


Tanzania

Guided, Small Group

Budget, Camping
One of the most popular mountains to climb, there are several routes to reach Mount Kilimanjaro's highest summit, Uhuru peak. Machame is regarded by many guides as the most enjoyable route, though it is longer and more arduous, it's more beautiful with stunning scenery through five diverse climatic zones including rainforest, moorland, alpine desert and arctic. Machame has overtaken Marangu as the most popular climbing route and has a higher success rate.
Despite being more challenging, the success rate on the Machame Route is higher than on the Marangu Route, probably because the Machame is a day longer at six days and five nights (assuming you take the Barafu Route to the summit) which gives trekkers more time to acclimatize. An extra acclimatization day is usually taken in the Karanga Valley. The Machame Route also gives you the option of taking the Western Breach / Arrow Glacier Route to the summit.
From USD 1,450 per person
The drive from Moshi to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We leave the park gate and walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach Machame Camp.
After breakfast we leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000 ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000 ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
After breakfast we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft) 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 may encounter snow all they way on your one hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations it can be wet and muddy – gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi.
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