Tanzania

Kilimanjaro - Machame Route (5,895m)

22

Trek through dense rainforest, wild camp in glaciated terrain, and summit the highest mountain in Africa.

Itinerary

Day 1: Kilimanjaro Airport transfer

You’ll be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and taken to Moshi - a small town at the foothills of Kilimanjaro. In the evening you'll have a welcome dinner and briefing from the head guide. This trip includes all food, accommodation and airport transfers.

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One hour’s drive lies the gate to the Machame route, where you will complete the Flag Off ceremony and begin your trek. The first section of the route passes through dense rainforest towards Machame Camp.

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The route continues up through the forest and onto the Shira Plateau, with it's impressive views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru (4,565m) rising high in the distance.

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Today the landscape changes dramatically to barren moorland. You traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower from the now dormant volcano. The day has been spent at a relatively high altitude (up to 4,600m), but you have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to acclimatize.

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Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine, and then back up over the Great Barranco Wall. It’s an easy scramble and doesn't require any rock climbing. Passing underneath the impressive Heim and Kersten glaciers, you head towards Barrafu Camp (4,642m).

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Today we start at around 2am and begin the steady hike to the summit. As the first sun rays hit, you'll start to see the glaciers around you, and we aim to be at the summit of Kilimanjaro for sunrise! We spend about 30 minutes on the summit celebrating and taking photos, before hiking all the way down to Millennium Camp for some well-earned rest.

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A gentle trek takes us down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where you will receive certificates before taking a short 4x4 ride to the hotel in Moshi. In the evening you'll have a celebratory meal with the rest of the team.

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You'll be taken back to Kilimanjaro International Airport, in time for your flights home.

22 verified reviews

Rated 4.5
Robert
Robert

Traveled Jul 2022

I was the only one on the trip I was alone the majority of the time porters had no English little or no interaction Not the expierence the other travellers had The guide i felt was out of his depth The owner of Ashante tours twice promised to come meet me both times gave some lame excuse why he could not (i was in the hotel actually while he was greeting another team) One good thing i got an knee injury and the guide arranged a stretcher down for me. Overall poor,food was good the only saving grace I am more than a bit worried as i have booked and organised for 10 people to go to Morocco in Sept 2022 with you, I hope the expierence will be better.

Alex
Alex

Traveled Jun 2022

The trip was very well organised by Ahsante Tours. I couldn't have asked for a better team with Bruno, Noel and all of the staff. They made sure we were supported, comfortable and well-fed. We all had loads of laughs and all successfully completed the climb, despite being a bit worse for wear. Would recommend Ahsante Tours to anybody looking to go on the trip and Skyhook facilitated this so in turn would recommend Skyhook.

Andy
Andy

Traveled Mar 2022

To put this in context, I've never done anything like this before, no mountains, no meaningful treks, and haven't camped for about 25 years. With that all said, I thought this week was as a good as I could expect. The guides were excellent and kept most of the week lighthearted, although they were clear when there was a dangerous section, and guided us through the section well. The food, considering it was cooked in a tent, was excellent and the Chef was a true character. The Porters, incredible how they make it all look so easy, with so much to carry, they are very impressive. I would thoroughly recommend this trip if you are after a serious challenge, if however you prefer lazing on the beach, then you're in the wrong place. There are one or two negatives, in that it is difficult to communicate with Skyhook, and Ahsante Tours occasionally, and this can lead to some uncertainty, for example, 3 of the group of 7 were under the impression that the trek started a day earlier than it did!.

Wayne
Wayne

Traveled Mar 2022

The trip was amazing and staff at Asante tours were great, corespondents with skyhook was very disappointing, no contact number and wasn’t able to message as all questions went to guide in Africa.

Tatjana
Tatjana

Traveled Mar 2022

It was super trip, super team and i’m really happy i have suvh an amazing experience! Just wow! Thank you very much for this possibility

Rory
Rory

Traveled Feb 2022

The mountain guides and the porters were fantastic, and I could not have done it without them. It was a tough trip and at times I felt like there was no way I was going to make it, but in the end it was really enjoyable. The organisation/communication between Skyhook and Ahsante Tours could have been better, as the kit list that Ahsante Tours used was slightly different from the one Skyhook used. On the whole it was a brilliant trip and I would highly recommend it to anyone else. However, make sure that this particular route it right for you, as it is very short compared to many of the other possible routes up Kilimanjaro.

Cody
Cody

Traveled Sep 2021

Great time amazing guides highly recommend! Laurence and Sebastian for lead guides!

Justin
Justin

Traveled Sep 2021

It was amazing ! Julius White is an excellent guide. He forced us to go "pole pole" on the 4 first days so we got to the base camp as strong as possible. He split us into different groups for the final ascent so we all had a perfect pace to get to the summit on time. The hotel of the first and last nights was nice, food all along was perfect, we have no complaintes about this hike.

Jose
Jose

Traveled Jun 2021

The trip and everything about it was amazing! Kilimanjaro is a trip of a lifetime, but it is extremely difficult. There was no way my partner and I would have made it if it wasn't for the guidance and assistance our amazing guides and porters provided. Having an a great group of people that care for you as you ascend the mountain is just what you need to summit. And of course, the food is to die for. Awesome portions and great flavor.

