9-Day Trek to Mt Kilimanjaro via Whiskey Route
Highlights
Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro
mountaineering, trekking, camping
Group Tour
9 Days
Hard
Afrikaans, English
Description
Opt for the Machame route, known as the “Whiskey” route, which begins at Machame Gate, located in the southern base of Mount Kilimanjaro,within its abundant rainforest. Climb to the Shira Plateau, then traverse the mountain beneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Icefield, before summiting from Barafu Hut.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Arrival in Kilimanjaro International Airport
Arrive anytime at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive to Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort at Marangu.
Gather in the evening for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check.
Dinner and overnight at Arusha Safari Lodge: Bed, dinner and Breakfast-included.
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Day 2: Machame Gate to Machame Hut (Full Board)
Complete the necessary registration formalities at the Machame gate and begin to trek through a beautiful and lush forest. You will stop to have a picnic lunch en-route.
Set your camp up at Machame Camp (9,800 ft).
5-6 hours walking
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Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp (Full Board)
Leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather.
The trail climbs steadily through rocky hills with wide views of the Shira Plateau (11,000 ft).
From your camp near Shira Hut (12,600 ft), take in the unforgettable views of Mt. Meru as she floats among the clouds.
4-5 hours walking
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Day 4: Shira Camp to Barranco Valley (Full Board)
A morning of sustained ascent and panoramic views brings you to lunch near Lava Tower (14,900 ft).
The trail then descends to the bottom of the Barranco Valley (12,800 ft), where you stay in the spectacular Barranco Camp, sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below.
7-9 hours walking
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Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (Full Board)
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads you to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Icefields.
The terrain changes to scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there is only a short distance to your camp at Karanga Camp (13,100 ft), the last water point on the approach to the summit.
5-7 hours walking
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Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (Full Board)
Follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach Barafu Hut (14,800 ft) for lunch.
There is a short acclimatisation hike to the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley (15,700 ft).
The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early morning final ascent.
3-5 hours walking
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Day 7: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp (Full Board)
Start your ascent at about 1 a.m, to be up on the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags.
A slow but steady pace will take you to Stella Point (18,800 ft) in about five or six hours.
Rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (19,345 ft), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments, it continues down to the final campsite, Millenium Camp (12,500 ft).
11-15 hours walking
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Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Arusha (Half Board)
A sustained descent on a well-constructed path takes you through a lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong.
Your route winds down to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka (5,400 ft); and through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village.
Head to your lodging in Arusha.
4-6 hours walking
Dinner and overnight at Arusha Safari Lodge: Bed, dinner and Breakfast-included.
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Day 9: Departure
Head to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight.
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.