7 Machame Route Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our experts will meet you and transport you to the hotel in Arusha for dinner and sleeping, On the following day we will gather for Kilimanjaro briefing and equipment check.

Day 2 – Arusha to Machame Gate/Machame camp

Overview

• Hours of driving – 3 hours of driving to machame gate
• Elevation of the starting point (gate)- 1800m.
•  Name of the camp- machame camp.
• Elevation of the next destination – 2950m.
• Total elevation gain of the day-1050m.
•  Ecological zone/habitat – rain forest.
• Hiking time -4 to 6 hours.
•  Distance -10.5km.
•  Water-minimum 2 liters maximum 3liters.
• Lunch – saved at the gate.
• Attractions of the day- big trees like east africa yellow wood, flowers like fireball lily, primates like black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, animals like tree hyrax and genet cat, birds like turaco,  white eyes, robin-chat.

Commencing from Arusha, your journey will take you to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate/Machame gate, passing through Machame village. After registering at Machame Gate (1800m/5905ft), we will enter the rainforest. Trekking poles and gaiters are recommended. Continuing to Machame Camp (2950m/9,842ft), the distance is 10.5km/6.5 miles, with 4 – 6 hours of walking through the Rain Forest Zone.

Day 3 – Machame Camp to Shira Cave Camp

Overview

• Hiking from machame camp to shira cave camp.
• The elevation of starting point 2950m.
• The elevation of the next camp 3750m.
•  Hiking time- 5 to 6 hours.
•  Distance – 6km.
• Lunch -saved at the camp.
• Evening hiking or acclimatization – absent or present – the expedition leader is always there to decide based on how someone feeling.
• Water- minimum 3 liters and maximum 5 liters. For the whole day.
• Ecology zone – heather zone/ moorland.
• What to pack in your backpack – sunscreen, hardshell jacket , water, snacks, neck gaiter, sun hat, wallet and passport. Please always remember to pack light.
• Attractions – incredible view, the ridge of shira peak, shira plateau, erica trees, white nape raven, kibo peak and the view of second highest mountain in Tanzania – mount meru.

Description

After breakfast at Machame Camp, we leave the glades and ascend through heather- covered, rocky ridges, crossing a valley and a river gorge. Lunch, Dinner and an overnight
stay await at Shira Camp (3750m/12,375ft), covering a distance of 6km/3.7 miles in 5-6 hours of walking in the Heather and Moorland Zone.

Day 4 – Shira Cave Camp to Baranco Camp

Overview

• Hiking from shira cave camp to baranco camp via lava tower for lunch stop.
• The elevation starting is 3750m.
• The elevation of the next camp is 3940m.
• The elevation gain of the day is 850m, lunch at lava tower camp – 4600m.
• Hiking time is 7 to 9 hours.
• Distance is 10km.
• Attractions of the day are the rock pedestal, an amazing view of shira plateau, shark tooth, lava tower, ocean of clouds, unusual plants known as giant senecio, lobelia deckenii, glacial valleys and obsidian
• Ecological zones – alpine desert and moor land.
• How to pack in your backpack –rain gear, water, wallet, passport, few energy bars/snacks, small first aid kit and trekking poles.

On this day, the journey starts from Shira cave camp towards a ridge, passing the junction to Kibo peak. Heading towards Lava Tower (4550m/14,927ft) and then to the Arrow Glacier junction, we move on to Barranco Hut (3940m/12,795ft). 

Day 5 – Baranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Overview

• Hiking from baranco to karanga camp.
• The elevation of the starting point is 3940.
• The elevation of the next camp is 3995m.
• The elevation gain of the day is 260m.
•  Hiking time is 4 to 5 hours.
• Distance is 6km.
• Ecological zone is alpine desert.
• Acclimatization hike – present.
• How to pack in your backpack –rain gear, water, wallet, passport, few energy bars, small first aid kit, wallet and passport.
• Attractions of the day are – great barranco wall, southern ice field, glacial valleys, meru view, ocean of clouds, giant senecio and lobelia plants.

