6 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE KILIMANJARO CLIMBING

ITINERARY

Day 0: Touchdown in Tanzania
You will be met by your guide, who will give you a briefing on your forthcoming trip and check your equipment to make sure you have all the appropriate mountain gear, when you are picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and taken to your hotel in Moshi town. On this day, the missing equipment can be rented. No meals are included.

Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Elevation: 1830m to 3000m, 6000ft to 10,200ft.
Distance covered: Approximately 11 kilometers.
Vegetation: Montane Forest
Approx. time taken: 5-7 hours
It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. The journeys pass through the village of Machame, which is located on the mountain’s lower slopes. We now walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge, leaving the park gate. The trail can become muddy and slippery as you descend. Gaiters and trekking poles are recommended. We walk a short distance until we arrive at the Machame Camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Elevation: 3000m to 3840m, 10,200ft to 12,600ft
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Vegetation: Moorland
We leave the rain forest glades after breakfast and continue on an ascending path, crossing the small valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge covered in heather until the ridge ends. The path now heads west into a river gorge. It’s time to rest, eat, and sleep at the Shira campsite. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included.

Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 3800m to 4630m to 3986m, 15,000ft to 13,700ft
Distance covered: Approximately 11 kilometers
Vegetation: Semi-desert
Approx. time taken: 5-7 hours
We continue east from the Shira Plateau up a ridge, passing the junction towards Kibo’s peak. As we continue, our course shifts to the south-east, towards the Sharks Tooth Lava Tower. We arrive at the second junction shortly after the tower, which leads us up to the Arrow Glacier at an elevation of 4876m / 15,997 ft. We now descend to the Barranco Hut at an elevation of 3860m / 12,664 ft. We rest here, eat dinner, and sleep. Despite the fact that you end the day at the same elevation as you began, this day is critical for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation: 3900m to 4600m, 13,007ft to 15,295ft
Distance covered: Approximately 9 kilometers
Vegetation: Alpine Desert
Approx. time taken: 8 hours
We leave Barranco after breakfast and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall, through the Karanga Valley (lunch at 4200m / 13,779 ft), and to the junction with the Mweka Trail. We proceed up to the Barafu Hut. You’ve completed the South Circuit, which provides views of the summit from a variety of perspectives. Here we set up camp, rest, eat dinner, and plan for the summit day. From here, you can see the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included.

Day 5: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Elevation: 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m) 15,100ft to 19,300ft (and down to 10,200ft)
Distance: 5km ascent / 12km descent
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours ascent / 3 hours descent
Vegetation: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.
We continue our ascent to the summit very early in the morning (midnight to 2 a.m.). You ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim in a northwesterly direction. This is the most mentally and physically demanding part of the journey. You will stop for a short rest at Stella Point (5685m / 18,652 ft) and be rewarded with the most spectacular sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting).
On your 2-hour ascent to the summit from Stella Point, you will encounter snow the entire time. We have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the African continent at Uhuru Peak. The sunrise will be visible from the summit for faster hikers. At these elevations, it can be very cold at night, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. You should bring clothing for both extremes.
From the summit, we continue straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping for lunch at Barafu. For the loose gravel going down, you’ll need gaiters and trekking poles. Mweka Camp is located in the upper forest, so expect mist or rain in the late afternoon. Later that evening, we have our final meal on the mountain before retiring for the night. Beer and soda may be available for purchase at the Mweka Hut, the route’s only stop.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included.

Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka gate
Elevation: 3100m to 1830m, 10,200ft to 6000ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Vegetation: Forest
After breakfast, we will continue our descent to the Mweka Park Gate, where you will receive your summit certificates. It can be wet and muddy at lower elevations. Gaiters and trekking poles will come in handy. Shorts and t-shirts will most likely suffice (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). A vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to transport you back to your hotel in Moshi.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included.

PRICE PER PERSON $