Mount Kilimanjaro climbing – Machame
route
Climbing
with success as acclimatization time is enough. Kilimanjaro trekking usually
takes 6 days.
Machame
Route (with an extra day at Karanga Valley) because it is scenically very
attractive, and provides excellent acclimatisation.
Accommodation
is camping throughout in 3 person mountain tents shared by two people. All your
equipment will be carried by vehicle or local porters, you only carry a
day-pack with personal gear. When camping you will not have to participate in
camp chores. We buy fresh produce locally and to ensure good standards of
hygiene all food is prepared by our own staff. We can cater for special dietary
requirements and there are no extra food-kitty payments.
We provide
mineral bottled water on first two days and boiled fresh water from natural springs.
Day 1: From
Arusha drive to the Machame Park gate, then a gentle climb up through the
original montane forest, carpeted with unique "busy lizzie" flowers,
begonias and ferns. First camp amongst the giant heather at 3,000m. Ascent of
1,200m and 5-6 hours walking.
Day 2: Emerge
from the giant heather zone and hike through fine open moorland to camp by the
Shira Cave at 3,840m. Herds of eland up here (& occasional lion!) and there
are fascinating geological features in the old volcanic caldera which can be
viewed during a half hour optional walk in the afternoon. Ascent 840m and 4-5
hours walking.
Day 3: From
Shira, climb towards the main peak Kibo, with the western glaciers clearly
visible across the rugged high-altitude desert of volcanic rocks and boulders.
Skirting around its base and under the imposing Western Breach, descend into
the sheltered Barranco Valley for mid-way camp at 3,950m. 5-7 hours walking and
only 110m total ascent - but having climbed higher and dropping back down
assists acclimatisation.
Day 4: Up
the steep Barranco Wall with some sections of very easy scrambling and drop
down again to the Karanga Valley. This is a short walking day, around 3 hours,
and again you climb about 300m but drop back down again to around 4,000m.
There’s an optional further acclimatisation hike in afternoon up onto the scree
below the glaciers.
Day 5: Up
to a new camp about 100m above Barafu Hut perched high on a rocky bluff at
4,000m. Fantastic views across to Mawenzi peak, and a bit less to climb
tomorrow morning! This is another short walking day, about 4 hours with a 700m
height gain, and time for a good rest in the afternoon immediately before the
hard summit day.
Day 6: A
bracing 1am start to climb the steep frozen scree. This is unavoidable on any
route but we aim to reach Stella Point on the crater rim for sunrise - another
40 mins and you’re at the highest point on the continent, usually in warm
sunshine. Now at Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro top 5895m.
We return on
the Mweka descent route. Walking time 7 hours and 1,300m ascent to the summit,
5-6 hours and 2,800m descent to our camp in a clearing amongst the giant
heather at Mweka. This is a long and hard day - you’ll feel tired but
absolutely ecstatic after you’ve done it.
Day 7: A
4-5 hours descent through the forest to Mweka Gate to collect our certificates
and meet our vehicle. Return to Arusha, arriving early to mid afternoon.
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