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Mount Kilimanjaro; an expert guide to the
Machame Route
The beautiful Machame Route is highly rated as
the most scenic route of all those up
Kilimanjaro, with diverse vegetation and wide
views as well as a number of possible route
choices beyond the Lava Tower Camp at 4630m.
Machame Route
Planning Your Climb
Machame Route can take either five or six days
to complete, depending on the fitness of the
climbers, and the final ascent is steep in each
case. This route sets off from Machame village,
and reaches the first Machame Camp at 3000m
where the forest meets the heather. The track
continues across moorland to Shira Camp on the
western side of Kibo, with excellent views over
the Shira Plateau.
Towards the Summit
From here it is usual to follow the Shira Route
to the Lava Tower Hut and then join with the
Umbwe route down to Barranco Camp for an
overnight at 3950m, but very fit climbers may
continue to ascend the much steeper route via
Arrow Glacier, (although the hut here is no
longer in use).
Those at Barranco Camp ascend to Barafu Camp by
the Mweka route, and continue on this trail on
the final ascent to the summit. This route will
usually descend by the Mweka Route.
Possible Itinerary Suggestion
8 day Itinerary for the Machame route
The Machame route can also be completed in 5
days. On day 3 on the itinerary below, you go
directly to Kibo with an overnight at the Arrow
Glacier camp, with your final summating attempt
on day 4. An extremely physically and mentally
demanding option, not recommended for the
average climber.
Day 1: Arrival - Arusha
On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, met and
assisted. Transfer to a hotel for an overnight
rest on bed and breakfast in readiness for the
next day's hit to Kilimanjaro.
Day 2: Arusha - Kilimanjaro Machame Gate (1490m)
- Machame camp (2980m
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: About 18 km's
Habitat: Montane forest
Your day starts early with a briefing, followed
by breakfast and a drive to the Machame village
(1490m). The guides and porters prepare and pack
the supplies and your equipment in the village.
You will receive a lunch pack and you can also
buy mineral water in the village. Depending on
the condition of the road, it is possible to
drive from the village to the Machame gate, but
if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1
hour to complete. After registering at the gate
office, you start your ascent and enter the rain
forest almost immediately. There is a strong
possibility of rain in the forest, which will
transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and
slippery experience. You will have a welcome
lunch stop about half way and will reach the
Machame camping area in the late afternoon.
Your porters (arriving at the camp site long
before you) will have erected your tent on your
arrival. In the evening the porters will boil
drinking and washing water and the cook will
prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent
for the night. Night temperatures can already
drop to freezing point at this campsite, B,L,D.
Day 2: Kilimanjaro Machame camp (2980m) - Shira
camp (3840m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: About 9 km's
Habitat: Moorland
You rise early at Machame camp and after
breakfast you climb an hour or so to the top of
the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler
gradient through the moorland zone. After a
short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky
ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be
able to see in an easterly direction, the
Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You
are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike
you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 840m. The
porters will boil drinking and washing water,
before serving dinner. The night at this exposed
camp will even be colder than the previous
night, with temperatures dropping to well below
freezing, B,L,D.
Day 4: Kilimanjaro Shira (3840m) - Lava Tower
(4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: About 15 km's
Habitat: Semi desert
The route now turns east into a semi desert and
rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where
you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5
hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area
before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava
Tower (4630m). Definitely, the toughest day so
far. It is normally around this point, where for
the first time, some climbers will start to feel
symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and
headaches. After lunch you descent again by
almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and
after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at
Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation benefit of
this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco
camp takes about 2 hours and offers great
opportunities to take some beautiful photographs
of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp
is situated in a valley below the Breach and
Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you
with a memorable sunset while you wait for the
preparation of your dinner, B,L,D.
Day 5: Kilimanjaro Barranco camp (3950m) -
Barafu camp (4550m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: About 13 km's
Habitat: Alpine desert
After spending a night at the Great Barranco
Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make
your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which
in the end normally turns out easier than what
you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim
Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful
Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down
through the Karanga Valley over intervening
ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the
Mweka route. This is the preferred route down
from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up
the ridge and after another hour or so, you
reach Barafu Hut.
The last water stop on the route is the Karranga
Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp.
Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice" and it is a
bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the
night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales
the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and
dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise
yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid
any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m
up and you will make the final ascent the same
night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and
thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This
should include the replacement of your headlamp
and camera batteries and make sure you have a
spare set available as well. To prevent freezing
it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal
flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to
get some precious rest and sleep, B,L,D.
Day 6: Kilimanjaro SUMMIT ATTEMPT, Barafu
camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak
7/8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea
and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You
will head in a northwesterly direction and
ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point
on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella
point is for many climbers, mentally and
physically the most challenging on the route. At
Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short
rest and will be rewarded with the most
magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see
(weather permitting). From Stella Point you will
normally encounter snow all the way on your
2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will
spend on the summit will depend on the weather
conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it
will be extremely difficult to start again due
to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment
and a day to remember for the rest of your life.
The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes
about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned
but short rest and collect the rest of your
gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m).
The route is not difficult and will take you
down the rock and scree path into the moorland
and eventually into the forest. The camp is
situated in the upper forest and mist or rain
can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner
and washing water will be prepared, B,L,D.
Day 7: Kilimanjaro Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka
Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: About 15 km's
Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it
is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the
Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and
details in a register. This is also where
successful climbers receive their summit
certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella
Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates
and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive
gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will
continue down into the Mweka village, normally a
muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village
you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! You
now drive back to Arusha for a long over due hot
shower, dinner and celebrations!! Overnight at a
hotel, B,L.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport
for your flight back home or continue with your
safari schedule. End of services. B
Tour cost: US$ 1,400 per person sharing.
Tour price includes:
-Transfer to and from the base of the mountain
-Machame route trek as itinerary depicts
-Full board accommodation whilst on the trek.
-Meal plan as clearly detailed: B=Breakfast,
L=Lunch and D=Dinner
-Accommodations at a hotel for 2 nights on bed
and breakfast
-Accommodations in huts on the mountain as per
the itinerary
-All park entrance fees to include government
taxes
-Service of an English speaking professional
Mountain guide on the mountain, porters and
skilled cook
-All services begin and end at Kilimanjaro
Airport as per the itinerary
-Treated water on the trek
-Return airport transfers from/to Kilimanjaro
Airport
-Chemical toilet/s on the mountain
-Kilimanjaro climb certificate (Those that reach
Gillman's Point (5685m) are issued with green
certificates & Uhuru Peak (5895m), receive gold
certificates)
-Mountain rescue fees
Excluded:
-Any possible park fees entrance increments
-Tips, laundry, sleeping bags, drinks and
climbing gears
-Travel, health, baggage loss and flight delay
insurance
-Medical & hospitalisation bills
-International flights and taxes
-Visas & travel documents
-Items of a personal nature and any other extras
not detailed in the above
itinerary.
Tanzania Safaris and Mount
Kilimanjaro Trekking, East Africa:
Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895m (19,340ft) , is
the highest mountain in Africa. Mount
Kilimanjaro is located at 3.07S, 37.35E.
Kilimanjaro is the world's tallest free
standing mountain.
Climbing mt. Kilimanjaro is a must for
trekkers/ mountaineers.
Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of
the year.
Kilimanjaro has a permanent snow-cap.
Successful climb of Kilimanjaro requires
good health and fitness.
Any moderately fit person can summit mount
Kilimanjaro.
At least 6 days of trekking is recommended
for trekking mt. Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb.
Kilimanjaro International Airport in
Tanzania, is the closest Airport to fly
into/out.
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