7 Days Kilimanjaro Majestic Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via the Machame

DAY 1: MOSHI – MACHAME GATE – MACHAME CAMP

( 7 Days Kilimanjaro Majestic Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via the Machame Route )

After breakfast you will be picked up at the lodge and taken to the Kilimanjaro entrance gate. While your guide is busy with the registration forms, you can be preparing yourself for the climb and once this is all done, your Kilimanjaro adventure will begin. In no time you will be deep within the magnificent mountain rainforest with ancient trees, primeval ferns, liana, lichen and moss that carpets the ground and drapes from the trees. You will hear and with a little luck, even spot the beautiful black and white colobus monkeys in the treetops. After 5 to 6 hours, you will reach Machame Camp which is situated just above the tree line. Here, at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro, you will have your first dinner followed by an overnight stay in tents.

• Elevation (ft):5,400 - 9,400ft

• Altitude (m):1,790m - 3010m

• Distance covered: 11km

• Time to be used: 5-7 hours

• Habitat: Rain Forest

• Meals: Lunch and Dinner

• Accommodation: Machame camp

DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA 2 CAMP

( 7 Days Kilimanjaro Majestic Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via the Machame Route )

After an early morning start, the path steepens. The landscape changes into heath and moorland and the open landscape allows you to see the impressive mountain range. Today’s stage is shorter than the previous day and you will arrive at the New Shira Camp by mid-afternoon. The camp has a breath-taking view of the mountain and during sunset, the evening sun lights the rock face and glacier of Kibo.

• Altitude: 3,010 m to 3,845m

• Distance Covered: 5km

• Time to be used: 4 - 6 hours

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Habitant: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone

• Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp

DAY 3: SHIRA 2 CAMP – LAVA TOWER - BARRANCO CAMP

( 7 Days Kilimanjaro Majestic Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via the Machame Route )

Today you will climb about 800 m but you will be camping at an elevation only slightly higher than the previous night. This will allow your body to acclimatize as a height of over 4,500 m will be reached over the next two days. The trek begins with a long ascent above the Shira Plateau in the direction of the Lava Tower. 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 16,000ft.

The vegetation becomes sparser as the landscape changes to an afro-alpine desert. The route passes through the sweeping Barranco Valley with its lobelia and giant senecio plants. After 6 to 7 hours, you will arrive at the most beautiful camp on the mountain – the Barranco Camp.

• Altitude: 3,845 m to 3,845m to 3,960m

• Distance Covered: 10 km

• Time to be used: 6-8 hours.

• Habitat: Semi Desert

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Barranco camp

DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP

( 7 Days Kilimanjaro Majestic Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via the Machame Route )

After sleeping below the Great Barranco Wall, you get your chance to tackle this hurdle. Don’t worry…It’s much easier than it looks. Continue up until you reach just below the Heim Glacier. Then head down through the Karanga Valley. This is the last place for your porters to gather water. They will collect all the water for the remainder of the ascent here. You will settle in here at the Karanga Camp. After lunch, you can spend the afternoon doing light exploring or resting while taking in the views of Mawenzi’s towering spires.

• Altitude: 3,960 m to 4,035 m

• Distance Covered: 7km

• Time to be used: 4- 5 hrs

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Karanga Camp

DAY 5: KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP - KOSOVO CAMP

( 7 Days Kilimanjaro Majestic Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via the Machame Route )

Awakening to the sunlight dancing off the Kibo Summit, you will enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting out to today’s destination – Barafu Camp. Most of the day will be spent walking through very dry desertic terrain, with Kibo ever present on your left side. After 3 to 4 hours, you will reach Barafu Camp. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Shortly after a hot lunch, we left Barafu Camp at 14,930 feet (4,550 m) – the normal setting off point for the summit attempt – and continued on one hour up to a higher, lesser-known camp called Kosovo where we would sleep a few hours before our midnight rises to climb to the top. Few people know about Kosovo Camp and staying there instead of at Barafu saved us an ugly first hour straight up climb at the onset of our quest to reach the top and we take a full night’s sleep and get up at our usual time. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy early dinner and night as the highlight of your trip is only a few short hours away.

• Altitude: 4035 m to 4,640 m to 4863 m

• Elevation: 13,235 ft to 16,076 ft

• Distance Covered: 5 km

• Time to be used: 4-5 hrs

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Accommodation: Kosovo Camp

DAY 6: KOSOVO CAMP – UHURU PEAK – BACK TO BARAFU - MWEKA CAMP

( 7 Days Kilimanjaro Majestic Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via the Machame Route )

After a cup of hot tea and a light snack, the climb begins at around midnight from Kosovo camp. 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 the way on your 1-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.

•Kosovo Camp to Uhuru Peak

•Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

•Elevation: 16,076 ft to 19,341 ft

•Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft

•Distance: 5 km/3 miles

•Distance: 12 km/7 miles

Altitude: 4,863 m to 5,895 m

•Altitude: 5,895 m to 3,080 m

•Hiking Time: 6-7 hours

•Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

•Habitat: Arctic

•Habitat: Rain Forest

>Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner >Accommodation: Mweka Camp

DAY 7: MWEKA CAMP - MWEKA GATE - BACK TO MOSHI

( 7 Days Kilimanjaro Majestic Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via the Machame Route )

The final leg of your amazing adventure begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain crew. Then a gentle 2 to 3 hours’ descent through the rainforest continues to Mweka Gate, where your driver will be waiting for you. He will take you back and after a warm shower, the rest of the day is free to relax, relax at the pool or celebrate your achievement Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!

• Altitude: 3,080 m to 1,630m

• Distance Covered: 9.3km km down

• Time to be used: 2 - 3 hrs.

• Habitat: Rain Forest

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

_THE END OF TREK_