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6 days Kilimanjaro Machame – Route

The Moment you land at Kilimanjaro international Airport, Great Adventure begins,  You will be met by our staff at the airport and transferred  to Arusha town in the peaceful surrounds of our comfortable pre and post trek accommodation in Arusha – Green view Mountain Lodge,  from where there are great views of the mountain. You can relax by the pool before your briefing with the Guide, who will provide the essential information for your trek to the roof of Africa.

Day 1  Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame Camp (2980m)

Habitat: Montane forest

The climb starts from machame gate (1800m) after registration  Once at the gate you will be given a packed lunch, your climb will begin with ascending into the rainforest. During the day – The path follows a ridge through dense montane forest. This is the richest forested area on the mountain, and also the zone from where 98% of the water on Kilimanjaro orginates. On sunny days, and especially in the dry season is very lush and beautiful; it can also be a very muddy experience, partculary if it has rained recently. About half way up – we will have a break and you can enjoy your packed lunch. Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on your arrival We will reach the Machame Camp in late afternoon. After your arrival and registration at Machame Camp you will be taken to your tent which has already been set up by the porters who ran ahead, where you will greeted with hot washing water. Once you have freshened up and settled in,a hot dinner will be served in the mess-tent. We may get our first closer look at the glaciated dome of Kibo if the evening clouds permit.

Day 2  Machame camp (2980m) – Shira camp (3840m)

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.

Day 3  Shira (at 3840m) to Lava Tower (at 4630m) to Barranco camp (at 3950m)

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). This is 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 acclimatization 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.

Day 4  Barranco camp (3950m)- Barafu camp (4550m)

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.

Day 5  (Summit attempt) Barafu camp (4550m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)

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 north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers, this 6-hour walk to Stella point is 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 live. 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 continue to mweka camp. 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.

Day 6  Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.. You will be served a hot lunch then you will drive back to Arusha Green view mountain Lodge, for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

Trekking Kilimanjaro for Charity Challenge?

The above climb can be undertaken for your own personal, charity or group charity.

Kilimanjaro prize Includes:

  • Tanzania VAT on tourism activities and park fees
  • Transfers from and to Kilimanjaro airport
  • Hotel Lodging the night before and after the climb.
  • Transfer from and to  your hotel to starting point of your climb
  • Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
  • All Kilimanjaro National Park gate fees, camping fees and climbing permits.
  • Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees (Kilimanjaro Rescue Team)
  • Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summiting aid)
  • Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only)
  • Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters and cook
  • Salaries for mountain crew as per guidelines set by Kilimanjaro National Park
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as hot drinks on the mountain
  • Camping equipment (tents, camp chairs and tables
  • Water for washing up daily
  • Porter to carry your duffel bag (max weight 15kg / 32 lbs) from one camp to the next camp.
  • Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt
  • A comprehensive Climbing Kilimanjaro travel info pack

Kilimanjaro price Excludes:

  • Flights and airport taxes
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Compulsory tips for guides, porters and cook (average tip is anything from US $ 330 to US $ 400 per hiker – depending on number of days / how many hikers in the group and route chosen)
  • South African passport holders do NOT require a visa for Tanzania, however most other Nationalities require a visa for Tanzania
  • Health requirements (Yellow Fever compulsory if traveling to Tanzania recommended)
  • Highly recommended travel and medical insurance.
  • Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store in Tanzania
  • Optional but highly recommended Portable toilet
  • Snacks, personal medicine and water purifying tablets

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