This trek starts above the picturesque mountain village of Machame to the southwest of Kilimanjaro, This Route, with its diverse landscape and fantastic views, offers a unique experience to test your willpower, finesse, and mental strength.
The route takes you through lush rainforest, where colobus monkeys roam, into heath and moorland, with its many ferns and ericas, until finally approach Uhuru Summit from Barafu and the ridge that abuts the Southeast Valley. The climb from Barafu offers incredible views of Mawenzi Peak, Kilimanjaro’s remnant volcanic cone. The varying altitudes on this 7-day tour as well as a little help from lady luck offer a good environment for acclimatization, enhancing your chances of reaching the summit. Overnights on the Machame Route will be in tents.
Once you arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be welcomed by our transfer driver and taken to our office in Usa River, close to Arusha. . The rest of the day will be at relaxation and you may choose to relax at the hotel or perhaps explore the town of Arusha (taxi required). In the evening, you will attend a briefing in preparation of your upcoming trek. Dinner and overnight at Green Hills of Africa Dinner
In the morning after breakfast, you will be picked up at the Green Hills of Africa and taken to the Kilimanjaro National park gate. After completion of all the necessary paper work, and meet with your other guides and mountain crew, your adventure begins. Your destination for today is the Machame Camp, a 5 – 6 hour hike. Soon you will be hiking through the lush rainforest with its large ancient trees, primeval ferns and endemic flowers, like the Impatiens Kilimanjaro. You might also spot black and white thumbless colobus monkeys, peeking through the leaves. Reaching the campsite you will have time to relax, stretch your legs and enjoy a hearty meal, before snuggling into your tent for the night.At this point we may get our first closer look at the glaciated dome of Kibo if the evening clouds permit.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
A shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as picnic Rock. There are excellent views of Kibo and the jagged rim of shira plateau from here, and it is good rest point too! The trail continues less steeply to reach the shira plateau. We camp near Shira Hut Camp(3,840 m) which has some of the most stunning views on Kilimanjaro; close to the huge volcanic cone of Kibo,the spectacular rock formations of shira plateau, and looking across to Mt. Meru floating on the clouds [4-6 hours walking]Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Acclimatization is on today’s menu, where you will climb roughly 700 m, but sleep on a level not much higher than the previous night. Starting at Shira Plateau, you will make your way up to Lava Tower (4,640m), where you will rest a while, before we descend to the bottom of the Great BarrancovalleyThe trek will take approximately 6 – 7 hours, but the various distractions of the alpine desert as well as the Barranco Valley with its small lobelia plants and giant senecio’s, will keep your mind off the stretch still ahead. A well-deserved dinner and overnight await you at Barranco Camp.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
After breakfast you will climb out of Barranco, and an easy path on compacted scree with wide views through this empty and dry landscape.The air starts getting quite thin, and you will be running short of breath sometimes until you reach the destination of today – the Barafu Camp.. This camp is situated at an altitude of 4,640 m and will be reached in about 3 to 4 hours. In the afternoon you can relax and stretch your legs in preparation of the upcoming summit night. You will have dinner early in order to catch a few hours’ sleep, before you will be woken up at around midnight.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
At around midnight you will be awoken by your guide with a warm cup of tea and biscuits to get you ready for your final ascent. The moon and your headlamps will be your only source of light as you make your way up to Stella Point, reaching the crater rim in about 5 – 7 hours. Another 1 – 2 hours will take you to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), where you can enjoy the sun rising over the African landscape, casting a pink hue over the snowy peak and making the glaciers sparkle like diamonds around you. After capturing this incredible view and achievement on film, you will start your descent along the same route back to Barafu Camp, where your team awaits you with some snacks and refreshments. Rested and relaxed you will make your way to Mweka Camp for your last night on the highest mountain in Africa.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
A scrumptious breakfast is followed by a traditional farewell ceremony from your mountain crew, before you start your final stretch down the mountain. You will once more trek through the rainforest, giving you another opportunity to spot the cheeky colobus monkeys, finally reaching the Mweka gate in about 2 – 3 hours. You will be met at the gate and taken back to the Green Hills of Africa for a long shower and relaxed day by the pool. Dinner and overnight at the Green Hills of Africa.
Breakfast; Dinner
After breakfast you will be taken to Kilimanjaro Airport or you can opt to extend your trip with a safari or a beach holiday on Zanzibar.Breakfast
Please note: Safety conditions or weather may cause the itinerary to change without warning. Hike times are estimated, calculated to form a comfortable pace throughout the ascent.
