We will be tackling the Machame route which has been nicknamed the “Whiskey Route” because it is often perceived as being tougher than Marangu route, which is often referred to as the “Coca-Cola” route. Unlike that trail however, camping is allowed on Machame, which means trekkers will be sleeping in tents all the way to the summit, taking 6 nights.
Trekkers who take the Machame Route pass several well-known Mount Kilimanjaro landmarks while en route, including the famed Lava Tower and Shira Plateau. Altitude is just one of the challenges with the route being a strenuous 62 km in total, wandering up and down over a series of valleys and ridges, which makes the walk more strenuous, but rewards hikers with some of the best views on the mountain.
The trail starts on the south side of the mountain, passes underneath the Southern Ice Field and makes its summit approach from the Barafu Camp.
One of the biggest and most intimidating of the challenges on this route is the Barranco Wall, a steep cliff face that can look quite scary upon first approach. You will have to watch your step and use your hands for extra leverage while scrambling over certain sections, with the climb usually taking about an hour and a half to complete.
The summit is reached after the 5th night with the hike starting at around midnight, using headlamps to lead the way slowly up to Stella Point and then to the top. Due to the altitude, the hike is done slowly taking 7 hours with hikers dressed warmly for the cold. The descent down to Mweka camp takes a further 6-9 hours for the final night on the mountain.
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