GROUP DEPARTURE: MOUNT KILIMANJARO VIA MACHAME ROUTE 6 DAYS + 2 NIGHTS AT THE LODGE BEFORE AND AFTER THE CLIMB (TOTAL 8 DAYS)

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Machame route is one of the highest summit success rates given the topography and nature of the route which allows climbers to “trek…

Trip Type
Group Departure
Activities
Trekking
Group Size
10 Pax
Reviews
0 Reviews
Locations
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Fixed Departure
July 21, 2023

July 21, 2023 August 11, 2023 September 1, 2023 October 13, 2023 November 17, 2023 December 8, 2023 January 12, 2024 June 7, 2024 July 12, 2024 August 9, 2024 September 6, 2024 October 11, 2024 November 15, 2024 December 6, 2024

Trip Enquiry

Keywords : climbing , kilimanjaro , machame , mountain , tanzania , trekking group departure

Trip code WT-CODE 2858

Machame route is one of the highest summit success rates given the topography and nature of the route which allows climbers to “trek high & sleep low” hence making it a more favorable route for acclimatization. This route offers some of the most spectacular scenery while on the mountain. The Machame route starts on the southwest side of the mountain and proceeds steeply north, traversing the Shira plateau and eventually joining the Shira and Lemosho routes just after the Shira cave camp.

Trip Outline
Trip Includes
Trip Excludes
Gallery
Booking

Day 1: Arrive at Moshi
Day 2: Moshi to Machame gate to Machame camp
Day 3: Machame camp to Shira camp
Day 4: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Day 5: Barranco camp to Barafu camp
Day 6: Barafu camp summit to Mweka camp
Day 7: Mweka camp to Mweka gate to the hotel
Day 8: International departures or proceed to safari

Itineraries

Day 1

Time : 2:00 am

Arrive at Moshi

Your program in Tanzania starts the Moment you land at Kilimanjaro international Airport, You will be met by our staff at the airport and transferred to our partner lodge in Moshi in the peaceful surrounds of our comfortable pre and post trek accommodation in Honey Badger, or Q wine hotel. Guide will perform a gear check for you after dinner so that next morning you will be ready for your tour start.

Day 2

Time : 7:00 am

Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame Camp (2980m)

Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 18 kilometers
Habitat: Montane forest
After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Moshi and driven to the Machame Village. In the village, you can buy mineral water and will receive a packed lunch. From the village, depending on the road conditions, you will either continue to drive from the village to the Machame gate, but if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour to complete. 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 half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon.
Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on your arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water 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 3

Time : 7:00 am

Machame camp (2980m) – Shira camp (3840m)

Hiking time: 6h
Distance: Approximately 9 kms
Habitat: Moorland
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 840m. The porters will boil drinking and 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 4

Time : 8:00 am

Shira (at 3840m) to Lava Tower (at 4630m) to Barranco camp (at 3950m)

Hiking time: 7h
Distance: Approximately 15 kms
Habitat: Semi-desert
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation 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 the preparation of your dinner.

Day 5

Time : 8:00 am

Barranco camp (3950m)- Barafu camp (4550m)

Hiking time: 7h
Distance: Approximately 13 kms
Habitat: Alpine desert
After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut.
The last water stop on the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

Day 6

Time : 9:00 am

Summit Attempt Barafu camp (4550m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)

Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: Approximately 7 kilometers ascent and 23 kilometers descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours.
At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have a dinner, wash, and rest soundly at camp.

Day 7

Time : 5:00 am

Mweka Camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)

Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
Habitat: Forest
Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. Here on the mountain, you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). You will be served a hot lunch then you will drive back to Moshi for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

Day 8

Time : 2:00 am

International flight or proceed to safari

Transfers:

Pick-up and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport;
Transfer to the trailhead - entry gate to Kilimanjaro National Park;
Pick-up at the exit from Kilimanjaro National Park and transfer to the hotel;

Entry fees:

All park fees are collected by the Kilimanjaro National Park ( conservation fees, camping fees, crew fees, vehicle fees, rescue fee,s and all other fees collected by the Tanzania National Parks Authority).

Accommodation:

One night at 3* hotel (Honey Badger, AMEG Lodge or Park View Inn) before the expedition and one night after; The hotels have everything for your comfortable stay - caring staff, nice rooms, reliable Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool);
Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (modern, comfortable 4-Season tents

Please note:

All accommodation is on sharing basis (i.e. you will be sharing with your travel companion a twin/double room in the hotel and a tent during the hike. If you travel alone, we will match you with a same-sex adventurer).

Meals:

Breakfast in the hotel before and after the hike;
All meals on the hike. Our Kilimanjaro diet includes energy-rich and highly nutritious meals prepared by our professional high-altitude cooks. A typical diet on Kilimanjaro includes different soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables; vegetarian/gluten-free/halal options are available at no extra cost;
All drinks on the hike (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water).

Hiking and safety equipment

4-inch (10-cm) thick and comfortable sleeping mats;
All group equipment (spacious and comfortable dining tent, camping table and chairs, crockery and cutlery);
Oxygen cylinders and oximeters;
GPS-tracking service;
Complete medical kits.

Climbing crew:

Professional guides, licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park. All our guides are the holder of Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certifications. All our guides have 7+years of successful mountaineering experience;
Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.).