Jeremy
Jeremy

Traveled Dec 2020

Amazingly epic trip! Probably the toughest adventure I have ever done, but worth every ache and pain. Our guides William and Elias, and the rest of the support team were terrific and made sure that we were always safe and ready to go. Camp food was delicious and tent/sleeping gear was surprisingly comfortable and warm. Great service from both Skyhook Team and local team as well as good hotel accommodations before and after trip. Looking forward to my next trip with Skyhook.

Jenna
Jenna

Traveled Dec 2020

I don't even know where to begin. I wish there was a way to describe this adventure as it was more than a trip-of-a-lifetime. With the uncertainty of COVID-19, Skyhook and the local team were amazing, from my delayed flight to organizing a personal tour of Dar-Es-Salaam during my long layover. The journey to the summit with my fellow companion was nothing but amazing, including a New Year celebration with a bottle of sparkling juice. Our guides, William and Elias, and the rest of the staff became family, and after a long day hiking, Edward's (our chef) food warmed our hearts, especially on pizza night. How the porters do what they do I will never know, but we never had to worry about reaching camp and not having our tents and our belongings set up as well as popcorn and hot tea. I would recommend this trip to anyone, and I am already planning my next trip with Skyhook.

Sophia
Sophia

Traveled Mar 2020

Excellent trip! Our guides took such good care of us, highly recommend to anyone! It was an incredible trip.

Matthew
Matthew

Traveled Jan 2020

From the minute I arrived at the airport and immediately saw my driver, all the way to the summit, and then back the airport, the Skyhook team took care of us every step of the way. At first I was skeptical because skyhook offers prices drastically lower than any of the other companies. But on day one of the trip, I knew there would be no issue. They have the best equipment, porters, and guides on the mountain that are experienced and more than happy to help. If you are looking to climb Kilimanjaro, look no further.

Saud
Saud

Traveled Jan 2020

Without a doubt it was fabulous trip full of challenges which tested my limits. Our guides Bruno, Ilyas, Noel and the rest of the team was thorough professionals with great sense of humour and looked after our needs to the best. I am forever indebted to their warm melodious hospitality. The information provided by Skyhook was generic from their website but no further communication took place between us regarding the group details and follow up has not been provided. I would have expected more details on the trip before I landed in Kilimanjaro. Overall I am satisfied with the excursion.

Marius
Marius

Traveled Jan 2020

Would I like to do it again? Most probably not. Am I happy that I did it? Absolutely. Our small group was lead by Bruno, who ascended the mountain more than 250 times. Under such experienced leadership it was still very challenging. As Bruno said before the last night climb to the peak, it's not about training or peparation, it's about the willpower. But I guess it's combination of both that takes you to the top. And the trek crew, without which it would be almost impossible. Although my bag arrived some time later than me at the first camp, but during the rest of the days the guys earned my full respect and appreciation of their hard work. Overall, very well organized tour from a pick up at the airport to the Uhuru peak and equally importantly all the way down. Very positive experience.

Allison
Allison

Traveled Dec 2019

Fantastic trip with a great guide and excellent organization!

Chris
Chris

Traveled Sep 2019

In September/October 2019 I went on the Kilimanjaro trek, Machame route, and it was the most incredible experience of my life.  The guides (Michael, Noel, and Lawrence) took the best care of the entire group and specifically me when I was not feeling the best.  There is no way I could have done it without their expertise.  Also, not enough can be said about the service the porters provide, our tents would be set up and ready to go before we got to each camp, the food was really good, and they were all super nice.  I would highly recommend this trip to anyone considering it.  My group I went with are currently planning another trip together because of how much fun we had and the bond we made with each other.

Penny
Penny

Traveled Sep 2019

Had an amazing time on this tour. Our group of 7 all made it to the summit, and the porters were fantastic. We were led by Bryson, with support from Innocent, Stanley on most of the walks. The rest of the team ensured we were fed, watered and comfortable at all stages. They looked after us so well, amazing food, support and energy throughout the whole trip. The route is great. It is challenging, so you need a good level of fitness, however it achievable thanks to the experience of the porters. Thank you Skyhook and Ahsanti tours for making this an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this trip, and will be booking other excursions for next year.

Melanie
Melanie

Traveled Jul 2019

my trip to Kilimanjaro was absolutely fantastic, the service from both Skyhook and the team in Kilimanjaro was excellent and nothing was too much trouble, even down to the birthday cake a bottle of fizz they provided for my birthday. thank you.

Marion
Marion

Traveled Jul 2019

We were looked after very well. Highly recommend, brilliant experience.

