6 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking - Machame Route

6 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE ITINERARY

DAY 0: ARRIVAL TO TANZANIA.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro international airport and transferred to your hotel in moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day .
Days 1: Hotel ( Moshi / Arusha) - Machame Gate - Machame Camp
Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
Distance: 11 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
The drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate takes about 50 minutes from moshi and 3 hrs from Arusha. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. As we leave the park gate, we walk through the dense rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp.
DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP TO SHIRA 2 CAMP
Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-7 hours
Habitat: Heath
We leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, we pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp.
DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP - LAVA TOWER - BARRANCO CAMP
Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft
Distance: 7 km/4 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
Distance: 3 km/2 miles
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
We continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization..
DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
Elevation:3900m to 4600m, 13,007ft to 15,295ft
Distance: 9 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb up leads us to Karanga Camp.
We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.
DAY 5: BARAFU CAMP TO UHURU PEAK
Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic
Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 4-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. 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 6: MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE
Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

PRICE INCLUDES

Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
2 nights of accommodation in Moshi.
Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate.
Park entry fees.
Camping fees.
Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees.
18% VAT on tour fees & services.
4 Season mountain tents.
Double layered Sleeping Mats.
Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters.
3 hot meals daily while on the mountain.
Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek.
Hot water for washing.
Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO).
Government taxes.
Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter.
Emergency first-aid kit.

PRICE EXCLUDES

Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
Travel insurance.
Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is available for extra charges $ 225 for the entire trek.
Flights.
Laundry (Available at hotel).
Personal items and toiletries.
Tips for guides, porters and cook (this is a guide to tipping on the mountain).
*Tips on Mountain Kilimanjaro are recommended for group sharing as follows:
Guide $25 - $30 per day
Assistant Guide $20 - $25 per day
Waiter/camping crew/dish washer $15 per day
Chef $20 - $25 per day
Porters $10 per day

TREKKING EQUIPMENTS

Technical Clothing:

• 1 - Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood

• 1 - Insulated Jacket, synthetic or down

• 1 - Soft Jacket, fleece or soft-shell

• 2 - Long Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric

• 1 - Short Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric

• 1 - Waterproof Pants, breathable (side zipper recommended)

• 2 - Hiking Pants

• 1 - Fleece Pants

• 1 - Shorts (optional)

• 1 - Long Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric

• 3 - Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric recommended

• 2 - Sport Bra (women)

Equipment

• 1 - Sleeping Bag, warm, four seasons

• 1 - Camp Pillow, inflatable (optional)

• 1 - Trekking Poles, collapsible (highly recommended)

• 1 - Head Lamp, with extra batteries

• 1 - Duffel Bag, 50-90L capacity, for porters to carry your equipment

• 1 - Daypack, 30-35L capacity, for you to carry your personal gear

Paperwork

• Passport – Valid more than 6 months.

• Visa (applied online but also available at JRO)

• Immunization Papers

• Insurance Document (That covers 6000m recommended) *

Accessories

• 1 - Sunglasses or Goggles

• 1 - Backpack Cover, waterproof (optional)

• 1 - Water Bottle (Nalgene, 32 oz.)

• 1 - Water Bladder (Camelbak type, 3 liters)

• 1 - Towel, lightweight, quick-dry (optional)

• 1 - Pee Bottle, to avoid leaving room/tent at night (recommended)

Head Wear

• 1 - Brimmed Hat, for sun protection

• 1 - Knit Hat, for warmth

• 1 - Balaclava or Buff, for face coverage (optional)

Hand Wear

• 1 - Gloves, warm (waterproof recommended)

• 1 - Gloves, thin

Footwear

• 1 - Hiking Boots, warm, waterproof, broken-in

• 1 - Gym Shoes, to wear at camp (optional)

• 3 - Socks, wool or synthetic

• 1 - Gaiters, waterproof (optional)

Other Important things:

• Toiletries

• Prescriptions

• Sunscreen

• Lip Balm

• Insect Repellent, containing DEET

• First Aid Kit

• Hand Sanitizer

• Toilet Paper

• Wet Wipes (recommended)

• Snacks, light-weight, high calorie, high energy (optional)

• Electrolytes, powder or tablets (optional)

• Camera, with extra batteries (optional)

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Kilimanjaro Trekking Information