The Machame route,which lies southern of the mountain is one of the most popular routes. It is also known as the Whiskey route,because of being tough climb with steeper trails and long distances.But it has best views when the sky is clear.It is one of the best routes to help a climber to acclimatize,allowing the climbers to walk high and sleep low.
Climbers sleep in tents and descend through Mweka gate.The Machame route climb can be done for 6 or 7 days.However,it is recommended to do 7 days for a better altitude acclimatization.The success rate is higher when using the 7 day route.
Climbers with average fitness and some hiking experience would prefer this route.But,most of first time trekkers who use this route always do well.
The trail starts on the southern of the mountain to the Shira plateau,then up to the famed Lover tower and later crossing the great Barranco wall and makes its summit approach from the Barafu base camp.
One of the biggest challenging in this route is the Barranco wall,a steep cliff face that can look quite scurry in first approach.To be honest,Barranco wall is not as difficult or as risk as it first appears to be,but you still need to watch your step and make good use of your hands while scrambling.It takes usually about an hour and a half or a bit more to reach the top of the wall,where you can have excellent views of Kibo and the background.
Some of the climbers,especially those who do not want to hike in the freezing cold night,and wanting to have enough time to rest and acclimatize at the base camp and having almost a full night sleep before summits attempt,would prefer this itinerary.Of course,day summiting has more summit success rate than night summiting.A climber can not be bothered with cold.Walking in day light provides also best views.The only disadvantage is to miss the sun-rise from the rim of the crater and walking sometimes in sunny day.
You need to have sun block,sunny hat, sun glasses and guggles with you in your day-sack,apart from light windy proof gloves,balaclava,valuables,rain gear,drinking water and snacks.Use your hiking poles for better balance.Your drinking water will not get frozen,so you will always be able to drink it.Your fingers will not going to freeze,so you will be able to use your poles properly.Your toes will not get frozen,so you will be able to walk more safe and comfortable.
TOTAL TREKKING DISTANCE 70.5 Kilometers
TOTAL TREKKING TIME 47 Hours
DIFFICULTY Moderate to difficult
SUMMIT SUCCESS RATE 92%
If you have chosen to take a flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport(JRO),you will be picked up by your host and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.
One day before your climb,your guide will meet you at your hotel,probably in the late afternoon,for a climb briefing and checking your gear,to ensure that you have all the necessary and proper climbing gear.Gear which is missing can be rented on the same day.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
FROM Machame gate(1,640m.)
TO Machame camp(2,835m.)
ALTITUDE GAIN 1,195m.
After breakfast,you will be picked up at around 07:30am.from your hotel and travel to the Machame entrance gate.Your passport number will required at the gate for registration.After completion of all the necessary paper-work,you will start your walk and hike through the jungle.You will receave your lunch box and you may have a short break on the way up to eat your lunch.Your destination for today is the Machame camp,and takes about 5-6 hours to reach here from the gate.After reaching the camp site,you will have time to relax,stretch your legs and enjoy a hearty meal,before snuggling into your tent for the night.
Dinner and overnight at Machame camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE 12km.
TREKKING TIME 5 – 6hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE Heather
FROM Machame camp(2,835m)
TO Shira cave camp(3,850m.)
ALTITUDE GAIN 1,015m.
Today`s early start is not due to a long stretch,but rather to allow you to reach Shira camp at around mid-afternoon.As you walk you will notice the dramatic change in the landscape –from lush and green rain forest to heather and moorland.Arriving at your campsite,a beautiful view of the mountain range opens up before you. in the late afternoon,you will have a short acclimatization walk and will have a good look of Shira features like Shira plateau,Shira ridge,Shira cathedral,Shira needle,Kibo and the forest down,if its clear.It is so amazing also to look at the cloudy ocean at the bottom.
Dinner and overnight at Shira cave camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE 5km.
TREKKING TIME 5-6hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE Moorland
FROM Shira cave camp(3,850m.)
TO Barranco camp(3,950m.) via Lava tower(4,640m.)
ALTITUDE GAIN 110m.