Wojciech
Wojciech

Traveled Feb 2019

Purely the best experience to date!  Organised to the T, helpful and super funny guides, amazing participants.  Created Friendship for life not only with others but more importantly with Skyhook team. Another trip booked already... WHOOOP WHOOOP :)

Yvette
Yvette

Traveled Feb 2019

Fab trip loads support from the guides cudnt have made it with out there support and help fantastic trip wudnt highly recommend x

FAQs

Includes:

  • Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
  • Accommodation
  • Permits
  • Tents, sleeping bags and mats
  • Airport Transfers on the first and last day of the trip
  • Food & filtered water

Excludes:

  • International Flights
  • Tips
  • Personal travel/rescue insurance
  • Any Visa fees (£40 from the UK)

Kilimanjaro is a steep mountain with a long summit day.  We recommend you train with sport or jogging 2-3 times a week in the run-up to your trip.

Please note that all plastic bags regardless of their thickness will be prohibited from being brought into Tanzania. Plastic packaging for medical services, sanitary is not prohibited. 

Documents

• Passport

• Travel insurance details

• Boarding passes for flights

• 2 passport photos

• Driver’s license (if needed)

• Cash

• Credit/Debit Card

Sleeping

• Sleeping bag liner (optional)

Footwear

• Trekking boots: 3 or 4 season lightweight

• Shoes for the plane (optional)

Clothing

Please make sure that you have non-cotton clothing for trekking.

• 2 base-layer t-shirts (e.g. running t-shirts)

• Fleece/soft-shell jacket

• Waterproof jacket

• Down jacket for warmth

• Travel clothes and City Wear

• Underwear

• Base-layer trousers (optional)

• Waterproof trousers

• Trekking trousers

• Trekking shorts (Optional)

• 2 thick wool mountaineering socks

• Lightweight and breathable trekking socks

• Gloves and wool hat

Other

• A daysack: 35 litres

• A duffel or rucksack with straps to go over your back

• Dry Liner or Dry Bag

• Water bottle/thermos: At least 2L. Nalgene bottles best.

• Sunglasses

• Suncream

• General Toiletries, Contact lenses, Glasses (if needed)

• Towel

• Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor, phone & charger

• Lipsil

• Book

• MP3/Music and headphones

• Travel wash

• Hand sanitizer, wet wipes

• Trekking Poles (Optional)

Start: There are three pick-up times (10:00 am, 5:00 pm or 11:59 pm) from Kilimanjaro International Airport on the first date of your trip. 

End: On the last date you can fly at any time, and your guides will arrange transfers that work best for the group.

Guests typically fly with BA, Air France or Qatar, however we'd recommend comparing a few airlines e.g. https://www.skyscanner.net . 

When you go above altitudes of 2,500m, you need to allow your body time to acclimatise properly. When you are at altitude, you enter a lower oxygen environment. All relevant itineraries are designed to ensure that this process is met.

So, what does this mean? This may mean that you may need to follow a longer route during the ascent phase to achieve the end goal. In this case, reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro. It may also mean that you must rest for a day or so at certain altitudes to ensure that our bodies acclimatise properly to the change in environment. You will work alongside some of the most experienced local guides to help you reach your goals when at altitude. High altitude sickness can happen to anybody – old or young, in a good shape or not. Being in hurry in the mountains can be deadly. Your body can adjust to this altitude, but only if given enough time. If you find symptoms of altitude sickness, then you must descend down at any cost. The symptoms are totally different from one person to other. Sometimes you might feel a headache, you may feel you need to throw up, your fingers may go slightly numb or you may start breathing heavy. If you have these kinds of symptoms you should stop at this height. Drinking lots of water can help you out.

You are advised to move slowly, don’t rush and ensure you protect yourself from the weather.

Most groups have 12 people, with a maximum of 14.

You stay in a hotel at the beginning and end of the trek. The lodges offer twin shared rooms and basic showering facilities.

During the trek, you will be given a 3-man tent and use it as a twin share.

Single supplements are available for the duration of the trip for $90. Please ensure you request this on your registration form before you depart.

If you need to book any additional nights at the hotel, you can do so here: http://www.panamagardenresort.com/

Kilimanjaro is very close to the equator, so the temperatures are very similar year-round. They can range from around 20C (70F) at the base -10C (-15F) on the summit.

The dry season is June-September, and during these times there is typically just a dusting of snow on the summit. These are also the busiest months. The wet season is Nov-May, where snow depth on the summit can regularly be 20-30cm. 

It is customary in Tanzania to tip guides and porters.

The amount that you tip is completely up to you. As a good rule of thumb, generally participants will tip around $150 USD per customer (not per guide). You can give this to the head guide and they will distribute it amongst the team of guides, porters and cooks.

You will have chefs with you on the hike who can cater for all dietary requirements. You will have 3 nutritious and filling meals each day, which help keep your energy levels high. Please make us aware of any requirements on your registration form before departure.

Filtered water will be readily available free of charge.

Yes - citizens from most countries do need a visa. When purchasing your visa, be aware that there are many companies online that are not legitimate. Please be mindful of this if buying online.

The currency used in Tanzania is Tanzanian Shillings. Some places will accept USD ($), but generally with a poor exchange rate.

There is a Wildlife Safari trip which works well with the Kilimanjaro dates.

The minimum age for this trek is 18, or 16 with a parent/guardian.

Your head guide is Holyfield

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run Ahsante Tours, based in Moshi.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Holyfield