Machame route, also known as `Whisky` route due to its toughness and steepness, is the most popular route and nearly 50% of trekkers who climb Kilimanjaro use this route. The machame route, with its diverse landscape and fantastic views, offers a unique experience to test your will power, fitness, finesse and mental strength. It is also one of the cheaper routes due to its access and shorter itinerary. The route takes you through lush rain forest, where colobus monkeys room, and it takes you also in to heather and moorland, with its many ferns and ericas, then through the semi-desert area(alpine desert) until finally reaching the icy caps of the mountain top.
The Machame route is one of the best route to acclimatize and reputed to have a very high success rate. This beautiful route offers a longer period for acclimatization and takes different routes up and down the mountain so you don`t do any backtracking over the same terrain.
It is regarded as the most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro. It offers some of the most spectacular scenery and offers also great views of various landscapes such as mount Meru, Pare Mountains, Lake Chala and Lake Jipe while on the mountain. When you are on Shira plateau, you can get excellent views of Shira features like Shira plateau, Shira ridge, Shira cathedral, Shira cone and the Kibo peak. Its montane forest is among the attractions. It is a dense forest with lots of trees, wild flowers like gladiola, wild begonia and impenitent’s kilimanjarica (Elephant`s trunk flower).You might also see black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys.
The trek begins at Machame gate, located in the southern base of mountain to the tropical rain forest. The route then heads toward the Shira Plateau, before leading to the southern circuit around the mountain. The approach to the summit is made from the east and the descend is via Mweka route. This route joins with Lemosho and Umbwe routes on day three. Accommodation is at camping sites in tents.
The seven days-six nights Machame variation is the ideal schedule for this route. On day 4,the trek from Barranco camp to Barafu base camp is Brocken up in to two days, allowing for a short day just prior to Uhuru peak attempt. This is very important for the climbers, because the summit day start early around mid-night, so climbers are sleep deprived going into the toughest day on the mountain. By having a short day before hand, trekkers can be better rested.
The varying altitudes on this seven day tour offer a good environment for acclimatization, enhancing your chances of reaching the summit.
TOTAL TREKKING DISTANCE: 70.5 Kilometers
TOTAL TREKKING TIME: 47 Hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate to difficult
SUMMIT SUCCESS RATE: 88%
If you have chosen to take a flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, your host will be waiting for you outside customs area. He will then take you to your hotel in Arusha. A day before the climb, your guide will meet you at the hotel for a climb briefing and do an equipment check to make sure you have the entire necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on the same day.
Evening meals and overnight at the hotel.
FROM: Machame gate (1,640m.)
TO: Machame camp (2,835m.)
HIGHT GAIN: 1,195m.
Machame camp is the first camp in Machame route and located after the Machame gate and the camp before Shira cave camp.It is located beneath the south western side on the foot slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is situated close to the third vegetation zone in Kilimanjaro, heather and moorland zone. The camp is surrounded by erica arborea (heather) shrubs and from this camp you can get the first view of the Kibo peak.
The first day trekking begins at Machame gate. Typically you will drive from the town of Arusha to the Machame gate, which takes approximately one hour and a half. Your passport number will be required at the gate, for registration. You will receive your picnic lunch at the gate and after done with all the formalities at the gate, you will begin the ascent through the jungle that covers the South-West of the mountain.
The today`s trekking ends at Machame camp which sits near the border of the rainforest zone and the heather zone. By the time you arrive your porters will have already setup your camp and tents.
Evening meals and overnight at Machame camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 12km.
TREKKING TIME: 5-6hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE: Heather
FROM: Machame camp (2,835m.)
TO: Shira caves camp (3,850m.)
HEIGHT GAIN: 1,015m.
Shira cave camp is next to Machame camp and Machame climbers use this camp in day two for over-nighting. It is located in the Moorland zone. The cave is still there and was used by porters in old days for over-knighting. During that time, it was allowed to use fire woods for camping fire, so they were making a fire outside the cave for cooking and warm-up the cave when they sleep inside.
After breakfast you will pack your gear and prepare yourself for the trek to Shira camp. The trek is relatively steep as you enter the moorland zone, which is characterized by heather and grasslands. Shira camp sits on a plateau which provides you with the views of Kibo in the north-west and mount Meru in the east.
You will probably arrive to the camp in the mid-afternoon for lunch.In the late afternoon you will optionally go for a short excursion, if the weather permits.
Evening meals 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.)
HEIGHT GAIN: 100m.
Barranco camp, which is located at the base of the great Barranco wall, south of the Kibo volcanic cone,is an accommodation campsite used by climbers from Lemosho, Machame and Umbwe routes for spending the night(camping). This campsite is located right at the edge of the moorland zone, close to the beginning of the alpine desert.
