Overview
Take on a 7 days hike of the tallest mountain on the African continent on the Machame route. This adventure experience will leave you yearning for more as you pass through different vegetation zones and altitudes. With every step of your hike, it presents a whole new adventure that awaits you to unpack. From birds to primates like colobus monkeys and vervet monkeys, you will encounter will on your bid to conquer this epic mountain.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Summit Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the seven summits of the world at 19,340 feet
- Navigate Kilimanjaro’s Machame Route, the most scenic on the mountain
- Cross 6 ecological zones from lush rainforest to the harsh, beautiful Arctic zone
- Follow expert African guides and complete knowledge of the mountain and its environs
- Experience Signature Camping! Spacious tents, deluxe comfort, excellent meals, and more!
ITINERARY DETAILED
ARRIVAL DAY
DAY 0: ARRIVE IN ARUSHA
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you are met after passing through customs. Transfer to Mount Meru Hotel and have a comprehensive briefing and equipment check with your climbing manager and your guide.
Accommodation: Greenside Hotel
Meal Included: Lunch and Dinner
DAY 1: ARUSHA TO MACHAME CAMP
Altitude gain: 5,380 to 9,350
Hiking time: 5-7 hours, 7 miles
Drive from Arusha to Mt Kilimanjaro National Park, passing by the village of Machame to meet your climb crew at the Machame Gate. As you begin the gentle ascent, the trail winds through the verdant Afromontane rainforest that beards Kilimanjaro’s lower slopes. Moss and tattered lichen dangles from tall branches, tree terns rest in soft cradles and begonias, and busy Lizzie impatiens and violas bloom year-round in multiple colors on the forest floor. Many species of birds – as well as colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and other creatures of the forest – can be seen and heard. The first camp is set amongst giant heather at Machame Camp.
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2: SHIRA CAMP
Altitude gain: 9,350 to 12,500
Hiking Time; 4-6 hours, 3 miles
Leaving the glades of the rainforest behind, you continue on an ascending path along a steep ridge onto heather-clad moorland. This is known as the heath zone and, as the vegetation becomes sparser, attractive helichrysum and lobelia are the only plants dominating the harsh mountain landscape.
Various geological features can be observed, ranging from lava tubes to glacial valleys. A picnic lunch is taken on the trail today. Continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira Plateau. By now you can see the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers, and after a short hike, you reach the Shira Camp. Your tent tonight can be described as “a room with a view” looking out towards the snow-dusted Kibo peaks. Overnight Shira Camp.
Accommodation: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3: BARRANCO CAMP
Attitude gain: 12,500 to 15,223 (Lava lower), down to 13,044
Hiking time: 6-8 hours, 7 km
Today is a walk-high sleep-low day. You ascend into the alpine desert towards the main peak of Kibo, where the western glaciers become visible. Lunch is taken as a picnic en route. If you feel very strong there is an optional ascent of the 300-foot-tall Lava Tower before descending to Barranco Camp in the afternoon, passing through the strange yet beautiful ‘Garden of the Senecios’ (giant groundsel), which also features many giant lobelias. The Barranco Valley is one of the prettiest areas of the entire trail. This is a long day but the next time you head to this altitude is in two days, making this a great acclimatization day! Overnight at Barranco Camp.
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4; KARANGA CAMP
Attitude gain: 13,044 to 13,123
Hiking time: 4-5 hours, 3 miles
You now have a relatively short day to reach Karanga Camp, after conquering the intimidating Barranco Wall. Be prepared to use all four limbs as you traverse the wall to the top of the Karanga Valley. From here, follow a path that sojourns through many inclines and declines to Karanga Camp, arriving in the late afternoon. Our selection of Karanga Camp is strategic – significant time at altitude is essential for safe acclimatization. Sunsets here are particularly spectacular with views of the southern glacial valleys and ice fields towering over 3000 feet above you. Overnight at Karanga Camp.
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5: BARAFU CAMP
Attitude gain: 13,123 to 15,288
Hiking time: 4-5 hours, 2 miles
Today is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Once again lunch is taken in this high camp, allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and, at times, strong winds rip over this camp, yet in the evenings splendid views of Mawenzi Peak are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before resting for the evening. Overnight at Baratu Camp.
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6: SUMMIT ASCENT, MWEKA CAMP
Attitude gain: 15,288 to 19,341 to 12,467
Hiking time: 7-8 hours ascent, 4-6 hours descent, 3 miles ascent, 7 miles descent
Depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence are the name of the game to reach the summit, and this is the coldest, windiest section of your adventure. Most likely by dawn, as the first rays of light start to appear across the Tanzanian landscape, you arrive near the rim at Stella Point, at an altitude of 18,652ft. Here, you are rewarded with the most glorious sunrise you are ever likely to see, appearing over Mawenzi Peak.
Ascending via Stella Point affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa! Take as many pictures as you can! After a short celebration at the summit, begin the ebullient trek down. Go slowly and enjoy the wonderful rainforest scenery as you head towards Mweka Camp, arriving before dusk. With every step the air has more and more oxygen so although your legs will be jelly, your heart will be light. Overnight Mweka Camp.
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: ARRIVE IN ARUSHA
After breakfast you descend once again through the montane forest and at around midday, after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your hotel for a well-deserved shower and a celebratory dinner!
Accommodations: Greenside Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DEPARTURE
Today you have a dayroom to pack, freshen up, and get ready for your flight home or your onward adventures in East Africa.
INCLUDED
- Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- All Park fees Airport transfers Rescue fees
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Guides, Porters, cook salaries, and park tees
- Quality Mess tents with tables and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Oximeter
- Medical Kit
- Emergency Oxygen
- Crisis management and safety procedures
- Fair and ethical treatment of
EXCLUDED
- Flights
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Visa fees
- Tips Personal spending monies for souvenirs etc.
- Travel insurance