Customized safaris

MACHAME ROUTE

Moshi – Mount Kilimanjaro    9 Days / 8 Nights

SUMMARY

Accommodation	Destination	Basis	Duration
AMEG Lodge or Similar	Moshi	B&B	1 Night
Machame Camp	Mount Kilimanjaro	FB	1 Night
Shira Camp	Mount Kilimanjaro	FB	1 Night
Barranco Camp	Mount Kilimanjaro	FB	1 Night
Karanga Camp	Mount Kilimanjaro	FB	1 Night
Barafu Camp	Mount Kilimanjaro	FB	1 Night
Mweka Camp	Mount Kilimanjaro	FB	1 Night
AMEG Lodge	Moshi	B&B	1 Night

Day 1:    Moshi

Located in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, close to the Kenyan border in Northern Tanzania, the vibrant town of Moshi is known as a coffee producing hub boasting vast coffee plantations. The majestic snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro towers over this little African town. Moshi serves as the gateway to the Kilimanjaro National Park and provides an excellent base from which to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Visitors can enjoy day trips, short hikes, or longer expeditions using Moshi as a starting point. Other popular activities include: spotting the Big Five on a wildlife safari, visiting a local village to learn about Maasai culture, and sampling mouth-watering Tanzanian cuisine.

Day Itinerary

Duration:  7Days, Total hiking distance: About 90 km’s

Sometimes called the Whisky Route. This 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.

Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport,  pick up and transferred to the a hotel in Moshi  for overnight bed and breakfast

Day 2:    Machame Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peak is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in Africa. Straddling the Kenya/Tanzania border, the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro rises up to an impressive 5896 metres above sea level. It is one of the world’s highest volcanoes, the highest mountain on the African continent, and the highest free-standing mountain on earth; making it an international destination attracting trekkers and mountaineers from around the globe. Set within the Kilimanjaro National Park, Kilimanjaro emerges from the sprawling plains of Tanzania and boasts dense tropical rainforests, glacial ice fields, moorlands, and mystical moonscapes. Take on the colossal challenge of climbing this majestic mountain, explore the lush forested foothills, soak up the breathtaking views or take a wildlife safari and spot some of Africa’s diverse wildlife including: elephant, buffalo, leopard, duiker, eland, hyrax, blue monkeys and more.

Day Itinerary

Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame camp (2980m), 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, 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. You will receive a lunch pack at the gate and you can also drink bottled water you bought at Springlands Hotel in Moshi. There is possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. 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 Machame campsite.

Day 3:    Shira Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro

Day Itinerary

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 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.

Overnight: Shira Camp

Shira Camp forms part of the second leg of the journey up Mount Kilimanjaro. There are 2 camps – Shira Camp 1 on west side and Shira Camp 2 on the east. The Shira Plateau landscape features a tropical rainforest and shrubland where a range of flora and fauna species are found. Climbers might also spot the White Naped Raven.

Day 4:    Barranco Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro

Day Itinerary

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. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). 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 acclimatization 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 and overnight at Barranco Camp site.

Overnight: Barranco Camp

Barranco Camp is the third pitstop along the Machame Route climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro. This area of the mountain is semi-desert and the camp is set in a valley close to the Great Barranco Wall.

Day 5:    Karanga Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro

Day Itinerary

After breakfast we leave Barranco ridge, walk up the Barranco wall that ends up at the foot of the Heim glacier.Passing the Barranco wall Walk along to along to Karanga valley (4 hours).

Overnight: Karanga Camp

On day 4 of the route up Mount Kilimajaro, climbers would reach the Karanga Camp. The journey would take about 5 hours and climbers get to experience the alpine desert landscape of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Day 6:    Barafu Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro

Day Itinerary

Baranco to 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. 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 for not more than 5 Hours

Overnight: Barafu Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro climbers would approach Barafu camp at about the 5th day of the journey. The word ‘barafu’ is the Swahili word for ‘ice’, which refers to the cold climate at this altitude.

Day 7:   Mweka Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro

Day Itinerary

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 after some tea and biscuits you 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 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 (weather permitting). 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. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your live. 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.

Overnight: Mweka Camp

Mweka Camp is the final campsite on the journey up Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbers would arrive here after a 7 hour hike from Summit Uhuru Peak.

Day 8:    Moshi

Day Itinerary

Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m)

Hiking/Descend time: 3 hours,

Distance: About 15 km’s Habitat: Forest

After Breakfast, From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy and long hour walk. In the Mweka village drive to Springlands Hotel and you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! You now drive back to Moshi for a long over due hot shower, Overnight at AMEG Lodge. It is recommended and tips are highly appreciated at the end of their trip. Tips can be given to the Guide at Springlands 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.

Day 9:    End of Itinerary

Day Itinerary

Departure, in the late evening drive to the airport (Kilimanjaro Airport), to catch the flight back home