Kilimanjaro Trek Machame Route
Days: Six /seven
Overview
The Machame route is our most successful and popular hiking route on Mt. Kilimanjaro, mainly as a result Of the following two important factors: On day 3 of the hike the topography of this route, allow you to climb high and sleep low – when you start from Shira 2 camp (3850m) hike up to Lava Tower (4642m) and then down to Barranco camp (3984m) to overnight. The summit attempt path from Barafu camp has less loose scree (rocks) compared to the summit attempt path from Kibo Hut, making it slightly easier to reach the crater rim. The Machame route is a challenging trek that typically takes 6–7 hours of trekking per day, with the summit ascent taking 12–15 hours. The route includes several camps
Itinerary
Our guide will pick you up in the morning after breakfast at your Hotel and drive towards Machame Village where there is Machame Gate which is the starting point to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route.
Day 1.
Machame Gate (1828m) – Machame camp (3020m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 10.8 km
Habitat: Montane forest
Your day starts early with breakfast, followed by a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Gate (1828m) . The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment at the gate. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about halfway and will reach the Machame camp (3020m) in the late afternoon. Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on arrival. In the evening the porters will bring a small bowl of washing water to your tent and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.
Day 2.
Machame camp (3020m) – Shira 2 camp (3850m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 5.2 km
Habitat: Moorland
On the way to Shira camp 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 campsite at 3 847m. The porters will once again supply you with a small bowl of 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.
Day 3.
Shira Camp (3847m) to Lava Tower (4642m) to Barranco camp (3984m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 10.7 km
Habitat: Semi-desert
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4642m after about a 5-hour trek. Lunch is served at a designated area. This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start experiencing symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 658m to the Barranco camping area.
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 your dinner to be prepared.
Day 4.
Barranco camp (3960m) – Karanga camp (4040 m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 6 km
Habitat: Alpine desert
Start hiking from the Barranco camp at 8:00am and hike approximately 6 km to Karanga camp, expect to arrive around 12h00 for lunch, dinner and overnight. (An after lunch acclimatization hike could be a good idea should you feel up to it)
Day 5
Karanga camp (4040m) – Barafu camp (4640m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 3.4 km
Habitat: Alpine desert
Hike 3.3km from Karanga camp to Barafu camp. You can expect to arrive to Karanga by around 11:00am which will allow much more time to rest, enjoy dinner, prepare your summit gear and rest till 23:30pm when you will be woken up for the start of the summit attempt. (An after lunch acclimatization hike could once again be a good idea should you feel up to it)
Day 6
Barafu camp (4640m)– Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka Camp (3100m)
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
Descent time: 6-9 hours
Hiking Distance: 5 km
Descent Distance: 12 Km
Habitat: Alpine desert
Start hiking at around midnight, using your headlamps to lead the way slowly up to Stella Point and then the summit. Due to the altitude, you will hike slowly, and will need to dress warmly for the cold. After celebrating with photos at the summit, descend down to Mweka camp.
Day 7
Mweka Camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1640m)
Descending time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 10 km
Habitat: Montane Forest
The mountain crew team After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descend longer than planned. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Visit the tips page for more info. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! After lunch you drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
For six Days Tour, on day 4 we go directly from Barranco to Barafu Camp where we stop at Karanga Camp for Lunch Only, summit on day 5 and get out to the gate on day 6.
Includes
- Transport
- Entrance fees
- Guide & Team Salaries
- Meals & Accommodation
- Rescue
For More Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking Routes & Packages Please Click the links below
>>Marangu
>>Lemosho