10 DAY TOUR OVERVIEW.
THE MACHAME ROUTE is our most successful and popular hiking route on Mt. Kilimanjaro, mainly as a result of the
following two important factors:
- On day 3 of the hike the topography of this route, allow you to climb high and sleep low – when you start from Shira camp (3 847m) hike up to Lava Tower (4 642m) and then down to Barranco camp (3 984m) to overnight.
- The summit attempt path from Barafu camp has less loose scree (rocks) compared to the summit attempt path from Kibo Hut, making it slightly easier to reach the crater rim.
After Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro also this tour will take you to the Lake Manyara National Park:one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a shallow but huge soda lake, located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The size of the park makes it perfect for a one-day game drive and is notably famous for it’s tree-climbing lions. Also this tour will take you to the Tarangire National Park, which features some of the greatest concentration of game in Tanzania – second only to the Ngorongoro Crater – but less crowded and unspoiled – possessing a wild and unkempt beauty. Finally this tour will take you to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, featuring one of the highest concentrations of game and arguably the densest population of predators and carnivores in Africa. Here you will witness an amazing spectacle of African wildlife – inside a self-contained world teeming with animals.
Machame Route.
Duration of climb: 5 – 6 days
Day 0: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha.
Distance: 45 Km
Welcome to Tanzania. Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport you will meet your safari guide/driver transfer to Arusha city to Green Mountain Hotel for dinner and overnight. (45 km, 43 minutes)
- Meals: Dinner and Overnight.
- Accommodation:Green Mountain Hotel-Semi Luxury Accommodation
- Guide: Professional English guide or other requested by the client.
- Kids allowed:3+
- Difficulties: Low
Day 01: Machame Gate (1828m) – Machame camp (3020m).
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 10.8 km
Habitat: Montane forest
Your day starts early with breakfast, followed by a 1 hour drive from Arusha (86km) to the Machame Gate (1828m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment at the gate. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong 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 halfway and will reach the Machame camp (3020m) in the late afternoon.
Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on arrival. In the evening the porters will bring a small bowl of washing water to your tent and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.
- Overnight: at Machame Camp (3020m)
- Meals:Breakfast – Lunch and Dinner
Day 02: Machame camp (3020m) – Shira camp (3847m).
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 5.2 km
Habitat: Moorland
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 847m. The porters will once again supply you with a small bowl of washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.
- Overnight: at Shira Camp (3847m)
- Meals:Breakfast – Lunch and Dinner
Day 03: Shira Camp (3847m) to Lava Tower (4642m) to Barranco camp (3984m).
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 10.7 km
Habitat: Semi-desert
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4642m after about a 5 hour trek. Lunch is served at a designated area. This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start experiencing symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 658m to the Barranco camping area.
After reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent 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 your dinner to be prepared.
- Overnight: at Barranco Camp (3984m)
- Meals:Breakfast – Lunch and Dinner
Day 04: Barranco camp (3984m) – Barafu camp (4681m).
Hiking time: 8 hours
Distance: Approximately 9.4 km
Habitat: Alpine desert
After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end usually turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you should reach Barafu Hut.
The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.
The summit is now a further 1214m higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Prepare your equipment, hiking poles and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.
- Overnight: at Barafu Camp (4681m)
- Meals:Breakfast – Lunch and Dinner
Day 05: summit attempt.
Barafu camp (4681m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3090m)
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Mweka Camp
Distance: Approximately 4.5 km ascent and 10.8 km descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will get up around 23h20, and after breakfast you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers the 6-hour walk to Stella point is mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5739m) 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 get going 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 (3090m). 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 prepared.
- Overnight: at Machame Camp (3090m)
- Meals:Breakfast – Lunch and Dinner
Day 06: Mweka camp (3090m) – Mweka Gate (1641m) – Arusha
Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 8.5 km
Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descend longer than planned.
It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Visit the tips page for more info.
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 (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! After lunch you drive back to Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!
