Kilimanjaro Machame Route

• Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Tanzania Africa.
• A World Wide Trekking representative will meet you and transfer to the lodge in Arusha, Tanzania, where we will hold a welcome reception.
• Overnight: Rivertrees Country Inn or comparable
• Meals included: D

• After breakfast this morning, we will take a walking tour of some of the foothill villages surrounding Kilimanjaro, stopping to take a tour of a coffee plantation along the way.
• In the afternoon we will conduct a mountain briefing and gear check.
• You will pack one duffel for your porter to carry on the mountain and pack another to leave at the hotel with your travel and safari gear.
• Your guide will personally check each guest’s gear to make sure everyone is prepared for our adventure.
• Overnight: Rivertrees Country Inn or comparable
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Today we will travel to the Machame trailhead, winding through coffee fields, small villages, and forests of ferns and flowers.
• At the trailhead, we will meet the rest of our crew and mountain team and register with the Kilimanjaro Park Service.
• We will trek for about six hours underneath a beautiful rainforest canopy to the Machame Camp, stopping for a sit-down lunch on the way.
• Overnight: Machame Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• This morning we will leave the Machame camp to cross the valley and continue our ascent.
• The environment changes from heath forest to moorlands.
• Halfway up the trail we meet the river gorge and ascend across the Shira Plateau.
• Each day along the trail, we stop for a sit-down lunch and we set up our private, flushing toilet tents.
• Overnight: Shira Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Today we will ascend from the Shira Camp up the Shira Plateau.
• While crossing the ridge at the Lava Tower, we will have great views of the African plains far below.
• Here we will eat lunch, acclimate and admire the ancient glacier ice of the Breach Wall from the Lava Tower.
• We will then descend about 2,000 feet into Barranco Camp for the night.
• Overnight: Barranco Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Today after our hearty breakfast, we will climb the Great Barranco Wall, also known as the breakfast wall.
• We will top out at about 14,500 feet before traversing across the Karanga Valley to our camp at the Karanga River.
• This completes another day of acclimatization as we pass below the famous Breach Wall, the largest ice and rock face in Africa.
• Overnight: Karanga Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• From the Karanga Valley camp, we climb for four to five hours to Barafu (Ice) Camp, where we will enjoy a sit-down lunch and a short rest.
• Afterwards, we will wind through a sparsely traveled high desert plateau, littered with volcanic boulders. Looking south, we view the desert plains as the pinnacles of Mawenzi Peak tower before us. This afternoon climb to  Kosovo camp will take about 1.5 hours.
• We acquire a special permit that allows us to stay at this quiet camp, which puts us closer to the summit for our climb and closer to our camp on our descent.
• While our cook staff prepares our dinner, we will spend our time packing and preparing for our midnight departure, the final push for a sunrise summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
• Overnight: Kosovo Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• We climb wearing headlamps until the predawn light is reflected off the African plains and high mountain glaciers.
• Following a distinct ridge we approach the crater’s rim, then traverse northwest along the rim to the main summit of Uhuru Peak!
• We are now on the highest free-standing mountain in the world, as well as the highest point on the African Continent!
• After enjoying the view from the roof of Africa, we descend to Kosovo Camp, rest, eat, break camp, and begin our trek down the Mweka route on the southern side of the mountain.
• We descend down into the jungle to Millennium Camp for our last night on the mountain.
• Overnight: Millennium Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• The sun’s rays congratulate us with a spectacular light show as we awake below the towering mountain on our final day of our Kilimanjaro journey.
• We descend through the lush green landscape of the Mweka Route into the thickest jungle we have encountered yet.
• The environment becomes primordial, with 20 foot-tall fern trees creating a prehistoric atmosphere. Rain is likely and a rain poncho is a smart choice for your comfort.
• After reaching the Mweka gate we say our farewells to the mountain staff and drive back to our lodge for a well-deserved shower and celebration dinner.
• Overnight: Rivertrees Country Inn or comparable
• Meals included: B/L/D

