The 5 Days Machame Express is a faster version of the famous Machame 'Whiskey Route', made for fit and experienced trekkers who want a quicker summit push. You still enjoy the full Machame scenery: lush rainforest, open moorland, the Shira Plateau, Lava Tower, the Barranco Wall and the high alpine desert.
With one day less on the mountain than the 6 day Machame, there is less time for acclimatisation and the summit day is long, as you descend all the way to Mweka Gate after reaching Uhuru Peak. We recommend this itinerary for climbers with previous high-altitude experience.
Quick Facts: Duration 5 Days / 4 Nights; Starting Point Machame Gate; Ending Point Mweka Gate; Difficulty Strenuous; Accommodation Mountain camping; Summit Uhuru Peak 5,895m / 19,341ft; Best Time January to March and June to October.
After breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel around 8:00 am and transferred to Machame Gate, passing coffee and banana plantations grown by the Chagga people. After park registration you start your Kilimanjaro climb through the tropical rainforest to Machame Camp (2835m), with a picnic lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at Machame Camp.
You start hiking around 8:00 am, climbing for about an hour to the top of the forest before continuing at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After lunch you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira Plateau, with views of the Western Breach and its glaciers. Dinner and overnight at Shira Cave Camp (3750m).
Following the "climb high, sleep low" principle, you hike into the alpine desert up to Lava Tower (4600m) for lunch, then descend to Barranco Camp (3900m). The descent offers beautiful views of the Western Breach and the Barranco Wall, and the camp sits in a valley below the wall with a memorable sunset. Dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.
After breakfast you climb the Great Barranco Wall, a non-technical but long scramble over rocks, and continue to Karanga Camp for lunch and the last water stop before the summit. In the afternoon you trek through the alpine desert to Barafu Camp (4640m), the base camp for the summit. Early dinner and rest before the midnight start.
You wake around midnight for tea and cookies and climb the scree for 4 to 5 hours to reach Stella Point (5756m) on the crater rim as the first rays of sun appear. It takes about 1 hour more to reach Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa, where you take photos before descending to Barafu Camp for lunch and a rest.
You then continue the long descent past Millennium Camp and through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you collect your summit certificate. A private car takes you back to your hotel in Moshi for a warm shower and a well-deserved celebration.
Novella Safaris has been running Tanzanian journeys. Our licensed guides, modern 4×4 Land Cruisers, and 24/7 in-country support make us the trusted choice for over 4,800 travellers to date. Group size is capped so every guest gets personal attention.
All in-destination transport is included: airport pickup, park drives in custom 4×4 vehicles, inter-park transfers. International and domestic flights are not included.
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) is the local currency. USD is widely accepted at parks, lodges and shops. ATMs are available in Arusha, Moshi, Zanzibar and major hubs. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and bank wire.
Clothing: Layered, muted colours; light hiking pants, breathable shirts, warm fleece and waterproof shell.
Footwear: Broken-in walking shoes, sandals, warm socks.
Essentials: Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water bottle, insect repellent, small day pack, binoculars, camera with spare batteries, headlamp.
Documents: Passport (6+ months validity), visa, travel insurance, printed itinerary copies.
First-aid: Personal medication, ibuprofen, malaria prophylaxis, plasters, oral rehydration salts.
Departure: Novella Safaris office, Moshi, Tanzania.
Pickup available from: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Arusha Airport (ARK), Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR).
Tipping is customary and appreciated. Guideline: USD 15 per day for driver-guides, USD 10 per day for cooks, USD 5 per day for camp staff. Tips are paid at the end of the trip.
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Deposit: 20% at reservation to confirm your booking.
Balance: Due 60 days before departure.
Accepted methods: Visa · Mastercard · AMEX · bank wire.
Documents required: Signed booking form, passport with 6+ months validity, valid visa, travel insurance.
30+ days before departure: 20% of the total trip cost retained.
14–29 days before departure: 50% retained.
Less than 14 days: 100% retained.
If you find a replacement 14+ days before departure, no cancellation fee applies.