8 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Machame route

Either take the transfer Shuttle bus from Nairobi and drive to Tanzania through Namanga border point or on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will meet our assistant for briefing and our driver for the transfer to Moshi hotel for an overnight in readiness for the 8 Days Mount Kilimanjaro climbing Machame route.

After breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) through the Machame village to the Machame gate, (1,640m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment here and you will receive a packed lunch. After registering at the gate office, then you start your 8 Days Mount Kilimanjaro climbing Machame ascent and enter the rain forest immediately.

There is a possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the evening. Dinner and Overnight at the campsite.
Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 11 km’s | Habitat: Montane forest

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to below freezing. Hiking time: 5- 6 hours | Distance: About 5 km’s | Habitat: Moorland

The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4600m after about 5 hours walk and Lunch is served in a designated area. Definitely, it will be a tough day so far and it is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 650m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4,600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. Descend to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner. Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 10 km’s | Habitat: Semi desert

After breakfast we continue up a steep ridge to the Barranco wall, and then you climb this imposing obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. With kibos glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga valley to the Karanga valley campsite. On the east you can see jagged peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the sky. After a hot lunch in camp, hike east over intervening ridges and valleys to join the Mweka route, which will be your descending route. Turn left toward the mountain and hike up the ridge through a sparse landscape for another hour to the Barafu Hut. The last water on the route is in Karanga valley; there is no water at Barafu camp, even though Barafu is a Swahili word for ‘ice’ the famous snow of Kilimanjaro is far above Barafu camp near the ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark and also prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb. Drinking more fluids is recommended. After an early dinner go to bed for a few hours of precious sleep. 7 hrs.

You will rise around 23h30, have tea and biscuits and shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) 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 will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be provided. Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak | 6 hours to descend to Mweka | Distance: About 5 km’s ascent – 12 km’s descent | Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates.
Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5,720m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates. From the gate, you take a transfer vehicle and drive through agricultural farm with coffee fields around the Mweka village on your way to Moshi/Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations. Overnight at a hotel.
Hiking time: 3 hours | Distance: About 10 km’s | Habitat: Forest

Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home/ Nairobi ending your 8 Days Mount Kilimanjaro climbing Machame hike.

A beach holiday and Safari package is the best combination.