,700m
Distance: 9kms
Hiking Time: 3-4hrs
Today we will have a driver take you to the airport for your departure flight. If you choose to continue on another tour after your climb, we will take care of that for you to ensure a seamless transition to your next tour.
Contact us for all your Tanzania adventures, and our team about any questions regarding planning your Tanzanian trip. We are happy to discuss and tailor any adventure to your needs.