Machame Route

– One of the most popular routes due to its high success rate.

– Superb for acclimatization as it allows climbers to “walk high, sleep low”.

– A challenging trek with stunning scenery over five climatic zones.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

DAY1: MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP

Elevation (m): 1800m to 3000m,

Distance: 11km, Time: 5-7hours,

Habitat: Montane Forest

Transfer from hotel to Machame Gate for registration. Our porters will prepare and pack your supplies and luggage before we embark our ascending voyage along the forest trail to Machame Camp.

DAY2: MACHAME CAMP TO SHIRA CAMP

Elevation (m): 3000m to 3850m,

Distance: 9km, Time: 4-6 hours,

Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, trekkers will transcend, leaving the rainforest behind crossing small valley to reach a steep rocky ridge, covered with heath. The route will turn west onto a river gorge up to Shira 1

DAY3: SHIRA CAMP VIA LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO CAMP

Elevation (m): 3850m to 4600m to 3950m,

Distance: 12 km, Time: 6-7 hours,

Habitat: Semi-desert

The trekkers we will climb up to 4600m to the base of the Lava Tower for lunch and acclimatization. This will be one of the challenging days so far and one may feel the altitude. After lunch trekkers descend 650m to Barranco camp, following “walk high, sleep low” golden rule of acclimatization.

On the way to Barranco camp offers a great opportunity for photo taking to capture the gorgeous panorama of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall.

DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP

Elevation (m): 3950m to 4600m,

Distance: 13km,

Time: 7hours,

Habitat: Alpine Desert.

This is expected to be a short fun day for embarking to the top of the Great Barranco Wall. Then there will a traversing to the picturesque Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers up to the Barafu Hut. One will have now completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the scenic summit from different angles. At the camp a rest is assured whilst enjoying a delicious dinner in preparation for the summit day. The view of two peaks, Mawenzi and Kibo are clearly sighted at the camp.

DAY 5: BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO MWEKA HUT

Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m to 3100m),

Distance: 7km ascent / 23km descent,

Time: 6-8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent,

Habitat: Stone screed and ice-capped summit.

All trekkers are expected to be awake by 23:30 for a light meal of tea and biscuits. Then trekkers head to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek. At Stella Point (5732m), trekkers stop to view the magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). This is only an hour away from the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro.

From the summit, trekkers descend to the Mweka Hut camp site via Barafu for lunch. Trekking poles will be needed for a smooth descending way to Mweka Camp (3100m). Later in the evening, one enjoys last dinner on the mountain and a worthy sleep.

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 DAY 6: MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE

Elevation (m): 3100m to 1800m,

Distance: 10 km,

Time: 3-4 hours,

Habitat: Forest

This is the final day for the trekkers, departing after breakfast to descend a further 1300m to the Mweka Park Gate to pick up summit certificates which testifies the effort made to the peak. Transfer to your hotel.