Unprecedented Views, Life Changing Journey
Climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain rising 16,100 ft from its base to 19,341 ft above sea level. This impressive journey takes you through five different ecosystems - from rainforest to alpine desert to arctic snowcap. We will guide you up the Machame Route, also called the "Whiskey Route" encompassing the southwest and south sides of the mountain. All your equipment and supplies are carried by porters and a cook prepares all your meals. On the Machame you sleep in tents (tents are included), and the porters will pitch your tent for you. Meals are served in a dinner tent or on a blanket outside. This route has a very high success rate and we are confident you will enjoy your journey with us.
Day 2
Machame Gate (1490 m) - Machame camp (2980 m), Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: About 18 km's Habitat: Montane forest.
Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame village (1490m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. Depending on the condition of the road, it is possible to drive from the village to the Machame gate. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest.
Day 4
Shira (3840m)-Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m), Hiking time: 7 Hrs, Distance: About 15 km's 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. After lunch you descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area, 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 and overnight at Barranco Camp site.
Day 1
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport/Alternative Airport where you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel for an overnight bed and breakfast.
The Machame Route is a popular route up steep paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Ice fields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. An extra day could be added to the itinerary, best spent on the Shira Plateau, where you could walk to the Shira Needles. Strong groups could omit camping at Karanga River. The Mweka Route is used for the descent.
Accommodation on the mountain is in tents, which the porters will pitch for you. You will need a sleeping bag, warm clothes and walking poles. This is a steep, tough trek within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas.
Day 3
Machame camp (2980m) - Shira camp (3840m), Hiking time: 6 hours. Distance: About 9 km's – 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, you continue up 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.
Day 5
Baranco to Karanga Valley - Barafu camp (4550m), Hiking time: 7 hours, Distance: About 13 km's, Habitat: Alpine desert
Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize 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.
Day 6
SUMMIT/DESCENT 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: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent, Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.
You will rise around 23h30, and journey off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-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. From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Camp (3100m) for Dinner and Overnight.
Day 7
Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m) Hiking/Descent time: 3 hours, Distance: About 15 km's, Habitat: Forest
After Breakfast, From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village. In the Mweka village you will drive back to the hotel. It is recommended and tips are highly appreciated at the end of their trip. Tips can be given to the Guide at the hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
