Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro - Machame route

Climb the roof of Africa! Mount Kilimanjaro, situated in the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest freestanding mountain on Earth. Climbed by around 25000 people per year it is one of the worlds most accessible high summits.  Kilimanjaro contains an example of virtually every ecosystem on earth - glacier, snowfields, deserts, alpine moorland, savannah, and tropical jungle, all of which found on the mountain. The Machame Route, also called the Whiskey Route, is definitely the most popular among climbers who want to take their time, and enjoy sleeping outdoors and watching the sunrise and set over the Great Rift Valley.

Important! We offer 2 options of climbig the roof of Africa: Marangu and Machame route. Machame route is more difficult but better in terms of acclimatization, landscape variety and views. It ascends on the Machame route and descends on Mweka route offering different areas and views every day of the hike. Machame is suited for more adventurous people and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.

Highlights:
♦ Tanzania, famous for its wildlife
♦ The Kilimanjaro National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site
♦ The scenic Machame Route

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Machame route itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival
Pick up at the airport, transfer to SG premium resort for overnight stay. B/-/-
Distance 55km, Duration 1 hour

Day 2: Machame gate to Machame hut
Early pick-up at your hotel and a 1h30mins. drive to Machame gate (5,400’) where trekking formalities take about 30 minutes. From the gate, we begin our trek following an easy track for the first hour through the dense forest. The path continues to follow the ridge, rising steadily with several steep sections. The gradient eases slightly as the forest merges into heather covered ground we will reach Machame Hut in 10 km (6.2 miles) after a 1,200-meter (3,936’) ascent and 5-7 hours of walking. B/L/D
Hike time: 7.5 hrs, Elevation change: +1200 m
Estimated distance: 10km, Final elevation: 3100 m

Day 3: Machame hut to Shira hut
From the Machame Hut we cross the stream onto its west bank and follow the path up the steep rocky ridge crises-crossing a few times before reaching Shira Hut at the base of a semi-circular wall of rocks. We will have ascended 900 meters (3,000’) in 5-7 hours and about 6 km (3.72 miles) of walking. B/L/D
Hike time: 7 hrs, Elevation change: +800 m
Estimated distance: 6km, Final elevation: 3800 m

Day 4: Shira hut to Barranco hut
From Shira Hut hike to Lava Tower (15,000’) and then proceed to Barranco via the Great Barranco Wall. This route offers panoramic views of Kibo through Karanga Valley as we hike high and sleep low, dropping back down to Barranco after lunch. Today’s hike will take most of the day Barranco campsite located on elevation of 3950 m. B/L/D
Hike time: 5 hrs, Elevation change: +100 m
Estimated distance: ?, Final elevation: 3900 m

Day 5: Barranco hut to Karanga valley
From Barranco Hut we climb up through the edge of great Barranco 95 percentage of that day walking will be on elevation of 4250m. We will break our day at Karanga valley campsite at elevation of 4,000m walking time is 4 to 5 hrs on this day. B/L/D
Hike time: 3.5 hrs, Elevation change: +100 m
Estimated distance: 4km, Maximum elevation: 4590 m
Final elevation: 4000 m

Day 6: Karanga valley to Barafu hut
Today involves gaining a little more elevation, acclimatizing and resting for the summit attempt the next morning. This day will take us 4 to 6 hrs of walking. B/L/D
Hike time: 3.5 hrs, Elevation change: +600 m
Estimated distance: 4km, Final elevation: 4600 m

Day 7: High camp to the summit and then Rau camp
We will start trekking early before sunrise (1-2 am) as the walk today will take 10-14 + hours.We will avoid the mist that sets in later in the day; the scree and snow will still be safely frozen. The 1,100-meter (3,600’) ascent in just over 3 km (1.86 miles) will take us about 6-8 hours. After a brief stay at the summit of the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak, at over 5,898 meters (19,340′), we descend via the Barafu Route roughly 2,500 meters (8,200’) in 12 km (7.44 miles) in about 4-7 hours to Mweka Camp. B/L/D
SUMMIT DAY! Summit time: 7 hrs, Elevation change: +1300 m
Estimated distance: 5km, Final elevation: 5895 m
Descent time: 5 hrs, Elevation change: -2800 m
Estimated distance: 12 km, Final elevation: 3100 m

Day 8: Mweka hut to Mweka gate
Today we descend about 1400 meters (4,592’) through the forest on a jungle path for about 10 km (6.2 miles) in 3-4 hours to reach Mweka Gate. Our driver will transfer you back to Arusha city for long overdue shower and dinner. Stay overnight at SG Premium resort. B/-/-
Descent time: 4 hrs, Elevation change: -1250 m
Estimated distance: 10km, Final elevation: 1828 m

Good to know:

Guides: the guides used are highly trained and qualified, registered with the Kilimanjaro National Parks Board. One chief guide and one assistant guide will be provided to every 2 climbers. In case one of the climbers get sick or unable to continue an assistant guide will help him/her to descent to the lower altitude or even back to the hotel

Terrain and route: with its three volcanic cones, Kilimanjaro is an inactive stratovolcano. The Machame route starts with walking on steep paths through magnificent forests to reach a ridge leading through higher than the tree limit zones to the Shira Plateau. Then the route traverses under the glaciated precipices to the south face of Kibo volcanic cone. The final ascent is made very early in the morning from the Barafu Camp. For the descent we will use the Mweka Route, which is quicker and offers different landscapes.

Luggage transportation: your luggage will be placed in our specially designed waterproof bags carried by your porters, giving it that extra protection if it is wet on the mountain.

Electricity: there is no electricity at the camps inside the parks, but we recommend climbers to bring their batterychargers they can plug in the car; or theirdriver will take them to a nearest lodge to charge batteries.

We reccommend trip in the period: January- March and June- September

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Price Includes:
1 guide and his assistant
3 porters per each climber
1 cook
portable chemical toilet; mountain table and stools; mattresses; dinning mess tent
all ground transfer specified to this itinerary
meals according the description (B-breakfast: L-lunch: D-dinner)
2 nights hotel stay
before and after the tour
return airport transfers
supplementary Oxygen cylinders.

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Not Included:
international flights and taxes
visas
travel insurance
hotel accommodation before/ after the tour
meals and drinks not mentioned
sleeping bags and climbing gears
tips and personal expenses

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Additional Services:
additional overnights on request
equipment rental available on the spot
airport transfers
extra day on the mountain

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Gallery

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