6 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE

Day 01 : Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame Camp (3000m)

Distance: 11km

Environment: Montane forest

Time: 5 to 6 hours

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Moshi (900m) and driven to Machame gate. After completing your registration and formalities with the park authority, you enter the rainforest zone immediately and start your Kilimanjaro ascent. Rain at this zone is a strong possibility which leaves the trail muddy, soggy, and slippery. About midway, you’ll be served with a welcome lunch and reach Machame camping area in the late afternoon.

The porters and assistants will arrive at the campsite much before you and have erected the tents by you arrive. Water for washing and drinking will be prepared in the evening. Later in the evening lunch will be served before you retire to your tent for overnight. Night temperature at teh campsite will drop below freezing point!.

Day 02 : Machame camp (3000m) – Shira camp (3840m)

Distance: 11km

Environment: Montane forest

Time: 5 to 6 hours

You’ll rise in twilight and prepare yourself for the hike to come. After breakfast, you’ll start climbing for an hour or so to the top of the forest and then two hours on a gentler slope in moorland zone. After having lunch and a short rest, you’ll continue up to Shira Plateau through a rocky ridge. You’ll be able to see the Western Breach and its stunning glaciers as you head in an easterly direction. You’re now standing on the west of Kibo and will reach Shira campsite located at 3840 meters shortly. Boiling water and dinner will be prepared by chefs at the campsite. During night hours, the temperature drops below freezing point and hence is colder than previous night.

Day 03 : Shira (3840m) - Lava Tower (4630m) - Barranco camp (3950m)

Distance: 12km

Environment: Semi- Desert

Time: 6 to 8 hours

The route then takes a east turn and enters a semi-desert and rocky environment which surrounds the Lava Tower at an altitude of 4630 meters. Walking for approximately 5 hours will get you there. Lunch will be served at a particular designated picnic spot before you ascend the rocky scree path to Lava Tower at 4630 meters. This is by far the toughest day on the mountain and it around this point where some climbers report experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness like irritability, headaches, and breathlessness. After having your lunch, you descend 680 meters to the Barranco camping area and then to ascend to Lava Tower at 4630 meters where you’ll evidently see the benefits of acclimatization. The descend to Barranco Camp will take about 2 hours and offer excellent photography opportunities of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is located just below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall inside the valley, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner.

Day 04 : Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu camp (4550m)

Distance: 13km

Environment: Alpine desert

Time: 6 to 8 hours

On this day, after spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall which offers imposing sights, you’ll hike past this obstacle-looking structure which turns out to be an easy task to accomplish than what you might have previously thought. Just below the Heim Glacier you admire the gorgeous landscape of Mount Kilimanjaro. The route than take its turn through the Karanga Valley intercepting ridges and valleys along the way. It then finally joins in with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route for most tourists down from the summit, so bear it in mind. From the ridge, you’ll take a left turn and trek for another hour or so before reaching Barafu Hut.

Karanga Valley will be the last water stop on the route as there is no water available after the Barafu Camp. Barafu is Swahili means ice and the camping area itself is bleak and inhospitable for trekkers to spend night in. The campsite is exposed to ever-present gales and is surrounded by narrow, stony, and dangerous-looking ridge. So be sure to familiarize yourself with the structure of the terrain before dark to avoid any kind of mishaps. You’ll have to make the ascend to the top the same night as it is 1345 meters away. Keep your equipment prepared along with ski stick and thermal clothing for your attempt to the summit. This may, and should, include replacement of your headlamp, camera batteries, and spare sets. Use a thermal flask to prevent water from freezing. Go to bed early at about 1900 hours and get some precious sleep and rest.

Day 05 : (Summit attempt) Barafu camp (4550m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)

Distance: 20km

Environment: Alpine desert /stone scree/ice-capped summit/Montane forest

Time: 14 to 16 hours

You’ll be waking at 2330 hours and after having some tea and cookies, shuffle off into the night. You’ll follow a north-westerly direction and ascend through a heavily screed trail to Stella Point which is located on the crater rim. Many climbers report that this 6-hours walk time to Stella is both mentally and physically demanding. After reaching at Stella Point, you’ll be stopping to witness the most charming sunrise you’re ever going to see and at the same time, take some rest. From Stella Point, you’re going to encounter snow all the way to the Uhuru Peak which is going to be a 2-hour hike. How much time you’ll get to spend at the summit depends on the weather conditions. But it is advised to not stay for too long as it may make it harder to start again due to cold and fatigue after you’ve settled in. But you should enjoy the achievement to the fullest which will you’ll remember for the rest of your life. You’ll descend down to Barafu which will take about 3 hours. You’ll collect the rest of your gear that you’ve left behind and have an optional rest and snacking. The route from here onwards is not difficult and takes you down the moorland and eventually to forest zone. The camp is located at the fringes of the upper forest and slight rain or mist are expected in the late afternoon hours. Both dinner and washing water will be prepared by porters on site.

Day 06 : Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)

Distance: 8km

Environment: Montane forest

Time: 3 to 4 hours

After having your breakfast, you can indulge in an act of celebration involving dancing and singing. You can present your tips or gifts to the guide, assistant guides, porters, and chefs individually or hand it to their chief. Leaving them behind, you can descend back to Mweka Gate by hiking for three hours with your guide. It is required by the national park to sign individually on required documents to receive certificate of completion. Hikers who make it to Stella Point at 5685 meters are given green certificates, whereas hikers reaching the Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters are presented with a gold certificate.