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BRIEF
ITINERARY
Day
1 Machame
Gate/Machame Camp
Day
2 Machame
Camp/Shira Camp
Day
3 Shira
Plateau/Barranco
Camp
Day 4 Barranco
Cliff/Karanga Camp
Day
6 Karanga
Camp/Barafu Camp
Day
7 Barafu
Camp-ascent to summit/Descent
to Mweka Camp
Day
8 Mweka
Camp/Mweka Gate
(park entrance)
OVERVIEW
Machame
route is the second
easiest ascent route
with a trailhead
on the western side
of the mountain
close to a good
tarmac road making
it convenient from
Arusha, Kilimnjaro
International Airport
and the northern
Parks.
It
is reputed to be
one of the most
scenic routes with
panoramic views
across the Maasai
Steppe and Mt. Meru
and views of the
beautiful Barranco
Valley and is becoming
even more popular
than Marangu. Referred
to as the “whisky”
route in comparison
with Marangu’s “Coca-Cola”,
Machame is more
demanding with a
longer ascent thus
appealing to more
serious trekkers
and is less subscribed.
Those
keen to try something
a little more strenuous
or different, can
take the Western
Breach route from
Shira camp onwards
(see Shira Route).
Ascent from Machame
and descent through
Mweka rather than
the same ascent
allows trekkers
to see more of the
mountain and not
meet other climbers
en-route.
DETAILED
ITINERARY
Day
1
Drive
from Arusha to Machame
village and the
Machame gate for
the start of the
trek. Enjoy
a 2 to 3 hrs hike
through dense forest
and amongst giant
rubber trees, begonia
flowers and other
tropical vegetation
before stopping
for lunch. This
stage of the climb
is relatively easy
but there is no
need to rush to
camp as there is
little to do there.
Take time to admire
the surroundings.
A slow ascent is
recommend for gradual
acclimatization.
Thereafter,
hike on to the end
of the tropical
forest and start
of tall grasses
and giant heather,
walking on a ridge
between Semira stream
and the Weru Weru
on the right.
You
will arrive at Machame
Camp between 1700
hrs and 1800 hrs.
Accommodation
is in camp tents
set up near old
metals huts once
used for shelter.
Overnight:
Machame Camp (3030m)
Day
2
After
an early wake-up
call with tea/coffee,
you wake up to spectacular
views of Uhuru peak
before the day’s
6 hrs hike up a
steep track through
a savannah of tall
grass, volcanic
rock and bearded
heather. You will
probably encounter
giant groundsels
as you hike through
a ghostly landscape
of volcanic lava,
caves and foamy
streams.
Enjoy
lunch just before
the Shira Plateau,
about 3 to 4 hrs
from Shira Camp.
Continue the hike
to Shira Camp, 3800M
where you arrive
between 1400 hrs
and 1500 hrs.
Because
of the steepness,
most climbers tend
to pace themselves,
walking slowly and
resting about every
half-hour. Many
may also feel lethargic
and have headaches
by the time they
reach camp. Those
with symptoms of
altitude sickness
are well advised
to drink tea and
sleep a lot.
Overnight
Shira Camp
Day
3
After
an early wake-up
call with tea/coffee,
you wake up to panoramic
views of the entire
Shira Plateau greeting
you with sweeping
vistas across to
Mt. Meru and the
Shira Needles.
Today’s
6 hrs hike takes
us past the pass
at Lava Tower 4500m,
where we stop for
lunch. We cross
the Bastains stream,
as we start a descent
that takes us past
an immense canyon
called the Grand
Barranco. Other
features along the
way include numerous
waterfalls fed by
streams from the
mountain that converge
here to form Umbwe
River.
We
arrive at Barranco
Camp, 3950M set
at almost the same
altitude as the
previous night between
1630 and 1730 hrs.
Overnight
Barranco Camp
Day
4
Today,
we have a relatively
easy 4 hrs hike
to Karanga Camp,
3950M same altitude
as Barranco Camp
where we arrive
at about 1300 hrs
forlunch. But for
a climb at Barranco
Cliff the rest of
the hike is climbing
up and down the
slopes of the mountain
to camp.
The
afternoon may be
spent hiking in
the Karanga Valley.
Giant senecios and
lobelia grow here.
But one is best
advised to rest
as much as possible
to prepare you for
the climb ahead.
Overnight
Karanga Camp
Day
5
With
views of Mawenzi
peak towering to
the right and Kibo
peak ahead seeming
a little out of
reach, today’s hike
to Barafu very scenic.
The hike is mostly
on a moraine but
the alpine desert
terrain is a mineral
environment with
few lichens and
mosses.
We
enjoy lunch en-route
and arrive at Barafu
Camp, 4600M at around
1430 hrs. For those
who choose to ascend
the peak, tomorrow
will be the longest
day of the tour.
We are best advised
to retire early
and catch some sleep.
Overnight
Barafu Camp
Day
6
After
a wake up at midnight
with a very light
breakfast, today’s
13 hrs hiking starts
at 0100 hrs. This
is the most difficult
part of the climb
with temperatures
ranging from -4°
to 5° Fahrenheit
and most climbers
suffering altitude
sickness. Climbers
are advised to carry
as little as possible.
Flanked
by the Ratzel and
Rebman glaciers,
we climb for about
6 hrs to the edge
of the crater, between
Stella and Hans
Meyer points. Another
1 hr of climbing
brings us to the
summit, Uhuru Peak
which standing at
5,860M is the highest
point in Africa.
The track
around the edge
of the crater is
rocky and icy so
climbers are advised
to concentrate on
their feet and follow
the guide very closely.
And the descent
is no easier.
We
reach Kibo Hut after
about 3 hrs (around
11:30 AM) with opportunity
for resting and
some refreshments
before continuing
on the descent.
We reach Mweka Camp
at around 1700 hrs,
having trekked for
about 13 hrs for
overnight.
Overnight:
Mweka Camp (3090m)
Day
7
We
descend from Mweka
to the base, gate
approx. 5 hrs arriving
before noon to be
awarded with certificates
for a successful
climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
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