7 Days Machame Route Mt. Kilimanjaro Hiking

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Machame route is the 2nd most popular option and probably the most scenic route towards Kilimanjaro. Located on the southern slope of Mt Kilimanjaro, Machame Gate (starting point) will lead you to the top of Kilimanjaro through a tropical forest on lower slopes all the way up to an arctic desert. Trekkers who take the Machame Route pass several well-known Mount Kilimanjaro landmarks while en-route, including the famed Lava Tower and Shira Plateau. Machame route is particularly varied in landscape and offers great views of Mount Meru and the Kibo. It is for that reason that Machame route is widely considered to be the most scenic of all of the routes, providing unique and varied landscapes to pass through on each and every day. The trail starts on the south side of the mountain, passes underneath the Southern Ice Field and makes its summit approach from the Barafu Camp. Because of its acclimatization profile, the Machame route is the perfect option for individuals with only six days to climb Kilimanjaro. In comparison to other six-day routes, the Machame route exposes the climber to greater heights sooner (on day three), kick-starting the body’s adaptation to altitude. However, in order to confront the difficult elevation increases and declines, this route require that a person be in good form. Before and after the hike you will stay in a good hotel with caring staff, hot water, reliable Wi-Fi, restaurant and other soothing amenities.

Itinerary

DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP (2980M) - SHIRA CAMP (3840M)

Distance:3km/3 miles Walking Time: 4-5 hours Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner On day two after early breakfast, our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau. We will trek slowly through short savannah, soaking in the scenery as we make our way through the moorlands for approximately 4 to 5hrs, with picnic lunch en-route before arriving in the afternoon at the Shira Hut camp. The camp sits on a plateau which provides you with the first views of Kibo in the North-West and Mount Meru in the East. Dinner will be served early/late evening depending on your preferences

DAY 3: SHIRA CAVE CAMP (3840M) - LAVA TOWER (4630M) - BARRANCO CAMP (3950)

Distance:8km / 6.7 miles Walking Time: 6-8 hours Zone: High Alpine zone/ Low Alpine Zone Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Today is a long day but lots of acclimatization as you climb high, sleep low. We continue to them east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower. We will take an acclimatization hike to Lava Tower (a 300ft tall volcanic rock formation) for lunch, before descending to the Barranco valley. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to and altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

DAY 0: ARRIVAL & PRE-CLIMB BRIEFING

Transport: Private Car/Van (1.2hours) Accommodation: 4 Star Hotel Meals: Dinner If you have opted for the optional airport transfers, our company representative will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport upon landing and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. Depending on your schedule, you will meet your African Delight Safaris Mountain guide for your climb on the same day or early the next morning. The guide will provide a pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel and will also review your equipment and assist you in renting any missing equipment which is needed.

DAY 1: MACHAME GATE (1800M) - MACHAME CAMP (3000M)

Distance: 11km/7 miles Walking Time: 5-7 hours Zone: Rainforest Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner The first day trekking begins with meeting the head tour guide and he will brief you about the day’s schedule. An hour’s drive from Moshi will get you to Machame gate. You will be introduced to the rest of your trekking crew of assistant guides, porters and cooks. After the climbers and crew have checked in with the park rangers, we will hike up through the montane forests. This forest path is muddy and overgrown in places and so trekking poles are useful here. After a4 to 5hr. hike you'll arrive at the Machame Camp and a picnic lunch will be served. Later in the afternoon a small walk to a bit higher altitude is done for acclimatization and after returning to camp in the evening, a hot meal awaits you

DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP (3950M) - KARANGA CAMP (3963M) ACCLIMATIZATION DAY

• Distance: 5km / 3 miles • Walking Time: 4-5 hours • Zone: Alpine Desert • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner At day 4 you’ll continue to acclimatize and let your body adjust to these higher altitudes, in preparation for your upcoming summit push. We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft. cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga valley (4095m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. One steeper climb up leads us to Karanga Camp (3963m). If you still have enough energy, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization. We will stay overnight at Karanga campsite.

DAY 5: KARANGA CAMP (3963M) - BARAFU CAMP (4600M)

• Distance: 4km / 2 miles • Walking Time: 4-5 hours • Zone: Alpine Desert • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner On day 5 we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early supper to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position. At about 1 hour past midnight, we start tomorrow’s summit ascent.

DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP (4600M) - UHURU PEAK (5895M) - MWEKA CAMP (3100M)

• Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent • Walking Time: 6-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent • Zone: Arctic • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Day six is summit night (and day)! We start off around after midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You will enjoy a light breakfast before starting final your final ascent to the summit in darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Stella Point reached in approximately 5 to 6hrs and a further ascent to the Uhuru Peak reached in about another 45 minutes. We will gain incredible height over a short distance. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. Near Stella Point (5750ft) you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

DAY 7: – MWEKA CAMP (3100M) - MWEKA GATE (1980M) - TRANSFER TO THE HOTEL

• Distance: 10 km/6 miles • Walking Time: 3-4 hours • Zone: Rain Forest • Meals: Breakfast • Accommodation: 4 Star Hotel This is your last day upon Mt. Kilimanjaro. After breakfast we continue with a gentle trek that takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. It can be wet and muddy so trekking poles will help. Also shorts and t-shirts will be suitable. Upon reaching Mweka Gate, your tour guide will complete park formalities and you'll receive certificates. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village where you can say goodbye & thank your team of guides, cooks & porters for a successful trek. A private vehicle from African Delight Safaris will be waiting for you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 1hour).

Inclusion

· Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.

2 nights of accommodation in Moshi before & after hike with FULL BOARD (FB) meal plan
Luggage Storage while on Trek
All Park Entry, Camping and Rescue Fees
English speaking guide (certified as a Wilderness First Responder & Emergency Medicine Adult and Child CPR)
Trekking crew i.e., Porters and Cooks, plus equipment and tents for them
Pre-climb briefing and equipment check with the guide in Moshi along with Daily briefing on the mountain all the way up to the summit
1 Emergency oxygen cylinder per group and First Aid & Injury prevention kits
All meals on the mountain and eating utensils and cutlery. Vegetarian options are available upon request
Boiled/Purified drinking water throughout the trek
Twice daily health checks with guides and a high-grade medical oximeter
All camping equipment including 4 seasons mountain tents with mattresses

Please note: By default, you will share a room and a tent with your trip buddy. If you travel alone on a group adventure, we will pair you with another person of the same gender. A single tent is available upon request.

Mt. Kilimanjaro Summit Certificate stamped and signed by the National Park and your Guide
All Taxes & VAT applicable

Exclusions

· Comfort upgrades such as a portable toilet, foldable bed, larger tent, upgraded menu, etc.

· Personal mountain equipment such as sleeping bags, walking poles, duffel bags etc.

· Additional oxygen cylinders

· Tips (Gratuity) to guide and porters

· International travel insurance, visas, and vaccinations.

· Personal mountain equipment such as sleeping bags, walking poles, hiking boots etc.

· Personal Expenses (telephone, beverages, etc.)

· Mountaineering insurance. You'll need special insurance for climbing Kilimanjaro that covers high-altitude trekking.

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African Delight Safaris

Touch of the Exotic

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Expedition Information

$1,735

Kilimanjaro

Climbing,

Trekking,

Mountaineering

Fitness Level

Technical Level

Group Size

1-15

African Delight Safaris

Touch of the Exotic

Continent:

Africa

Country:

Tanzania

Location:

Kilimanjaro

Elevation:

5,895 m / 19,340 ft

GPS:

-3.06743 N°, 37.3556 E°