• After breakfast we will head to the Cultural Heritage Center, the largest market in East Africa. The Cultural Heritage Center features the best variety of souvenirs including a large selection of Tanzanian gem stones and local arts & crafts.
• On our way back to the day room at the airport, we will pay a visit to the Human Outreach Project: Kilimanjaro Kids Community for a site tour.
• Afterwards we will continue to the day rooms, where you can relax prior to your international departure.
• Or, begin an Add-On Adventure
• Meals: B

Our personal favorite time to travel is from mid-May through early August. The rainy season has just ended providing plentiful vegetation and biodiversity with less dust in the air. Additionally, late June through early August offers cooler temperatures. January, February, and September are the driest and warmest months in Tanzania, and therefore the busiest months. March through early June is a rainy season, and visibility is low, though the crowds are gone.

This trip begins and ends in the Siha District of Tanzania, in East Africa. You will fly into and out of Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

*Many guests prefer to arrive before, or leave after, the scheduled itinerary. We can help you make arrangements. Additional charges for early arrival, transportation, lodging, meals, and activities will apply.

International airfares are not included in program pricing. Although there are many flight options to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), flying through Amsterdam offers the best route. Our travel expert, Danny Genung at Harr Travel is more than happy to review the many flight options from the U.S. to Kilimanjaro. You can reach him at danny@harrtravel.com or 909.266.0117.

The benefit of using a travel agent is that in the event of itinerary changes, the travel agent will find the best flight connections, and land arrangements, for you. Though third-party travel websites are convenient, we do not recommend using them due to instability in the itineraries. We also recommend that you protect your flight with travel insurance and a refundable ticket.

Upon clearing customs in Tanzania, you will be required to purchase a 12-month multiple-entry tourist visa for $100. Please bring cash, as exact change is required. In addition, you will need a one-hundred dollar bill that is less than ten years old. Please keep your landing card (received in flight) and a pen handy for customs. You can complete a visa application (contact your country’s embassy for requirements) prior to your arrival, or fill one out at the airport. After you purchase your visa and clear customs, a World Wide Trekking representative will meet and transfer you to the lodge in Arusha.

*Please Note: Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your trip. Make two copies of your passport, leave one at home and bring the other with you to Tanzania along with two extra passport photos in case of an emergency. Ensure you provide a color copy of your passport to WWTrek 90-days prior to your departure date.

We recommend purchasing travel insurance, which will protect you in the event of an unanticipated cancellation of your trip, and depending on the plan you choose, can refund all the costs already paid (including flights, trip costs, and your payment to us). Please note: you must purchase this plan within 14 days of your deposit payment. There are three plans that we recommend choosing from: Cavalry, Rip Cord or Harbor. Please send us a copy of your plan if you choose to purchase one.

Enjoy camping-style accommodations when climbing Kilimanjaro while we make every effort to impress. For us, it’s all about the details because the fine points make the difference. Sleep soundly in brand-new expedition tents from The North Face. Eat delicious, fresh food in our huge, luxurious dining tent complete with solar lighting. Experience peace of mind in our private toilet tents.

A World Wide Trekking representative will privately transport you from the airport to your lodge. During the trek, travel light while carrying just your daypack. Porters carry all other bags and equipment up and down the mountain.

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in the success of all our adventures. Rest assured that our full kitchen staff including chefs, dishwashers, and servers prepare hearty, western-style meals every day. Typical meals include breakfast complete with coffee and tea, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy all of your meals in our luxurious dining tents complete with tables, chairs, dinnerware, and solar lighting.

Our stringent commitment to safety means you have access to our medically certified Professional Western Guide(s) before and throughout your trip. Our staff also carries emergency medical equipment such as satellite phones and medical kits.

Prior to the trip, you will need to get two prescriptions from your physician: Diamox for altitude sickness and Malarone for malaria. In addition, we recommend visiting your local travel vaccination clinic one month before your trip. Needed vaccinations include a current tetanus shot, annual influenza shot, Varicella, Typhoid, Hep A, and MMR.

For more information, feel free to contact Dr. Levy, our medical advisor, at 801.943.0264 or visit our trek tips series on YouTube.

