6 DAYS KILIMANJARO TREKKING VIA MACHAME ROUTE

OVERVIEW:

Considered to be the most beautiful and scenic of the various routes up Mount Kilimanjaro, the Machame Route is appropriate for more adventurous hikers who wish for a more physically demanding climb than Marangu or Rongai can offer. You can choose to complete this route in either six days or seven days.
One of the most breathtaking and popular routes on Mount Kilimanjaro, the Machame (or ‘Whiskey’) route contains some tough climbing that rewards those who prepare and endure when the going gets tough.
For those wanting a scenic climb and a physical challenge, Machame is the perfect combination.

Day 0: Pre-trek Briefing

we will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. Pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel. You should be planning to arrive atleast one day before the start of the trek. Today we will spend in having a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.

Day 1: Machame Gate (1,800 m) - Machame Camp (3,000 m)

Hiking Time: 9 km taking 5-7 hours
Terrain: Mountain forest, heather and moorland zone
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Your trek to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro will start at the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gates. Here you will meet you guide and porters, who will be your family for the next week!
When your registers, packed and ready to go, your guide will lead you through a winding trail through the rainforest to your first camp, Machame Camp, where you will have dinner and spend the night. .

Day 2: Machame Camp (3,000 m) – Shira Camp (3,750 m)

Hiking Time: 7 km taking 7 hours
Terrain: Heather and moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
In the morning you will leave the glades of the rainforest and make your way passed a valley along a rocky ridge to the end of the ridge. Your path leads you to a river gorge where you will make camp for the night.
Here at Shira Camp some groups will stay an extra night to acclimatise, you however, will press on in the morning to the next camp.

Day 3: Shira Camp (3,750 m) - Lava Tower (4,600 m) - Barranco Camp (3,900 m)

Hiking Time: 10 km taking 6-8 hours
Terrain: Heather and moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today you will see many different things on your hike upwards! From the Shira Plateau you will make your way towards Kibo Peak. On your way you will pass the Lava Tower followed by the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 4,876 meters. You will then descend to the Barraco Camp where you will have dinner and camp for the night.
This day is important for acclimatisation. Even though you camp at a similar elevation to your previous night, you will have reached a great height today!

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,900 m) – Barafu Camp (4,670 m)

Hiking Time: 8 km taking 8 hours
Terrain: Heather, moorland and alpine desert zone
Today is a day full of breathtaking views. In the morning you will ascend the Barranco Wall before trekking across rock and ridges to the Karanga Valley. Here you will be met with breathtaking views of the Western Breach and southern glacier. From there, having completed the Southern Circuit and seen every angle of the summit, you will continue to your next campsite, the Barafu Camp.
Some choose to spend an extra day in the Karanga valley area to further acclimatise.

Day 5: Barafu Camp (4,670 m) - Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) - Mweka Camp (3,100 m)

Hiking Time: 19 km taking 13-15 hours
Terrain: Alpine desert, snow, heather and moorland
Today is the day! You’ll awake before midnight to start your 6 hour assent. The climb will take you past the final waypoint, Hans Meyer point (5,888 m/19,318 ft) after which you will reach the summit of Uhuru Peak. You have finally done it! You have reached the highest point on in Africa at 5,895m/19,341 ft. This achievement will be tough to top, that’s for sure.
After a moment of basking in your triumph you will start your descent down past Barafu Camp to to Mweka Camp. Here you will enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and some well-earned sleep.

Day 6: Mweka Camp (3,100 m) – Mweka Gate (1,640 m)

Hiking Time: 10 km taking 3-4 hours
Terrain: Heather, moorland and montane forest
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate. 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). A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Moshi.