MT KILIMANJARO MACHAME ROUTE

Day 1: Machame Gate – Machame Camp

After breakfast, you will be picked from your hotel and be driven to Machame Gate. We start the ascent from the gate and trek through the rain forest. The trail may be soggy and muddy due to the rains in the forest. The trek to Machame Hut (2,900mts) will take as about 4-5 hours. Dinner and overnight at the Hut.

Distance 11 Kms

Day 2: Machame Hut – Shira Cave

Have an early breakfast and start your trek to Shira Camp (3,800mts). The trail leads to the top of the rain forest, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge before climbing more gently on the moorland of the Shira platue. Have picnic lunch en-route. The 7 Kms distance for trek will take us about 4 hours before reaching Shira Camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Shira Camp – Barranco Camp

An early breakfast before starting the day. From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower (4,600mts). After lunch we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley to Barranco Camp (3,900mts). The descent offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach. Dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.

Distance 11 Kms

Time taken 6-7 hrs.

Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, (the climb on the wall is not technical) to the Karanga Valley. Have a lunch break at Karanga Valley (4,000mts). Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Camp (4,600mts). Dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp.

Distance 10 Kms

Time taken 7-8 hrs.

Day 5: Barafu Camp – Summit

Wake up early at midnight to start the days trek for an attempt to the summit. Take some tea and biscuits to give you some energy. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will have some rest. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. You will now be on the highest part of Africa, Uhuru Peak (5,895mts). From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp (3,100mts) stopping at Barafu for lunch. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.

Day 6: Mweka Camp – Moshi

After breakfast, descend to Mweka Park Gate. You will receive your certificates of summit completion at the gate. Be transferred to your hotel, Moshi.