Duration: 7 Days
Route: Machame
Day 1
Elevation (m): 1800m to 3000m
Distance: 11km
Time: 5-7hours
Habitat: Montane Forest.
MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP
We pick you up from the Hotel and drive to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. Once there, we sign in and get permits at the Park office then start the climb. Today we walk through rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge to Machame Camp where we will camp overnight. You will stop for your hot lunch along the way.
Day 2
Elevation (m): 3000m to 3850m
Distance: 9km
Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland.
MACHAME CAMP TO SHIRA CAMP
We continue our trek, crossing a small valley and up to a steep rocky ridge, covered with heath. Our route now turns west onto a river gorge. We will overnight at the Shira campsite.
Day 3
Elevation (m): 3850m to 4600m to 3950m
Distance: 12 km
Time: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Semidesert.
SHIRA CAMP VIA LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO CAMP
This is a very important day for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day. We will ascend to Lava Tower at 4600m and take our hot lunch there to acclimatize. Following this we descend to spend the night at Barranco campsite.
Day 4
Elevation (m): 3950m to 4050m
Distance: 13km
Time: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP
We start this day with a short scramble to the top of the Great Barranco Wall. Most people actually find this scramble quite fun. We then cross over scree ridges to the Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. We will stay overnight at Karanga campsite.
Day 5
Elevation (m): 4050m to 4600m
Distance: 6kms
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
From here we connect with the Mweka descent Trail and continue up to the Barafu Hut (summit base camp). You have now completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.
Day 6
Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m)
Distance: 7km ascent / 23km descent
Time: 6- 8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent
Habitat: Stone screed and ice-capped summit.
BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO MWEKA HUT
At midnight we start our trek to the summit through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek. We take a zig-zag path in order to ease the degree of the slope and to ensure our feet don’t slide backward on the scree. At Stella Point (5780m), we will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). From Stella Point there is a final 30 – 45 minute walk to Uhuru Peak (5895m) which is easier than the trek up to Stella Point. Along this last walk you will see spectacular glaciers and the view can be
Something you will always remember.
At Uhuru Peak you will have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day.
After taking photos from the summit, we start our descent down to the Mweka Hut camp site, via Barafu for lunch. Trekking poles will be needed for the loose gravel going down to Mweka Camp (3000m). Later in the evening, we will enjoy our last dinner and sleep on the mountain.
Day 7
Elevation (m): 3100m to 1800m
Distance: 8 km
Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest.
LAST DAY – MWEKA CAMP TO HOTEL
We descend down to the Mweka Park Gate as our final park exit point. Once we leave the park we will stop for lunch at moshi town and you will receive your summit certificates.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE?
All of the following are included in your package:
Staff:
- Your lead guide, assistant guide/s, cook and porters.
- Fair staff wages for all guides, cook and porters.
- Meals while in mountain. Our staff are fed 3 hot meals a day while on the mountain. Only 10% of companies provide this level of food for their staff.
Park Fees:
- All Park, Camping & Rescue Fees including the 18% VAT government tax that started 1st July 2016.
Meals:
- All meals including hot Breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner, beverages (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) and afternoon tea for climbers. Our meals are all served at table with chairs – no sitting on a rock eating.
- 3 litres of treated and filtered drinking water every day, more if you would like.
Camping Equipment:
- Private toilet tent – no smelly communal toilets for you.
- Large mess tent for meals.
- 3-man size sleeping tents for 2 persons.
- Table, chairs for meals and to relax.
- Comfortable 4 inch Sleeping mattress.
Safety Equipment:
- Emergency oxygen.
- First Aid Kit.
- Pulse Oximeter to check oxygen level while trekking.
Transport:
- Transport to the Park gate & return to your hotel in Arusha.
Airport Transfers:
- Transfers from Kilimanjaro Airport/Arusha airport to your hotel and return. If you are in group all members should arrive in the same time.
Accomodation in Arusha:
- Two nights shared accommodation in Arusha – 1 night before your climb starts and another night after your climb, in a Standard Hotel, which is a bed and breakfast.
WHAT NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE?
These are the items we do not include and that you will need to cover for your trek:
- Tips: Gratuities in Tanzania tourism industry follow the American system. Tourists are expected to tip their climb and safari staff, together with staff working in most hotels and restaurants.
- Tipping Guidelines: For the CLIMB you should consider tipping at minimum US $300 per climber. If you enjoy your experience give a generous tip, if you do not enjoy your experience adjust the tip accordingly.
- Personal climbing equipment including clothing and sleeping bag.
- Flights, Travel Insurance and Visa.
The Price for 7 Days Machame Route is US $ 2,625 per person I a group of two clients. The price may decrease depending on numbers of clients, excludes some of services included in the package and for clients with Tanzania’s working permit. Find what included and excluded in our package