CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO
KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL SAFARIS & TOURS LTD
PROPOSED ITINERARY FOR MACHAME ROUTE 7 DAYS
KILIMANJARO MOUNTAIN CLIMB – MACHAME ROUTE 6 NIGHTS / 7 DAYS 2020
Machame, known as the "Whiskey" route, is now the most popular route on the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. It is considered a difficult route, better suited for more adventurous folks and those with some hiking or backpacking experience. The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is recommended.
Climbers sleep in supplied tents at designated campsites and enjoy meals either outdoors or inside a large dining tent. Staff prepares all meals and sets up the tents.
The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. Machame approaches from the southwest and descends using Mweka, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau, an optional scramble up Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco Wall, and a traverse underneath Kilimanjaro Southern Ice field.
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Day 1 2020 Arrival in Tanzania
Arrival to Kilimanjaro International Airport – Accommodations and transportation to hotel can be arranged by K.I.S.T. Meet and greet by K.I.Safaris and Tours officials for briefing and the kit check for all climbers just to ensure that they have all the required climbing gear at place of overnight stay.
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Dinner and Overnight
Day 2 2020 Machame Hut Camp (10,000') (day 1 on the mountain)
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Machame gate (10,000ft) for registration, and meet the rest of the crew (Cooks and Porters) ready for the climb. We will start the climb through rainforest and the giant heathers for 6 hrs to our first overnight camp.
​Picnic Lunch, Dinner and Overnight at Machame Camp
Day 3 2020 Kikelewa Camp (3,600m) (day 2 on the mountain)
The morning walk is a steady ascent up to the ‘Second Cave’ (3,450m) with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim. After lunch, we leave the main trail and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi.
Our campsite is in a sheltered valley with giant senecios near Kikelewa Caves (3,600m) [6-7 hours walking].
Dinner and Overnight at Kikelewa Camp
Day 1 2020 Shira Camp (12,480') (day 2 on the mountain)
After breakfast at the camp, today will be a short trek but rather steep rocky and dusty trails. It's a slow hike with plenty of breaks and enough time to acclimatize. Most of the route is rather bare of vegetation providing little shade from heat. You will cross many ridges and see the first of many Senecias.
​Picnic Lunch and Dinner and Overnight at Shira Camp
Day 4 2020 Barranco Camp (13,000') (day 3 on the mountain)
After breakfast at the Camp start with climbing over boulders and very few rocks, then steady uphill climb to Lava tower and stop for lunch around noon. For those interested we may climb up the Lava tower which is 14850ft (You may start to get a mild headache due to altitude change). From Lava tower we will go down for about 2 hrs through dusty and rocky trails to the Barranco Camp at 13000ft.
​Picnic Lunch, Dinner and Overnight at the Barranco Camp
Day 5 2020 Karanga Valley Camp (13,450') (day 4 on the mountain)
After breakfast at the camp start scrambling up the Barranco wall for an hour and half which is steep and you will be using your hands to reach and steady yourself like rock climbing, although it's not as challenging as rock climbing. At the top of the wall you can see the Barranco valley and the campsite you enjoyed the night before. You will walk up and down the greener valley which is the last water point to the mountain.
Picnic Lunch, Dinner and Overnight at the Barranco Camp
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Day 6 2020 Barafu Hut Camp (14,200') (day 5 on the mountain).
After breakfast at the Camp start climb across barren landscape with lots of boulders and shattered rocks, you will see the Decken glaciers on your left. Keep going on a very steep ridge until we reach a rocky section for more scrambling for about hour and half. Our next camp will be on large rocks with very steep cliff faces. We will go to bed very early because we will have to wake up at 11.00 p.m. for the summit.
Picnic Lunch, Dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp
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Day 7 2020 Summit Day and Mweka Hut (10,500') (day 6 on the mountain)
We will start the climb at around midnight. We will start with very steep rocks for 1 hour, and then enter a snow covered area where you can see glaciers above. If it's a moonlight night, you may turn off your headlamp and walk in the moonlight, it is a wonderful experience. Next 2 hours to Stella Point, we will take a break every 15 minutes as the struggle becomes more mentally and physically challenging. Then we will get to Stella Point where the Lava fields are like loose sand. It's very funny and frustrating because you will take a step up and slide back gaining 0 distances and if not careful slide back 2 steps and gain negative 2 steps. After breakfast, we will climb to UHURU PEAK for 1 hr just as the sun appears over the Mawenzi peaks. We will be at UHURU PEAK (19370ft) around 6.00 or 7:00am. We will start our descent which is steep and rigorous via Stella Point to Barafu hut Camp. We will stop at Barafu Camp for lunch and a good rest before we proceed down to Mweka camp, a very comfortable hike, but very dusty (in dry season) and long.
Dinner and overnight at Millennium Camp
Day 8 2020 Arusha (day 7 on the mountain and hike out)
After breakfast at the camp, start hiking down. This will take about 4 to 5 hours to make the 4,500 feet descent to the park gate. Check out and receive Kilimanjaro climbing certificate at the park gate office. A hot lunch will be served at the gate / Moshi town. This will be followed by farewell /goodbye to your mountain crew. After lunch you will drive through very beautiful coffee plantations and small villages of the Chagga people en route to Arusha.
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Dinner and Overnight – Own arrangements