MOUNTAIN CLIMBING - Eight days
Mount Kilimanjaro climbing, trekking using the Machame Route
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Mount Kilimanjaro climbing, trekking using the Machame Route
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Safari Destinations
Machame route on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Machame route info, climbing and hiking guide, maps via the Machame, Shira, Barranco, Barafu Hut, Mweka campAttraction in this safari:At 19,336 feet, snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is Africa's highest peak. It is the world's tallest walkable mountain, and what a walk it is. You go through 5 different climatic zones to reach the summit.
Who can participate:
This 8 days Mount Kilimanjaro climbing, trekking using the Machame Route safari is for one and all as long as you are physically fit and have the spirit to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro.
Safari begins from Nairobi and ends in Nairobi
The Machame Route is a popular route up steep paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Icefields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. An extra day could be added to the itinerary, best spent on the Shira Plateau, where you could walk to the Shira Needles. Strong groups could omit camping at Karanga River. The Mweka Route is used for the descent.
Accommodation on the mountain is in tents which the porters will pitch for you. You will need a sleeping bag, warm clothes and walking poles. This is a steep, tough trek within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas.
Day 1: Nairobi - Arusha
Day 2: Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame camp (2980m) Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: About 18 km's
Habitat: Montane forest
Day 3: Machame camp (2980m) - Shira camp (3840m) Hiking time: 6 hours Distance: About 9 km's Habitat: Moorland
Day 4: Shira (3840m)-Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m) Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: About 15 km's Habitat: Semi desert
Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m)- Barafu camp (4550m) Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: About 13 km's Habitat: Alpine desert
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 Barafu Tent Camp.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 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT Barafu camp (4550m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak 7/8 hours to descend to Mweka Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent. Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Day 7: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m) Hiking time: 3 hours Distance: About 15 km's Habitat: Forest
Day 8: Departure
Tour/Safari Cost:
Cost will be provided on request and may go down depending on number of participants.
Machame route on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Machame route info, climbing and hiking guide, maps via the Machame, Shira, Barranco, Barafu Hut, Mweka campAttraction in this safari:At 19,336 feet, snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is Africa's highest peak. It is the world's tallest walkable mountain, and what a walk it is. You go through 5 different climatic zones to reach the summit.
Who can participate:
This 8 days Mount Kilimanjaro climbing, trekking using the Machame Route safari is for one and all as long as you are physically fit and have the spirit to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro.
Safari begins from Nairobi and ends in Nairobi
The Machame Route is a popular route up steep paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Icefields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. An extra day could be added to the itinerary, best spent on the Shira Plateau, where you could walk to the Shira Needles. Strong groups could omit camping at Karanga River. The Mweka Route is used for the descent.
Accommodation on the mountain is in tents which the porters will pitch for you. You will need a sleeping bag, warm clothes and walking poles. This is a steep, tough trek within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas.
Day 1: Nairobi - Arusha
- Leave Nairobi for Arusha by shuttle bus arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon spent at leisure and shopping for the provisions needed for the mountain.
- Dinner and overnight in an Arusha Hotel.
Day 2: Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame camp (2980m) Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: About 18 km's
Habitat: Montane forest
- After breakfast drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame village (1490m). Register at the park gate then start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience.
- You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon.
- Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erect your tent on your arrival.
- In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night.
- Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.
Day 3: Machame camp (2980m) - Shira camp (3840m) Hiking time: 6 hours Distance: About 9 km's Habitat: Moorland
- You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast you climb an hour 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. T
- he 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 4: Shira (3840m)-Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m) Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: About 15 km's 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). 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 acclimatisation 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. T
- he 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 5: Barranco camp (3950m)- Barafu camp (4550m) Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: About 13 km's Habitat: Alpine desert
- After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall, 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 Barafu Tent Camp.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 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT Barafu camp (4550m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak 7/8 hours to descend to Mweka Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent. 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 northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
- This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, 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 before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m).
- 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 7: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m) Hiking time: 3 hours Distance: About 15 km's Habitat: Forest
- Mweka Gate.After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely.
- At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register.
- This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates.
- Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
- From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch.
- You now drive back to Moshi for a long over due hot shower, dinner and celebrations!! Overnight in a hotel.
Day 8: Departure
- After breakfast, leave for Nairobi by morning or afternoon shuttle bus.
- Transfer to a Nairobi Hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight back home
Tour/Safari Cost:
Cost will be provided on request and may go down depending on number of participants.
Safari Cost will include
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Safari Cost will not include
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