Machame Route

Down at Kilimanjaro International Airport, meet our driver who will pick you up and transfer you to your Arusha hotel. Upon arrival at your hotel, our sales representatives would be delighted to conduct a briefing for your trekking, followed by your guide inspecting your gear to ensure you are well-equipped for a successful trek. (Depending on the time of arrival)

Overnight stay at Karama Lodge on Bed and Breakfast

Driving time: 2hrs
Walking distance: 5-6hrs excluding breaks
Elevation at the gate: 1800meters AML
Destination elevation: 2830meters AML
Nature of trail: step-stairs up
Vegetation cover: Rain Forest

We leave for Machame gate after breakfast. Not necessarily, although you can visit the grocery store and purchase petty products like energy bars or snacks.

Up until we approach the park gate -1,800 meters, we will pass through the Chagga people’s settlement zone at the base of the mountain, where there are farms for bananas, maize, and coffee. We will not be following the same route on our descent, so as we stretch and take pictures at the gate, our guide will complete registration. We will start our five-hour hike into the mountain’s first zone of the rainforest after lunch. Mud and showers might be fun, but you must have your rain gear and gaiters.

Overnight stay at Machame Campsite on Full Board

Walking distance:5kms 4-5hrs excluding breaks
Starting elevation: 2830meters AML
Destination elevation:3750meters AML
Nature of Trail: steep and narrow slope
Vegetation cover: Moorland

We leave the rainforest behind after a leisurely breakfast and ascend to reach Moorland. After a brief but dusty and hilly day, we anticipate you to arrive at our camp (3,750m) in time for a delicious lunch. Following lunch, we can have a little siesta before going for a quick evening stroll to take in the surroundings.

The advised nature stroll is helpful for digestion and acclimatization. In order for the crew to get to know one another, there will be a team introduction and a team performance of Kilimanjaro songs. Around 1800 hours, coffee, popcorn, and dinner will be served.

Overnight stay at Shira2 Cave campsite on Full Board

Walking distance:10kms: 6-7hrs excluding breaks
Starting Elevation: 3750meters AML through 4600meters at Lava Tower
Destination elevation: 3900meters AML
Nature of trail: gentle walking to Lava Tower then steep-scree down to Barranco campsite.
Nature of weather: Moorland to Alpine desert

In order to leave the camp by 08.30 a.m., we formed the practice of eating breakfast at 7 a.m. Even though today’s trip is longer than yesterday’s, there is not much elevation gain overall. We ascend the southwest face of Kilimanjaro to Lava Tower (4,600m), where we will eat and acclimate. Today’s typical altitude change symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, and weakness. In formal language, we refer to them as “Acute Mountain illness.” We’ll eat and sleep at the 3900-meter-high Barranco camp after that.

Overnight stay at Barranco Campsite on Full Board

Walking distance: 6kms 4 hrs excluding breaks
Starting elevation: 3900meters AML
Destination elevation: 3995meters AML
Nature of trail: Steep up to the top of the Barranco wall before descending to the Karanga valley campsite.
Nature of weather: Alpine desert

At 7:30 am, we have breakfast before starting the journey to the Karanga campground. Our ascent of the Barranco Wall’s nearly vertical face, sometimes known as the “Breakfast Wall” since we take on it immediately following breakfast, marks the start of the most difficult phase. You will enjoy the views of the Heim Glacier as we pause at the summit. The remainder of today’s trek will be simpler as we make our way down to the gully of the lovely Karanga Valley and then ascend a steep sequence of zigzags to the Karanga Camp (3995m).

Overnight Stay at Karanga Campsite on Full Board

Walking distance: 4kms3.5 – 4hrs excluding breaks
Starting elevation: 3995meters AML
Destination elevation: 4673meters AML
Nature of trail: Gentle slope 2.5 hr and steep slope 1 hr
Nature of weather: Desert

We leave Karanga for the intersection with the Mweka Trail, which ascends to the Barafu campground, after breakfast. At this time, we would have finished the South Circuit, which offers breathtaking views of the summit from numerous viewpoints. The Mawenzi and Kibo summits are seen from here.

We will complete our summit preparations at our base camp, Barafu -4673m. We get to camp early for a hot meal, eat dinner and Knapp early, and wake up early for the summit. A briefing on what to wear and bring when our guide manages the summit is given before dinner.

Overnight at Barafu Campsite Full Board

Walking distance: 17km 14-15hrs
Elevation: 4673m AML – 5895m AML then 3100m AML at Mweka hut.

Despite the fact that today is the hardest, we are confident that we will succeed in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Of course, the timetable for our “Summiting Day” is completely different. We wake up at 2:00 and have tea and cookies at 2:30 before leaving at midnight. Beginning with a long and challenging climb from Barafu camp to Stella Point 5756m over a steep and zigzag switchback, the seven-hour hike begins.

We’ll stop at Stella’s Point for a quick break, where we’ll be rewarded with the most breathtaking view you’re ever likely to witness. The sunrise might be visible from the summit for those that trek quickly (weather depending). The full hour-long ascent from Stela point to the summit may involve snow.

Before starting our descent from the summit to Mweka camp (3,100m), we will celebrate and take pictures to show friends and family back home. We will stop at Barafu for lunch along the way (4673m). You might require gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel heading down. Going down is quicker and simpler when we are confident that our objectives have been met and that, by vacating an area with less oxygen, our body will receive more oxygen and fresh air.

Our last dinner in the highlands will be at the cosy Mweka Hut, which is tucked away in a forest. On this day, you can tip or otherwise thank the crew for the entire journey.

Overnight stay at Mweka hut on Full Board

Walking distance: 3hrs excluding breaks
Elevation at the gate: 1650meters AML
Vegetation cover: Rain Forest.

After breakfast, we continue the celebration by making our way to the Mweka Gate to check out of the park and obtain a summit certificate. Although the jungle can be muddy and rainy, gaiters and trekking poles will be useful. The best option for “keeping rain gear and warmer apparel handy” is probably shorts and t-shirts.

At Mweka gate, the Tecomate Tours and Safari car will be ready to take us back to our Arusha city lodge so we can take a hot shower and unwind.

Overnight stray: Karama Lodge on Bed and Breakfast

DAY 9: Arusha city – Kilimanjaro International Airport

After a restful night and breakfast, you’ll check out of your lodge, normally by 10:00 a.m., in order to get to the airport in time for your trip home. If you have an evening flight, you can either pay for a day room or remain in the lounge until pick-up time. The salesperson and driver-guide will meet you for a safari briefing if you have booked a safari extension.

End of service