- Dinner and Overnight at Green Mountain Hotel
Day 07: Arusha to Arusha National Park
Distance: 51 km
Non – game viewing time: 1 hr
From Arusha City, after breakfast your safari guide will pick you up from your hotel to Arusha park, one-hour drive to take you to Arusha National Park.The African Arusha National Park’s three most significant features include the rugged Mount. Meru (Tanzania’s second highest peak at 4566m), the notably different coloured Momela Lakes, and the 3km wide Ngurdoto Crater, which was formed about fifteen million years ago! The varied and beguiling animals and flora found in this game reserve are mainly determined by the different altitude and geography of these 3 “zones”. You spend a full day in the park, maximizing your opportunities to spot the excellent range of animal and birdlife it has to offer. A picnic lunchbox is included in the day tour. At early evening , you make the short return journey back to Arusha City, where you should arrive at evening to drop you off at your hotel.
- Meals: Dinner and Overnight.
- Accommodation:Green Mountain Hotel-
Day 08: Arusha to Tarangire National Park.
Distance: 139km
Non – game viewing time: 3 hrs
After breakfast from your requested accommodation, you will start your safari to southwest through Maasai steppe land to Tarangire National Park with picnic Lunch boxes.
You will spend hours for the day game viewing in Tarangire, viewing some of Tanzania’s largest populations of elephant and enjoying the diverse scenery, including the dramatic baobab trees that are so typical of the park. This park boasts a high concentration of animals, including elephant, zebra, eland, and wildebeest and plenty of predators.
Picnic Lunch will be served at the picnic site where you will have a nice view of Tarangire River overlooking down the valley where most of the animals will be gathering drinking from the river. After Lunch you will proceed with game drives until evening when you will start drive to Karatu for Dinner and Overnight .
- Meals: Breakfast – Lunch and Dinner.
- Accommodation: Fanaca Campsite- Budge Camping Accommodation :
Day 09: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park.
Distance: 110 km
Non – game viewing time: 2 hrs
After breakfast the tour departs. First stop is Arusha Town for any last minute purchases before we head off on safari. Afterwards we head to Lake Manyara. Lake Manyara National Park offers breathtaking views and a large variety of habitats. Acacia woodlands, water forests, baobab strewn cliffs, algae-streaked hot springs, swamps and the lake itself. And thanks to this the small Park is able to support a large number of animal species and incredible bird life. Manyara has the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world and the lions here are also renowned for their tree climbing.Drive back to Karatu for Dinner and Overnight.
- Meals: Breakfast. Lunch and Dinner.
- Accommodation: Fanaca Campsite- Budge Camping Accommodation :
Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha.
Distance:210 Km
Non game-viewing travel time: 4 hours
After an early breakfast the tour will depart to Ngorongoro Crater. You will descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest, unbroken and unfolded caldera in the world and it has an unbelievable diversity of wildlife. In addition to zebras and wildebeests, you might also spot the rare black rhino and other members of the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. The crater is also home to other animals such as hyenas, water bucks, bush bucks, eland and more than 500 bird species. After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch you will leave the caldera in the early afternoon and drive back to Arusha, where you will arrive in the early evening to your hotel or drive off to Airport.
Price including VAT
Items included:
- Accommodation before and during Safari.
- All Kilimanjaro National Park gate fees, camping / hut fees and climbing permits.
- Transportation in 4×4 safari vehicle
- Hotel storage facilities for excess luggage during hikes.
- Professional, English speaking guide
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mat, camp chairs), camp tables, mess tent & cutlery for meals) – not applicable on the Marangu route as all meals are served at the camps in designated dining halls.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt.
- Mineral water
- A comprehensive Climbing Kilimanjaro Travel Information pack
- Overnight Accommodation as requested.
- Airport Transfer
- All national park fees
Items not included:
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Visa fees
- Tips to Driver/Guide $20/group/Day
- Personal spending monies for souvenirs etc.
- Optional but highly recommended travel and medical insurance.
- Travel insurance
- Health requirements (Yellow Fever – only compulsory if you travel to Tanzania via a Yellow Fever infected country, Meningitis & Hepatitis A remains optional, but comes recommended)
- Snacks, personal medicine and water purifying tablets.
- Personal hiking/trekking gear – you could rent some of the gear in Tanzania