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 General:
Sometimes called the Whisky Route. This is a popular route up steep paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Icefields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. An extra day could be added to the itinerary, best spent on the Shira Plateau, where you could walk to the Shira Needles. Strong groups could omit camping at Karanga River. The Mweka Route is used for the descent.
Accommodation on the mountain is in tents which the porters will pitch for you. You will need a sleeping bag, warm clothes and walking poles. This is a steep, tough trek within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas.
MACHAME ROUTE 7 DAYS/ 6NIGHTS OPTION ONE
 Day 1: Machame Gate (1 800m) to Machame Hut (3 000m). This day starts at dawn with a drive from Moshi town to Machame village(1 500m) where guides and porters sort out foods and gear to be carried up to the mountain. Thereafter, you will receive your lunch box from the guides and can buy your own spring water at the village. If weather permitting, it is possible to drive all the way up to Machame gate at 1 800m. However, if condition is not allowing your 4x4 drive vehicle to reach the gate, you may walk a short distance of about 300m between Machame village (1 500m) and the park's Gate (1 800m). You must report at the park's gate for registration and fill in your personal particulars including passport number. After all those formalities observed, you begin the ascent to the first camp Machame Hut at 3 000m. Sometimes rain is possible, therefore, raincoat is important and must kept handy all the time. You will make a stop on the mid of the trail for lunch and a short rest. You will reach Machame Hut in late afternoon while mist and low clouds dominate the camp. Supper will be served into the mess tent. Already personal tent has been erected -let alone sleeping. Temperature at this camp drops below freezing point with possible frost in the morning.
Day 2: Machame Hut (3 000m) to Shira Hut (3 840). Breakfast is served early in the mess tent and, weather permits you to view the Western Breach of the Kilimanjaro. The walk from Machame Hut to Shira Hut heads up a ridge into the moorland. Generally the path is good and it requires the occasional scramble before reaching the lunch casual post at about 3 600m. After lunch and limited rest you will continue with the trail up to Shira Hut at about 3 840m. Porters will erect tents and prepare the most awaited meal. By now you will take a view of Shira Needle, Shira Cathedral and East Shira Hill to the west. The night at this exposed camp is really cold with temperature dropping to zero miner freezing point and full frost in the morning. By now the altitude will have affected most of climbers and sleeping in the tent becomes uncomfortable.
Day 3: Shira Hut (3 840m) to Barranco Hut (3 950m). Now the trail turns East into a semi desert and rocky section where you reach an altitude of about 4 600m at Lava Tower. (see the map). As you ascend from Shira Hut there is a good view of Oehler Ridge to the Northeast and the Western Breach to the east. Lunch is normally served on a designated place before ascending a rock and scree path to Lava Tower (4 600m). It is possible to climb to the top of the Lava Tower before descending a steep rocky path that joins the route to Barranco Hut at about 3 950m. While walking on this distance, you have an opportunity to capture good pictures of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. Here also you have a chance to collect fresh water that running off streams supplied by melting snow and ice. It is here you will get a spectacular picture of the Kilimanjaro sunset.
Day 4: Barranco Hut (3 950m) to Karanga Valley Camp (4 200m). The morning starts with a scramble up the almost vertical Barranco Wall to an altitude of about 4 200m and then the trail crosses through the south -western slopes to reach the Karanga Valley, you will pass through few valleys there also you have a chance to view Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers which form part of the Southern Ice Fields. Lunch will be at Karanga Valley. After lunch the climbers are advised to take a rest at this point. Dinner/ Overnight.
Day 5: Karanga Valley (4 200m) to Barafu Hut (4 600m) From here there is no water, so take care to stock them for there is no water at Barafu Hut. It is recommended that the climbers must familiarize with the camp before dark because of this camp is situated on an exposed and dangerous ridge. Therefore, you must take precautions to avoid possible tragedies. As routine, the porters will arrange meal while you are preparing climbing gears for the summit bid which is going to take place at the midnight. Ensure your headlamp and camera are well-stocked with new batteries. It is advisable to spare drinking water in a thermal flask to stop it freezing. Of course, for practical reasons, the group will determine how many assistants guides will accompany.
Day 6: Barafu Hut (4 600m) to Uhuru Peak (5 895m) to Mweka Hut (3 100m). At around midnight you will be awaken to start summit assault north-western direction up the south-east valley towards Stella Point on the Crater rim. It is very cold at this point and the footpath is unclear and steep in places. The long trail to Stella point is mentally and physically challenging. You will prove that, you are at the high altitude, the roof of Africa and will result in short-breathiness, severe headaches and nausea. But careful, slowly you could encounter snow and ice from below Stella Point all the way to Uhuru Peak (5 895m). Now you are at the Kilimanjaro summit where you can view Rebmann, Kersten and Heim glaciers also you can Furtwangler glacier to north and the eastern ice fields to the North-east. At this point expect to be rewarded a beautiful African sunrise ever. The spend time on the summit depends on weather conditions. The trail back to Barafu Hut (4 600m) will take almost over three hours and there you are at large to take a short rest and collect all your gears before walk down to the final camp on the mountain, Mweka Hut (3 100m). The power of mountain is phenomena. You lose consciousness of your own detached reality and melt into the earth to become part of the universe. Therefore, such experience real enrich your life.
Day 7: Mweka Hut (3 100) to Mweka Village (1 450m). A health breakfast will be served before you descend through the rain forest to the park's gate. On arriving at the gate you must enter your particulars again into park's register. For climbers who reached Stella point are issued with green certificates and the one who reached Uhuru peak with gold certificate.
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