Climb Kilimanjaro Machame Route

Introduction

This is a beautiful route following the Machame and Barranco Valleys before making a direct ascent to the Kibo Summit. Only 5 nights on the mountain makes acclimatization more difficult, it helps to have spent two nights at our 6,000 ft private camp on Mt Meru. This route traverses under the massive southern glaciers of the mountain offering stunning views of the Southern Ice Fields. The final ascent is up and down the same trail so it has the great advantage of allowing everyone to climb as high as they can before descending with a guide.  We will do Pre- Trip briefing and equipment check a day before, our guide will meet you anywhere within an hour of Arusha/Moshi for the briefing and equipment check. He will arrange with you the departure time.

“Kilimanjaro is a snow-covered mountain 19,710 feet high, and is said to be the highest mountain in Africa. Its western summit is called the Masai ‘Ngaje Ngai’, the House of God. Close to the western summit there is a dried and frozen carcas of a leopard. No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude.”

-Hemingway Ernest,The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories-

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Machame Gate (1634 m/5,363 ft) to Machame camp. (2834 m/9,300 ft)

After completing the necessary registration formalities at Londorossi National Park gate, we drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. The last section of the road is of poor quality and difficult to drive after rain, and the drive there should be considered as part of the adventure, sometimes we start walking a kilometer or two below the road head. We often have our lunch at the road head before starting to walk. It is easy of walking up a small path through beautiful and lush forest. We camp at Lemosho Big Tree Camp (2,650 m); [2-3 hours walking]

Remember you are on holidays, enjoy yourself!

Day 2: Machame camp (2834 m/9,300 ft) to Shira camp (3749 m/12,300 ft)

From the Machame Hut, you cross the stream onto its west bank and follow the path up the steep rocky ridge – zigzag-crossing a few times before reaching Shira camp, at the base of a semi-circular wall of rocks. Dinner and overnight at Shira camp.

“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.”

-Barry Finlay, Kilimanjaro, and Beyond-

Day 3: Shira camp (3749 m/12,300 ft) to Barranco camp (3901 m/12,800 ft)

From Shira camp, you hike to Lava Tower (15,000’) to acclimatize and then proceed down to Barranco Camp via the Great Barranco Wall. Tonight’s camp is one of the best on the mountain. Dinner and overnight at Barranco camp.

“Kilimanjaro is a pretty tricky climb you know, most of it’s up until you reach the very very top, and then it tends to slope away rather sharply.”

Day 4: Barranco camp (3900 m/12,800 ft) to Karanga Valley (3963 m/13,000 ft)

From Barranco camp, you climb up through the edge of great Barranco Wall. It’s a tough morning climb on a steep trail, but once you reach the top, the views are very rewarding. Dinner and overnight at Karanga camp.

Kilimanjaro lies just 205 miles from the equator

Day 5: Karanga Valley (3963 m/13,000 ft) to Barafu camp (4,600 m/15,091 ft)

Today is a shorter climb than the past few days, hiking up to the final camp before your last ascent day to the summit. You must get lots of rest as you will need all your energy for the climb to the roof of Africa. Dinner and overnight at Barafu camp.

The oldest person to successfully climb Kilimanjaro is 88-year-old Dr. Fred Distelhorst, a retired American orthodontist who broke the world record in 2017

Day 6: Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,091 ft), Summit            (5896m/19,343 ft), Mweka Camp (3100 m/10,170 ft)

You will start trekking early just after midnight, as the walk, today will take 10 – 14 + hours. The 1,100-meter (3,600’) ascent in just over 3 km (1.86 miles) will take us about 6-8 hours, as you try to reach the summit to watch the sunrise over the Great Rift Valley. After watching the sunrise and taking enough pictures, you then start descending down the mountain to below the tree line. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.

Last Eruption? 360,000 years ago

Price in US$ per person:

Price includes:

• Transfers from the hotel at Moshi to the Climbing route Gate
• Climbing and camping fees
• Rescue fee
• Porters (3porters per person), cooker and guide/s
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) while climbing.
• Accommodations on the Mountain
• Transfers to and from the airport
• Sleeping Gears

Price does not include:

• Accommodation before and after the climb
• Items of personal nature, laundry, tips, and gratuities,
• Travel insurance.
• Climbing Gears
• Tips and Gratuities