Mount Kilimanjaro The Machame Route TTSL 039

Altitude: 1,800 m - 3,100 m Hiking distance: 11 km Hiking time: 6 hours Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45- minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Park Gate. You will receive a lunch pack at the gate. There is a possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. 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 Machame camp.

Altitude: 3,100 m – 3,780 m Hiking distance: 5 km Hiking time: 4–5 hours You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast, you climb an hour or so 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 camp at 3,780m. The 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.

Altitude: 3,780 m – 3,950 m Hiking distance: 11 km Hiking time: 7–8 hours The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). After lunch, you will descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization 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. The 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 and overnight at Barranco Camp.

Altitude: 3,950 m – 4,010 m Hiking distance: 5 km Hiking time: 5 hours After breakfast we leave Barranco camp, hiking up Barranco Wall which takes about an hour. Continue to Karanga Camp with numerous ascents and descents. Enjoy an afternoon acclimatization hike.

Altitude: 4,010 m – 4,650 m Hiking distance: 5 km Hiking time: 5 hours Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the 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 for not more than 5-hours.

Altitude: 4,650 m – 5, 895 m – 3,100 m Hiking distance: 6 km Hiking time 6-7 hours, Sumit to Mweka 16 km Hiking time 6 hours 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 (5775m) 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 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 Camp for dinner and overnight.

Altitude: 3,100 m – 1,800 m Hiking distance: 10 km Hiking time: 4-5 hours After Breakfast, From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy and long hour walk. In the Mweka village drive to Moshi for Overnight.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home. END OF SERVICES.