- Mbezi Beach - P.O. Box 63129 Dar es Salaam - Tanzania
- +255 (0)787 273 814 / +255 (0)715 416 161
- info@shokishoki.co.tz
The Machame Route is our most popular and successful route to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Even though the route is more difficult than Marangu route, the main reason is making this route to be difficult, because it is more strenuous, the trail is often steeper and involves several ups and down and crossing.
Hikers sleep in tents which are carried up the mountain by porters. Machame route is a very attractive and beautiful route, hikers can complete in 6 days, but we strongly recommend hiking the route in 7 days, for allowing them to acclimatize.
Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
Distance: 11 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
You will be picked up from Moshi and transfer to Machame gate, the drive will take aprox 50 min. Before you reach the gate, you will pass through the village of Machame located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Upon arrival at the gate will fill necessary form then will start walking through the dense rain forest on winding trail, until we reach the Machame Camp.
Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Heath
Wake up early morning at Machame Camp for breakfast, then you climb an hour through rain forest and then for 2 hours up to the moorland zone. You will stop lunch then continue up a rocky ridge on top of the Shira plateau
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
Now we will turn east into a semi desert and rocky landscape bordering with tower. You will reach an altitude of 4642m, trek is about 5 hours, you will have lunch at friendly location. This day will be the toughest day. This will be first time, some climbers will not support the weather or will experience symptoms of breathlessness, headaches and irritability. After lunch will trek again by almost 658M to Barranco camping area.
Once you reach the high altitude of 4600m at Lava tower, you will get the real acclimatisation benefit of this day become clear. To reach Barranco camp take 2hrs and the area offer you nice opportunities to take lovely photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is located around the valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, that area it is a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner to prepare.
Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Distance: 5 km | 3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast you will be descending into a gorge to base of the Great Barranco Wall, then you will hike nearly 900 ft cliff. Upon the top of Barranco Wall we will pass by a chain of hills and Valleys while waiting for to descend sharply into Karanga Valley. Overnight at Karanga Camp.
Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Distance: 4 km | 2 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After a cup of coffee, you will leave Karanga and through the junction which links the Mweka Trail then we will proceed up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. Once you complete the southern Circuit you will see a lovely summit views from many different angles. We will rest at the camp and enjoy then having dinner to prepare for summit day. The View of the peaks of Mawezi and Kibo can be found from the position of Barafu camp.
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: 4-6 hours Habitat: Rain
Around midnight we will start walking to the summit. Today will be the most of mentally and physically challenging day of the trek. The weather can be wind and cold at this elevation and time day can be radical. We climb in darkness for several hours and friendly break near Stella Point – 18900 ft upon there you see a marvellous sunrise coming from Mawezi Peak. Finally, we reach the top at Uhuru Peak- Kilimanjaro the highest point and continent of Africa.
After the summit, we will descent straight to the Mweka Hut camp site then stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trails will be quite hard and very rocky. Mweka Camp is located through the upper forest and fog or rain in the late afternoon can be expected. Today will be your last day to enjoy your dinner on the Mountain and good day to sleep.
Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km | 6 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat:
Rain Forest
Today is the last day, after breakfast will start the descent to Mweka Gate and get your summit certificates. It might be wet and muddy due to lower elevations. Once you step out of the gate you will continue to Mweka Village roughly 1 hour, the vehicle will be waiting for you then drive you back to the hotel in Moshi.
+255 (0)787 273 814 (Office) +255 (0)715 416 161 (Direct)
info@shokishoki.co.tz
Mbezi Beach - P.O. Box 63129Dar es Salaam - Tanzania
Shoki Shoki Safaris and Travel are specialized in holiday adventures in Tanzania. We are based in Dar es Salaam, Mbezi Beach, Africana (HQ) and Zanzibar Island.