Acclimatization is on todays Menu,where you will climb roughly 700m.,but steep on a level not much higher than the previous night.Starting at Shira plateau,you will make your way up to Lava tower(4,600m.) where you will rest a while and have a hot lunch,before continuing through the Barranco valley to the beautiful Barranco camp.The trek will take approximately 6-7 hours,but the various distractions of the alpine desert as well as the Barranco valley with its small lobelia plants and giant senesios,will keep your mind off the stretch still ahead.
Dinner and overnight at Barranco camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE 12km.
TREKKING TIME 6-7hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE Moorland
FROM Barranco camp(3,950m.)
TO Karanga camp(4,035m.)
ALTITUDE GAIN 85m.
Today the Barranco wall stands before you to conquer.Some stages will require you to use your hands for a better grip,but no actual climbing is necessary and your guide will be with you every step of the way to lend a helping hand.The route with its numerous ascents and descents allow for further acclimatization,before reaching the mountain ridge.Walking along the ridge you can take in the beautiful landscape with its stunning contrasts of desert and vegetation,before finally reaching the Karanga camp.
You will have lunch at the camp,and in the afternoon your guide will lead you for short excursion.
Dinner and overnight at Karanga camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE 5km.
TREKKING TIME 4-5hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE Alpine desert
FROM Karanga camp(4,035m.)
TO Barafu base camp(4,681m.) - 6km./4hrs.
ALTITUDE GAIN 646m.
then,
FROM Barafu base camp(4,681m.)
TO Uhuru peak(5,895m.) - 6.5km./7hrs.
ALTITUDE GAIN 1,214m.
After breakfast,you will start your trek towards the base camp,where you will arrive in mid-afternoon for early lunch.After lunch,you will have a short acclimatization hike,which will help you to acclimatize better.In the late afternoon you will have tea in the mess tent in conjunction with summits briefing from your guide.Then,you will have time to prepare yourself for the summit.Dinner will be served at around 18:00.After dinner,you will have almost a full night sleep.You will be waken up at around 04:00 and will have only about 20 minutes for the last summits preparation.At about 04:20,there will be full breakfast awaits you in the mess tent.
You will start to walk at around 05:00.It takes about 6 hours to reach the crater rim,Stella point(5,752m.).The rest of the trail is gradual and less steep,all the way to the summit.It requires about one more hour to reach Uhuru peak,5,895m.,from Stella point.At the summit,you can spend more or less 15 minutes,according to the weather and your condition,to rest,enjoying great views and taking photos.
TREKKING DISTANCE 12.5km.
TREKKING TIME 11hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE Ice caped
FROM Uhuru peak(5,895m.)
TO Mweka High camp(3,850m.)
ALTITUDE LOSS 2,045m.
From the peak, you will start your way back,the same way to Stella point and descending a bit further and make a short lunch break,behind the rock-shelter.After lunch,you will proceed down to Barafu camp,where you will have a short rest,hot tea and finally packing your gear,ready to start your way down to the last camp.
Then you will be descending for about an hour and a half to Mweka high camp or Millenium camp.At the camp,you will have warm washing water and tea.
Dinner and overnight at Mweka high camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE 9.5km.
TREKKING TIME 4.5hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE Heather
FROM Mweka high camp(3,850m.)
TO Mweka gate(1,640m.)
ALTITUDE LOSS 2,210m.
A scrumptious breakfast is followed by a traditional farewell ceremony from your mountain crew,before you start your final stretch down the mountain.You will once more trek through the heather before entering the rain forest,giving you another opportunity to spot the cheeky colobus monkeys and probably blue monkeys,if you are lucky.Finally you will reach the Mweka gate.At the gate you will sign out and your guide will collect your summit`s certificate,hope you are going to make it!.After done,you will enter the vehicle and drive for a couple of minutes down and break for hot lunch,at the lunch centre.
After having lunch,you will travel back to Arusha,to your hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
TREKKING DISTANCE 14.5km.
TREKKING TIME 4.5hrs.
We hope that,your stay in Tanzania for your tour with us,in our hands will be safe and enjoyable,and your climb will be successful and a life time experience.
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