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Summary
Overview: Machame Route now vies with – and indeed over the last few years has overtaken – the Marangu Route as the most popular trail. Machame is also the regarded by many guides as the most enjoyable, though it is longer and, according to most, more arduous. Despite this, the success rate on the Machame Route is higher than on the Marangu Route, possibly 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 can – and usually is -taken in the Karanga Valley. The Machame Route also gives you the option of taking the Western Breach / Arrow Glacier Route to the summit.
Package Includes
Full briefing before you trip Park fees 2 Nights Accommodation in Moshi Camping fees Camping equipment Rescue fees Food (3 meals per day) Water Salaries (guide, cooks, porters) Transport to and from the mountain for yourselves and the crew Lunch box for the first day Crew park fees Administration fee Certificates of achievement Sleeping tent, mess tent ,camping chairs and table Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO) Airport transfer 2 ways Complimentary
Package Excludes
International flights Visas Travel insurance Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic beverages Additional personal equipment Gratuities Additional activities for after the climb e.g. safaris, waterfall visit, massage etc
Activities
Places
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Physical Condition
- Normal Physical Condition
Connectivity
- No WiFi but some phone coverage
Day-by-day Description
Day 1DAY 1: •Machame Gate to Machame Camp •Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft
Activities Included
HikingDAY 1: •Machame Gate to Machame Camp •Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft •Distance: 11 km •Hiking Time: 5-7 hours •Habitat: Rain Forest The drive from Moshi to the 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 now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest 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 the Machame Camp.
Day 2 DAY 2: •Machame Camp to Shira Camp •Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft •Distance: 5 km •Hiking Time: 4-6 hours •Habitat: Moorland
Activities Included
HikingAfter breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest 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.
Day 3DAY 3: •Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp •Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft •Distance: 10 km •Hiking Time: 6-8 hours •Habitat: Semi Desert
Activities Included
HikingFrom 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. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. 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
Day 4DAY 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp •Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 15,000ft •Distance: 9km •Hiking Time: 8-10 hours •Habitat: Alpine Desert
Activities Included
HikingAfter 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 are to be seen from this position.
Day 5DAY 5: •Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut •Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft) •Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent •Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent •Habitat: Arctic
Activities Included
HikingVery 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 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.
Day 6DAY 6: •Mweka Camp to Moshi •Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft •Distance: 10 km •Hiking Time: 3-4 hours •Habitat: Rain Forest
Activities Included
HikingAfter 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 hotel in Moshi.
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Offical Visa Regulations and Health Requirements
For personalized details on health and visa requirements please check the IATA travel centre here
https://www.iatatravelcentre.comThe most reliable East African connecting flights to Kilimanjaro are run by a Tanzanian Airline called Precision Airways. This said, it can be difficult to coordinate flight arrangements with Precision Airways internationally and we can help to coordinate the internal flights for you should you require as much. There are also bus and train options for traveling from Dar es Salaam and Nairobi to Moshi. We do not recommend this option for people visiting Africa for the first time. However, if you’d like more information on these options, please contact us. Passports and Immigration In order for non-residents to enter Tanzania for a short-term (classified as up to 3 months) the Tanzanian government requires that you have a tourist visa. The tourist visa can be obtained in your home country OR easily at the airport/border in Tanzania for approximately 50 - 100 USD (depending on your country of origin). If you do apply for this in your home country bear in mind that the date of issue is the date the visa will start. Health Precautions Immunizations Arrange to get your vaccinations started six weeks before you leave, so that you’ll have adequate time to get them all in. Check with the travel clinic at a local hospital about what vaccinations are recommended for travel to Tanzania. This information can also be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). At the very least, make sure that your tetanus is up to date, and that you have a Yellow Fever immunization (required for entry into Tanzania). Malaria Malaria is relatively common in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania although recent figures show that prevalence is dropping. Malaria is one of the biggest killers in the world; however the burden falls primarily on those under 5 or immuno-suppressed. For fit and healthy adults Malaria is more of an annoyance (flu-like symptoms; head ache, fever, body aches etc) and effective treatments are widely available. Nonetheless, we strongly recommend that all volunteers take anti-malarials however you can talk with your personal physician about whether or not to take anti-malarial medication and which one would be most suitable for you. Visitors may also want to bring insect repellent with Deet (we suggest 50%) to use while in Tanzania. Malaria is a serious disease and may be deadly. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home, you should seek immediate medical attention. Be sure to tell the physician your travel history Medications Bring any personal prescription medications you may need during your visit, since we cannot ensure their availability in Moshi. You may also want to consider bringing a prescription antibiotic for selftreatment of moderate to severe diarrhea. Bring copies of all prescriptions, including the generic names for medications, and a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationary for controlled substances and injectable medications. Additional over the counter medicines that you may want to bring with you include: - Pepto-Bismol or another Anti-diarrhea medication - Antihistamine - Decongestant, alone or in combination with antihistamine - Anti-motion sickness medication - Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or other medication for pain or fever - Mild laxative - Anti-acid - Antifungal and antibacterial ointments or creams - 1% hydrocortisone cream - Vitamins - For women: - Yeast infection medication - Urinary tract infection medication - Feminine Hygiene (enough for your stay) Insurance International travelers usually have to pay cash for any required medical care during travel. Few places will bill your home health insurance direction. And many health insurance plans do not cover medical care outside of your home country. Given the additional health risks related with living a developing country, we suggest that our clients purchase a travel insurance plan (that includes medical evacuation services) before arriving in Tanzania. Medical evacuations often cost tens of thousands of US Dollars. There are many options for this, including AMREF Flying Doctors, Air Med, Medjet Assistance, International SOS, Patriot Travel Medical Insurance and Foreignsure. Before your trip, we recommend that you consult with an insurance provider about these and other options to decide what is best for you. Should you be climbing Kilimanjaro with us, we will request that you provide us with your medical/travel insurance information, in case of an emergency. Packing Packing can be a daunting task. Following are some lists that will hopefully make it easier.
