7 days machame route

Kilimanjaro Climb via Machame Route : 7 days/6 nights

Arrival Day: Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International airport you will be picked up and transferred to

Mt Meru hotel for overnight (breakfast)

Day 1: Machame Gate (1,800m/5,900ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,800ft)

Elevation Gain: 1,200 metres / 3,900 feet

Your head guide will meet you for the drive from Arusha to the Machame Gate. After registration,

begin climbing along a winding trail through beautiful and lush forest. Since this is the zone which

experiences the most rainfall on the mountain you should be prepared for afternoon showers. These

can make the trail slippery at times! The climb is steady, gradually easing as you approach camp at

Machame Hut (9,800ft). The camp is located on the edge of the forest and giant heather zones.

Approximately 6-7 hours of walking today.

Day 2: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,800ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft)

Elevation Gain: 840 metres / 2,800 feet

Today is a little shorter, beginning by climbing a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as

Picnic Rock. There are excellent views of Kibo, the summit cone of Kilimanjaro, and the jagged rim of

the Shira Plateau. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. It is filled with the lava flow from

Kibo and its rim has eroded and been blasted away by weather and volcanic action. Once on the

plateau the trail becomes gentler as you continue your climb to Shira Camp. On a clear day the views

from here are spectacular. Approximately 5-6 hours of walking.

Day 3:Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,650ft) via Lava Tower

(4,550m/14,900ft)

Elevation Gain: 710 metres / 2,300 feet

Elevation Loss: 700 metres / 2,250 feet

Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava

Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours.  This tower is a 300 foot high volcanic

plug. If time and energy allow, you can scramble to the top of Lava Tower for fabulous panoramic

views. From Lava Tower we begin our steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing large flowering

plants which actually look like trees, the scenecios. This is good practice for your descent from the

summit in a few days time and will take 1-2 hours. Although you will end your day at almost the same

elevation as you started, today is very important for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare

for summit day. Barranco Camp is in a beautiful, sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall.

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,600ft) to Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) via the Barranco Wall

(4,200m/13,800ft)

Elevation Gain: 350 metres / 1,150 feet

Elevation Loss: 250 metres / 820 feet

After breakfast, we leave Barranco Camp and begin our climb up the Barranco Wall. This is an

impressive scramble where you will be rewarded with fantastic views back towards camp. The porters

climbing the wall are also an impressive sight. From the top, at 4,200m, you will follow an undulating

path around the mountain side. On a clear day there are spectacular views of Kibo to your left and

Mount Meru to your right. After descending into the Karranga Valley your climb takes you up a short

steep path to Karranga Camp. Walking time approximately 3-4 hours.

Day 5: Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)

Elevation Gain: 650 metres / 2,150 feet

Today you will spend the morning climbing steadily on to Barafu, which is Swahili for ice! This camp is

located on the ridge below the summit cone. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers

views of the summit from many different angles. This walk will take around 3 hours meaning that you

will arrive at Barafu in time to spend the afternoon resting and enjoy an early dinner in preparation for

the summit climb. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Day 7: Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,300ft) then descending to Mweka

Camp (3,110m/10,200ft)

Elevation Gain: 1,295 metres / 4,200 feet

Elevation Loss: 2,785 metres / 9,100 feet

In the early hours of the morning you will begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak. This

part of the climb takes approximately 6-8 hours. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it

will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day and therefore you will want clothing for both

extremes. Just when you think you’ve had enough of climbing in the dark the sun will rise and you will

be rewarded with a rich red sky framing Mawenzi. At Stella Point (5,750m) you join the crater rim.

From here, climb gently to Uhuru Peak which is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the

continent of Africa. From the summit the descent will take you straight down to Mweka Hut, with

lunch served on the way. This part of the descent takes about 6 hours. Later in the evening enjoy

your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Beer and soda may be available for

purchase at Mweka Hut, the only place it is available on this route.

Day 8: Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m/6,000ft)

Elevation Loss: 1,280 metres / 4,220 feet

Descend straight to the gate through lush forest (2-3 hours), looking for monkeys along the way.

Return to Moshi from Mweka Village and proceed to Arusha for overnight at Mt Meru hotel.

(Breakfast,lunch)

Day 9: ARUSHA- FINAL TRANSFER TO Kilimanjaro International Airport

Today you will be transferred to the airport in time for your outbound flight

PRICE QUOTE

US $2540 PER PERSON

INCLUDES

 Pre & post climb accommodation.

 Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents:

 Professional, experienced, mountain guides:

 All Park fees

 Rescue fees

 All meals while on the Mountain

 Guides, Porters, cook

 Quality Mess tents with table and chairs

 Clean, purified drinking water

 Crisis management and safety procedure

EXCLUDES

 Tanzania Visa

 Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.

 Meals not listed above

 Optional Tours (short safari after your climb etc)