Kilimanjaro – The Machame Route

Pick up from Arusha town or Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Moshi town, which is commonly known as the gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro.

Today you will be transferred to the Machame Gate to begin your climb. Depending on the weather this can be a moderate to very demanding day as the trek winds through a beautifully lush rain forest.

A full day as you start early, leaving the forest behind and climb a steep ridge for 3-4 hours. The path then drops into a gorgeous river gorge before you climb more gently up onto the moorland of the Shira Plateau. The Shira Plateau is all that remains of an older volcano that was engulfed when the much larger Kili formed. On clear days the views are absolutely breath-taking: a seemingly endless expanse of multi-colored heath to the gargantuan rim at the end of the plateau where billows of clouds melt down onto the plateau floor.

Today’s 5-6 hours walk across the plateau makes little net elevation, although there are ups and downs throughout the day. We’ll enjoy sightings of the typical Kilimanjaro Mountain vegetation and rewarding views of the spectacular Barranco Valley.

The standard day includes about 6-8 hours of trekking, up the Barranco Wall, then across scree and ridges to the Karanga Valley (4100m) for lunch, before continuing up to Barafu Camp at 4600m.

You will rise around 2330hrs and after some tea and biscuits you will shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 8- hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically, the most challenging on the route. At Stella point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak (5896m). Despite the actual distance of the trek not being too far the progress is slow – there is less than half the oxygen than at sea level! Uhuru Peak provides a unique reward and usually a plethora of emotions. If your progress has been good you can watch the sunrise from the rooftop of Africa! Most people then start returning quite soon after sunrise as the return journey today is quite long. Take a brief respite at Barafu Camp before descending all the way down to Mweka Camp at 3100m.

After breakfast descend through the lower heath section that quickly turns into rainforest. Your time on Kilimanjaro ends at Kibololoni Gate where you will be met and transferred back to a Base Hotel in Moshi for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, transfer back to Arusha town.