Memomarable adventurous moments to kilimanjaro peak

Day 1: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Machame Gate(1830m), Hike to Machame Camp( 3050m)

Drive from Moshi/Arusha to Machame Gate takes about 45 minutes.

The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We depart the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

Accommodation: Machame Camp

Meals Planed: B.L & D

Day 2: Drive to Machame Gate (1490 m) to Machame Camp (2980 m)

Your day starts after breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel in Arusha and drive to Machame Gate. The driving is of about 2 hours via some villages & local farms of banana and coffee plantation here you will get a little glimpse of the livelihood of Tanzanian close to the Mountain. At the gate you will do some park formalities including weighing luggage for porters to carry not to exceed 20 kg per porter. A valid permit will be issued to you showing 6 days of hiking through this route.

You will probably have lunch at the gate before the hiking. The trekking will start in the afternoon through the rain forest where you may expect rain, mud, and fog. During trekking you will possibly hear many exciting birds in the overlapping canopy above, and you may spot some black and white colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys as they move from trees to trees.

The route continues to the heath land and all the way to the end of your first day at Machame camp (9,875 feet), the trekking of the day is 9 Km in 5 to 7 hours of walking. This area is located above the rain forest vegetation type, the hiking is long but in a moderate steep.

The porters and chef, who move very fast up the mountain, will reach the camp before you and set up your tents, boil drinking water, and prepare snacks for your arrival. After washing up, a hot dinner will be served. For overnight, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared.

Overnight at Machame Camp. All meals included.

Accommodation: Machame Camp

Meal planned: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Machame Camp (2980 m) to Shira Camp (3840 m)

After breakfast, the day starts through lovely heath land and afro-alpine moorland furnished with superb views of Kilimanjaro Peak. The route starts getting steeper as you pass through the Savannah with tall grasses, Giant Heather and Erica trees. Hike nearby large stones as you arrive at the moorland zone ruled by lobelia and Senecia plants as well as volcanic rocks wrapped with beards and lichen, which safeguard wild alpine flowers and other plants that growing beneath them. You will spend the night at Shira Camp (12,615 feet), trekking of this day is 9 km in 5 to 6 hours of walking. Getting to the camp same procedures will follow as of the first day.

Overnight at Shira Camp. All meals included.

Accommodation: Shira Camp

Meals planned: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Shira Camp (3840) to Lava Tower (4630 m) to Barranco Camp (3950 m)

Today you are getting closer to the peak as we get nearer to the Lava Tower. The trek becomes a bit tougher the path gets steeper as you approach to the lava Tower, a volcanic plug of over 300 feet tall which codes an exposed pass at 15,000 feet. You will have packed lunch at this point while acclimatizing, here is where most climbers start feeling the effects from the high elevation which includes shorten of breath & headache. After lunch & some rest you will descend along the steep path from Lava Tower (4630 m) to Barranco Campsite at an altitude of (3950 m).

Lowering 680 m from Lava Tower to Barranco camp gives huge advantage to hikers to allow their body to get used to the conditions of high elevation. Walking down to the camp takes about 2 hours. This camp is located in a valley bellow “The Brekfast Wall” Barranco Wall & the Breach. Same procedure of hot water to wash, possibly dinner while watching the sunset.

Overnight at Barranco Camp (3950 m). All meals included.

Accommodation: Barranco Camp

Meals planned: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Barranco Camp alt. (3950 m) to Barafu Camp (4550 m)

Mt Kilimanjaro safari tours continue with a great challenge of climbing the Barranco Wall, begin your day after breakfast, you may need 1 to 1.5 hours to go on top of the great Barranco wall, advisable early start to avoid traffic jam at the wall. You will be above the cloud so you will be able to spot the barren and rocky plateau just behind the wall attentively waiting for you this morning.  The stunning three southern glacier (Heim Glacier) and the beautiful view of Kibo peak can be seen if the weather is clear on this day.

The trekking will be on gravel and sand path along the rocky moors. Many times you will be passing through big stones, streams, grasses and across many herbs. After 2 to 3 hours of polepole pace you will reach the Karanga camp standing at an altitude of 4250 meters. When trekking up one hill after another you can be able to observe the other upcoming routes from the distance. This day hot lunch will be served at the camp, after lunch it will be a resting time may be walking around to enjoy the camps environment.

Overnight at Barafu Camp. All meals included.

Accommodation: Barafu Camp

Meals planned: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Day 6: Summit day. Barafu Camp alt. (4550 m) to Uhuru Peak (5895 m) to Mweka Camp (3100 m)

The Night summit! Your guide will wake you up before midnight for some snakes before set off for your final push to the roof of Africa “The Uhuru Peak”. It is a very silent night when you and your guide pacing into the freezing cold trial. With slow pace step by step “polepole” the route leads sharply up and over rocks to reach the rim of the crater. At this point many climbers feels that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of their entire climb, it can take you 5 to 6 hours  to reach “The Stella point” stands at an altitude of 5740 m, from there you have only about 150 meters to reach the actual summit.

As the sun gets up in this morning, the first sun rays will accompany you towards Rebmann Glacier and further ahead to Hans Mayer point.

The amazing play of lights across the ice formation will soon appear as the sunrise. You will then start seen the summit sign of Kilimanjaro Mountain in front of you. It is done! You have made it via Machame route. Congratulations you have just conquer “The roof of Africa” Kilimanjaro Mountain the highest point in Africa 5895 meters above the sea level. The stunning view of the areas around the mountain is visible, you can proudly take some memorable and distinctive pictures of the summit.

If weather permits, you can take a short break before descending along the crater rim and further down to Stella point and more down to Rebman Glacier. Proceed descending via the same route of ascent down to Barafu Camp, Hot lunch will be served here,

After lunch you will continue further down to Mweka camp, as walking down along this trial you will observe how vegetation changing with altitude, reach your camp late afternoon. This will be a long and tiring day for you, reaching the camp late afternoon, wash and spend the rest of the day relaxing and gathering some strength for the next day of your Kilimanjaro combined safari adventurous.

Overnight at Mweka Camp (3,100 m). All meals included

Accommodation: Mweka Camp

Meals planned: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Descend: Mweka Camp alt. (3100 m) to Mweka Gate alt. (1980 m) – Arusha

Soon after a very good breakfast, “The celebration” dancing & singing will start, it will be time for short speech & tipping and maybe a souvenir photo of the whole team before walking down to Mweka gate a distance of about 10 km. Walk through a well-established forest road and the second half of the way is mostly characterized by rain forest. Kilimanjaro combined safari tours, climbing session Machame route 6 day.

As per National park rules & regulation all hikers will sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Climbers who reached Stella Point at an alt. of (5685 m) receive green certificates for those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895 m) receive gold certificates (Big Diploma). After receiving certificates, you will descend 3 km  down to Mweka village this will take you about 1 hour.

You will have hot lunch at the gate & meet your drive who is already there waiting for you and drive you back to Mvuli hotel in Arusha. At the lodge you will meet our safari manager for short safari briefing. Spend the rest of the day at the lodge, possibly have a good hot shower before dinner.

Overnight at Mvuli Hotel or similar in Arusha. Dinner & breakfast Included.

Accommodation: Mvuli Hotel

Meals planned: Breakfast and Dinner