 Description

After a successful breakfast, we leave Barranco, traverse a steep ridge, and proceed to Karanga  Camp (3995m/13,100ft). The distance is 6km/3.7 miles, and the walking time is 4 -5 hours in the Alpine Desert Zone.

Day 6 – Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Overview

•  Hiking from karanga camp to barafu camp.
•  The elevation of the starting point is 3995m.
•  The elevation of the next camp is 4673m.
•  The elevation gain of the day is 678m.
•  Hiking time 3 to 4 hours,
•  Distance -4km.
• Ecological zone/ habitat – alpine desert.
•  Acclimatization hike – absent .
• How to pack in your backpack –rain gear, water, wallet, passport, few energy bars, small first aid kit.
• Attractions – glacial valleys, battress windows, ringing rocks as know as sonorous rocks or lithophonic rocks, are rocks that resonate like a bell when struck, and mawenzi peak.

Completing breakfast at Karanga Camp, we head to Barafu Hut Base Camp (4673m/15,300ft). The journey covers a distance of 4km/3 miles, taking 3-4 hours in the Alpine Desert Zone.

Day 7 – Barafu Camp to Uhuru/Uhuru to Mweka

Overview

• Please please note that is going to be the long day, think about 14 to 18 hours.
• Hiking from barafu camp to uhuru peak (the summit of mount kilimanjaro).
• The elevation of the starting point -4673m.
• The elevation of uhuru peak (the summit of kilimanjaro) – 5895m.
• The elevation gain to uhuru peak -1222m.
• Hiking time to the summit- 6 to 8 hours, sometimes can be more than 8 hours based on the pace of someone
• Hiking time to back barafu camp -3 to 4 hours.
• Hiking time to milenium camp or mweka camp- 4 to 5 hours.
• Distance to uhuru peak  from barafu to uhuru peak -5km.
• Distance from uhuru peak to barafu camp – 5km.
• Distance to millenium camp- 3.5km.
• Distance to mweka camp -7km.
• Ecological zone- arctic zone to the top, below 5000m – are alpine desert zone and moor land,
• How to dress for the summit ascent – the expedition leader will explain on how to dress up for the summit after checking your summiting gear.
• How to pack in your backpack –hardshell jacket, water, wallet, passport, few energy bars, small first aid kit, extra fleece, sun hat, sun screen and camera, any identity to take pictures with it like the national flag of your country, t-shirt from where you are working, the flag from your company, ect.

Description

Early morning ascent to the summit between Ratzel glaciers and Rebmann. Reaching Stella Point (5756m/18,886ft) on the crater rim, a quick short break at Stelle Point, then precedes to the final climb to Uhuru Peak (5895m/19,341ft), the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro. Descending to Mweka Hut campsite, lunch at Barafu, and trekking down to Mweka Camp (3100m/10,170ft) mark the last dinner on the mountain. The distance is 12km/7.5 miles, taking 14-16 hours to finish the all program of  the Summit day.

Day 8 – Mweka Camp to the gate, then Hotel 

 Overview

• Hiking down from mweka camp to mweka gate, then get certificate then drive back to the hotel.
• Hiking time-3 to 4 hours.
• Distance -10km.
• What to pack in your backpack-mainly hard shell jacket, wallet, passport and water.
• Ecological zone –rainforest zone.
• Say farewell to the porters at the gate.
• Certificate- please note that for those who do not get to gilmas point/ stella pont/ uhuru peak will not be awarded certificate.

Description

After breakfast, descend to the Mweka exit gate (1650m/5500ft), receiving summit certificates, Then return to the hotel, concluding the trip. The distance is 10km/6 miles, taking 3-4 hours in the Rain Forest Habitat.

Day 9 – Explore More Safari Options / Departure