Kilimanjaro Adventure: Machame Route (7 Days / 6 Nights)

Description

MACHAME ROUTE

This route is a combination route documented by the makers of the

Kilimanjaro large format “Kilimanjaro, to the Roof of Africa” The trails

explore the five coziness of the mountain in depth. This itinerary

offers the most amount of acclimatization time, and allows a rest day in

the middle of the trek, allowing those who may struggle initially a

chance to recuperate and gather their strength. The trail begins through

the rainforest at Machame Village at the Southwest, and during the first

three days. The middle three days are designed to offer the short help

for acclimatization and whilst letting the body acclimatize.

There are no huts on this route, the accommodation is in mountain tents

and dining is in our mess tents.

DAY 1: MACHAME GATE (5,950 ft / 1,815) -- MACHAME CAMP (9,850 / 3,000mt)

Departure from Arusha will be at around 9:00 am for the Machame Gate,

about 1.5 hours drive upon completion of entry formalities begin walking

through the mist on a 4 x 4 track for about an hour in the forest. The

track ends, and the trail continues up through the dripping forest.

Trekkers will likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above, and

many even see black & white callous monkeys and blue monkeys as they

hike along the knotted roots and mud on the forest floor. The trek is

quite long (12 miles ) though not very steep, and takes about 5 – 6

hours to reach the first camp. Machame camp is just above the forest in

the heather zone, and when it is clear, you can see the jagged Shira

ridge and the summit itself.

DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP-- SHIRA CAMP ( 12,600 FT / 3,840 MT)

Wake early to a steaming cup of tea of coffee served in your tent, and

then after breakfast, begin up the steep track through a savannah of

tall grasses and trees of giant feather and Africa The clouds should

clear for a beautiful view of the Western Breach head wall and the

glaciers stop it which mark the summit, Uhuru Peak Scramble around large

boulders as you enter the moorland zone, marked by the bizarre lobelia

and senecio plants and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards, which

protect wild alpine flowers growing at their bases. You’ll reach camp

after descending a small valley and crossing a brook, then ascending up

onto the Shira Ridge. The total trekking time is from 4 to 5 hours.

DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP – BARRANCO CAMP (3,950m)

Proceed steadily upward over long ridgelines of high desert about 4

hours, and break for lunch at about 14,500 feet (4,420 mt) after lunch,

pass under Lave Tower, a 300-foot-tall volcanic Plug which marks an

exposed pass at 15,000 feet. The high point is 14,850 feet (2,525 mt.)

In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley

Barranco Camp is set on a cool (flat area) enclosed on three sides with

steep valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Imagining glaciers glint

in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the

giant groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjaro) and the uniquely endemic Giant

Lobelia. Trekking time is from 6 to 7 hours.

DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP ~ KARANGA CAMP (13,300 ft./ 4,200 m)

The day begins with a scramble up the Barranco Wall, then

traversing the ridges and valleys of the mountain?s southern face, as

Kibos glaciers loom above to your left and the jagged peaks of

Mawenzi jut into the African sky at just under 17,000 feet straight

ahead.hot lunch served at the Karanga camp.We reach the Karanga Valley

after 4-5 hours of trekking, for a

hot lunch.

DAY 5: KARANGA CAMP - BARAFU CAMP (15,000ft,4,600m)

This is the short day,helping for acclimatization and good time for

preparations for summit attempt.we'll begin our day steadily uphill. The

temperature will grow colder and the landscape sparser as we near

Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a

ridge, acting as a base camp from which many make their summit attempt

at

midnight. Eat and drink as much as possible before retiring to your

tent for rest and sleep. Total trekking time is 4 hours on this day.

DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP ~ UHURU PEAK (19,340 ft./ 5,895 m) - Mweka Campsite

or Millenium Camp

A 11 Pm wake-up call is the start of a juggernaut. You begin trekking

at 12.00 am up the winding path of endless

switchbacks. After about 5-6 hours of walking, you will come to the

edge of the crater, at Stella Point, at 18,870 feet (5,750 m), which

is the end of the steep track. From here, there is a gently sloped

trek of 45min across the lunar landscape of the inner crater,

to reach Uhuru Peak. So few that trek

Kilimanjaro ever experience the summit.Then after taking the photos we

back down to Barafu for rest,hot lunch the heading down to mweka camp

taking 4 hrs from Barafu to Mweka Camp (10,200ft,3,100m)

DAY 7: MWEKA CAMP- MWEKA GATE 5,400m

Descend straight to the gate 3-4 hrs where you'll have lunch and will be

awarded CLIMBING CERTIFICATES.Then we have a short ceremony over there

for reaching the highest Point in Africa Continent. Then transfer to

your Hotel.

Excludes

International flights

Communication charges

Personal climbing gear

Meals or transfers other than those included on the cost of the climb

Optional activities

Beverages

Laundry

Personal gear