Once you sign on with WWTrekking, we are here for you every step of the way! You will be assigned an adventure specialist who will help you prepare for your trip. Whether your questions or needs are regarding flights, packing, early arrivals, departures, accommodations or anything else, your adventure specialist is only a phone call away!

Once your trip begins, World Wide Trekking boasts an extensive support crew on all trips of 8 people or more. We provide medically certified, Professional Western guide(s) for all adventures of 8+ passengers as well as a plethora of local professionals to aid the group on the mountain including porters, a tent crew, chefs, servers, dishwashers, and toilet attendants. Additionally, you have access to a Local Operations Manager throughout your adventure.

Many guests prefer to arrive early or leave late so they can add another adventure into their vacation. We can help you make arrangements. Additional charges for early arrival, transportation, lodging, meals, and activities will apply. Below are some of our favorite and most popular add-on adventures.

• African Safaris
• Zanzibar Island
• Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

In many parts of the world, gratuities are given in appreciation for a job well done. Our guides will take care of tipping most service personnel along the way, but you should plan on having a small amount of cash on hand for incidental tips.

For any additional services outside of our itinerary, plan to tip 10% (transport, restaurants, baggage, lodges, etc). We will provide you with detailed tipping recommendations in your “What to Expect” document once you sign up for a trip.

At the trails end you will have the opportunity to contribute to a group tipping pool that will be presented to your WWTrekking guides and trekking staff as we say our goodbyes.

We recommend exchanging money at the airport as soon as you clear customs. We will offer additional exchange opportunities, but typically you will receive the best rates at the airport. Exchanging $100 should suit your needs for the trek and safari. We always recommend bringing $500 cash with you on your trip for incidentals.

We provide a complimentary 6-week extensive fitness and nutrition program to help our guests prepare for their journey ahead. The program is tailored specifically for our trips and includes virtual 1 on 1 coaching sessions with our Fitness and Nutrition Specialist.

Learn more here!

Tanzania is one of the world’s oldest inhabited regions. For three million years, man has roamed its regions, savanna to mountains, carving out an existence from the African countryside. Drawn to exotic Africa, explorers have tried to tame her wildness to no avail. The story of Tanganyika, Tanzania, is one of unaltered wilds and progressive politics. “Kilimanjaro,” according to the President of Mozambique, Chissano, “carried the torch that liberated Africa.”

49.25 million

Dodoma, Tanzania

Tribes of Tanzania

Sukuma comprise the largest tribe with three million Tanzanians. Living in the northwestern area of Tanzania, they speak Bantu and are traditionally cattle herders and farmers of subsistence crops such as cassava.

Nywamwezi, also known as  the “people of the moon,” are the second largest tribe in Tanzania. Similar to the Sukuma, they are also historically cattle herders, farmers, and Bantu speakers. Living in the northwest of Tanzania, near Lake Victoria, the tribe has about 1.5 million members.

Members of the third largest tribe of Tanzania reside on the south and eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Mosh. The Chaga speak Kichagga, a Niger-Congo language. They were one of the first tribes to convert to Christianity. Among the richest and most powerful people in Tanzania, they hold a strong sense of identity. Known for their advanced farming techniques, trade, and politics, they thrive as a successful tribe.

Descended from Persia, the Shirazi encompass the majority of the people of Zanzibar island. They speak Swahili and practice Sunni and Shia Islam.

Tanzanians bear a surprisingly strong national association, or ujamaa (family-hood). They rarely identify themselves by tribe upon an initial meeting. This collective attitude comes from the Julius Nyerere days and his push to unify over 120 tribes in a socialistic type society. This national mindset allows Tanzania a relatively peaceful existence with tribes coexisting. Christians and Muslims live side by side with minimal friction.

The official currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling abbreviated TZS. TZS replaced the East Africa shilling in 1966. Currency exchangers subdivide the shilling into 100 senti and it is written as x/y where x is the amount over one shilling and y is the senti. Due to the fluctuating exchange rates, we recommend searching online to find out the current rate.