Acclimatization is on today`s menu, where you will climb roughly 700m. but sleep, on a level not much higher than the previous night. Starting at Shira plateau, you will make your way up to Lava tower (4,640m.) where you will have a short lunch break, before continuing through the Barranco valley to the beautiful Barranco camp. It takes about 4-5 hours to Lava tower and about 2-3 more hours to Barranco. Today you will join with the trail from the Lemosho route on the way. At the camp, you will be welcomed with warm washing water and hot tea.
Evening meals 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.)
HEIGHT GAIN: 85m.
The Karanga camp is the fifth camp of the Machame route and the sixth camp of the Lemosho route.It is very large and sprawled in an elongated shape. Is the last camp up before arriving to Barafu base camp. Some groups use this camp for lunch and others overnight here, so it is not overly crowded here.
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. Keep your poles in your day-sack.
The route with its numerous ascents and descends 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. Your trek will take about 4 hours, leaving more than enough time to rest and play a game of rummy.
Lunch will be served at Karanga camp and in the afternoon you will be led by your guide for a short acclimatization walk, if the weather permits.
Evening meals and overnight at Karanga camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 5km.
TREKKING TIME: 4-5hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE: Moorland
FROM: Karanga camp (4,035m.)
TO: Barafu base camp (4,681m.) - 6km / 4hrs
HEIGHT GAIN: 675m.
Then,
FROM: Barafu base camp (4,681m.)
TO: Uhuru peak (5,895m.) - 6.5km/7hrs
HEIGHT GAIN: 1,214m.
Barafu base camp is the camp on Kilimanjaro, which is used as last camp before the summit ascent, before climbers attempt the final summit push on the southern Circuit routes, including the Machame, Umbwe and Lemosho routes. It is also the first camp that all climbers (except those on the Rongai and Marangu routes) will pass on their descent from the summit. Barafu,meaning ``ice`` is now no longer covered in permanent snow, but it is cold and rocky and exposed. People can definitely feel the altitude here, and you can expect snow and sometimes high wind.
Awakening at around 06:00 with a hot coffee/tea, you will then enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting out to today`s destination – Barafu camp. Most of the walking will be through very dry desertic terrain, with Kibo ever present on your left side.
Hot lunch will be waiting for you at the base camp, and you will spend the rest of the day-time for relaxing and for doing some summit`s preparation. Today you will have early dinner and overnight as the highlight of your trip is only a few short hours away.
You will be woken up later probably one hour before the mid-night, and you will have just couple of minutes to finishing up with the last summit`s preparation. Then you will have a light breakfast, before you start the Summit`s attempt at around mid-night.It takes about six hours to the crater-rim, Stella point. About one hour before reaching Stella point, is very steep through zig-zag trails with sand and loose scree. From Stella point, the rest of the trail to the Summit is much flatter and less steep. It takes about one more hour from Stella point to Uhuru peak. At the top, you may spend more or less 15 minutes, depending on the weather and your condition, for taking a rest, taking pictures and enjoying great views.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 12.5km.
TREKKING TIME: 11hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE: Ice caped
FROM: Uhuru peak(5,895m.)
TO: Mweka camp(3,100m.)
HEIGHT LOSS: 2,795m.
Descending back to Barafu camp from Uhuru peak, require about three more hours. At Barafu camp, there will be some time for you to rest and having lunch. Then you will pack your gear,ready for another push to Mweka camp. Our destination today is Mweka camp, but if your body will not allow you, you can spend a night to a nearby camp, Mweka high camp(3,850m.).So, before leaving Barafu camp, please discuss with your guide about where you would prefer to camp, at Mweka high camp or at Mweka camp. But attention: Mweka high camp is still very high!
At the camp, there will be warm washing water for you and hot tea as well.
Evening meals and overnight at Mweka camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 14km.
TREKKING TIME: 6hrs.
VEGETATION ZONE: Heather
From: Mweka camp (3,100m)
To: Mweka gate (1,640m)
Height Loss: 1,460m
Today is the last day of your climb. After done with breakfast and packing, you can meet with your crew and sing together some old Kilimanjaro songs and probably taking a group photo. Then, you will start walking down through the tropical rain forest towards the gate. The trek is good one with some numerous steps. On the way, you will be able to sport some monkeys like blue monkeys or black and white colobus monkey, if you are lucky.
You will enjoy also the quietness of the forest and see some trees, ferns and beautiful flowers like impetiens kilimanjarica (elephant trunk flower),white begonias, blood-lili flower, gladiolas and many more.
At the gate you will sign out and your summit`s certificate will be collected by your guide, hope you are going to make it! You will then get in the vehicle and drive for few minutes and take a short lunch break. After lunch, you have about two hours driving to Arusha, back to your hotel.
Evening meals and overnight at the hotel.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 10km.
TREKKING TIME: 3hrs.
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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