“The Whiskey Route” – Popular, Scenic & Successful
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp (3,000m)
After registration at the park gate, begin your trek through lush rainforest. The trail is gentle but can be muddy. Watch for black-and-white colobus monkeys swinging in the trees. Arrive at Machame Camp for your first night under the stars.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3,840m)
Leave the forest behind as you enter moorland. The trail steepens, but the views open up. Pass through heather and volcanic rock formations. On clear days, you may spot Mount Meru in the distance. Overnight at Shira Camp.
Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower (4,630m) – Down to Barranco Camp (3,960m)
A key acclimatization day. Climb high to Lava Tower, then descend to Barranco Camp. This “climb high, sleep low” approach helps your body adjust to the altitude. You may feel the effects of the elevation here.
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,035m)
Start with a scramble up the Barranco Wall—an exciting and scenic challenge. Then continue along ridges and valleys to Karanga Camp. Shorter hiking hours today allow for more rest and acclimatization.
Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,640m)
Hike up barren, rocky terrain to base camp. Rest early, eat a light dinner, and prepare for the midnight summit push. The landscape becomes stark and lunar-like.
Day 6: Barafu to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) – Down to Mweka Camp (3,100m)
Summit day! Start around midnight with headlamps. Hike slowly and steadily toward Stella Point and then to Uhuru Peak—the roof of Africa. Enjoy the sunrise from the summit before descending all the way to Mweka Camp for rest.
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate – Return to Arusha/Moshi
Trek through the lush forest one last time. At the gate, receive your summit certificate, meet your driver, and return to Arusha or Moshi for a hot shower and celebration.
