9 Days Machame Route

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and be transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, the hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy room, hot water, polite staffs, a swimming pool, and internet access. In the evening, there will be a briefing with our guide on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gears. Gears which is missing can be rented on this day.

Machame Gate

 (5,905ft/1,800m) to

Machame Camp (9,840ft/3,000m)

• Hiking Time:6-7 hours
• Overnight Altitude: 9,840ft
• Habitat: Rainforest
• Distance: 11km/7miles

Your day start with a breakfast and 45 minutes’ drive from Moshi to the machame gate. You will receive a lunch park at the gate and you can also drink bottled water. After registered at the gate office the group will start trekking up to machame camp (3,000m). The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense forest this path is less well trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy under foot so we are recommended you take not only spare clothes but also your raincoats. On your route you will experience a wonderfully with rainforest with ancient trees, primeval ferns, liana & lichen to mention but a few. Another favorite to look out for on this day is the black and white thumb less colobus monkeys.

Machame Camp

 (9,840ft/3,000m) to

Shira Camp (12,600ft/3,840m)

• Hiking Time:5-6 hours
• Overnight Altitude: 12,600ft
• Habitat: Moorland
• Distance: 7km/4miles

Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent into shira plateau at around mid-afternoon. As you walk will notice the dramatic change in the landscape – from lush and green rainforest to dry moor and heathland. You will also have gradual exposure to increasingly higher altitudes to help with acclimatization process. After lunch, you will climb the Lava Tower 300 meters filled shira plateau then hike through arid pathways. And the most spectacular views of Kibo peak can be seen from shira camp and watch for the shrinking vegetation the higher you ascend Kilimanjaro, including the exotic Lobelia Deckenia and the Scenecio dwarf shrub.

Acclimatization hikes:

Change in Elevation: Shira Camp (3,840)

–Destination Point on route to Lava Tower (4,120m)

– Hiking Distance: 2km    -Hiking Time: 1-2 hours

Shira Camp

 (12,600ft/3,840m) to

Barranco Camp (12,960ft/3,950m) via an Ascent to the Lava Tower (4,120m)

• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
• Overnight Altitude: 12,960ft
• Habitat: Moorland
• Distance: 10 km/6miles

After breakfast, you will climb rough 800m but sleep on a level not much higher than previous night’s starting at shira plateau, you will make your way up to Lava Tower, here you will rest a whole before continuing through the Barranco Valley to the beautiful barranco camp which lies on a col (a flat area). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! Famous for being the most scenic one on the route. You will set up for the night surrounded by massive valley walls and the stunning Kibo massif. View spectacular glaciers draped with sunlight, plants like the exclusively Giant Lobelia and the enormous groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjari) dominate the eerily tranquil landscape while you enjoy a hot, steaming meal.

Barranco Camp

 (12,960ft/3,950m) to

Karanga Valley Camp(13,250ft/4,040m)

• Hiking Time: 4-5hours
• Overnight Altitude: 13,250ft
• Habitat: Alpine Desert.
• Distance: 5km/3miles

Early wake up, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall, a huge ravine we then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. Its climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we heard towards the Karanga Valley some stage will require you to use your hands for a better grip, but not actual climbing is necessary, your guide will be with you every step of the way to lend a helping hand. The route with its numerous ascents and descents allow for further acclimatization and leads you to the mountain ridge. Walking along the ridge you can take in the beautiful landscape with its stunning contrasts of desert and vegetation, before finally reaching the cloudy Karanga Camp. Your trek will take between 3 to 5 hours.

Karanga Valley Camp

 (13,250ft/4,040m) to

Barafu Camp (15,100ft/4,600m)

• Hiking Time: 4-5hours
• Overnight Altitude: 15,100ft
• Habitat: Alpine Desert.
• Distance: 4km/2miles

After a good night rest and breakfast in the morning, we will set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4600m the climb takes us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude as we progress, the temperature will begin to drop and the vegetation will diminish slothfully. The campsite is situated on a minimal, exposed zone of a smooth ridge. An energy dense meal will be served and resting for your midnight ascent to the summit is advised.

Barafu Camp (15,100ft/4,600m) to

Uhuru Peak (19,340ft/5,895m) (Midnight start), descent to Mweka Camp (10,170ft/3,100m)

• Hiking Time: 14-16hours
• Overnight Altitude: 15,100ft
• Habitat: Arctic.
• Distance: 19km/12miles

We start off at around midnight we will begin the final ascent to the cloud covered Uhuru peak, Africa highest point. Your headlamp will illuminate the trail for the next six hours. The ascension to the crater rim is the most strenuous mission on the entire trek the gradient is incredibly steep until you reach Stella Point the high altitude causes the hike from stella point to Uhuru peak to be arduous and slow and the first rays of the sun hit us in (5,739). This last approximate one hour until you reach Uhuru Peak (5,895m) the spectacular ice cliff within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. We begin our descent by returning to stella point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu camp for breakfast, then we will rest for two hours before finally heading down to Mweka camp we will spend the next three to five hours walking to mweka camp. You can spend the last night star gazing and reflecting on your triumph.

Mweka Camp (10,170ft/3,100m) to

Mweka Gate (4,920ft/1,500m)

• Hiking Time: 7-8
• Altitude: 60,046
• Habitat: Rainforest
• Distance: 18km/11miles

After warm breakfast in the morning after which we will head for the Kilimanjaro National Parks exit. Mweka Gate (1,500m). We will pass through the mystical cloud forest again but we ask that you remain cautions as the trail on the way down can be slippery. After your descent the whole crew will gather to congratulate you followed with a big celebration from the mountain crew, full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that tips will be presented to the mountain crew (guide, assistant guide, chef(S) and porters). Lastly, we will present your commemorative certificate. After sign out an Azania Tours vehicle will be there to transport you back to the hotel accommodation in Moshi (about 45 minutes) for long overdue showers and more celebrations.