Machame Route

Overview

Machame route is considered by many climbers as the most beautiful route up Mount Kilimanjaro. If you consider yourself more adventurous hiker, then Machame is the route for you. Climbing mountain Kilimanjaro using Machame route is a rewarding experiencing with a scenic splendor not seen on the Marangu route. Treat yourself with late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, this route offers the adventurous hiker a stunning scenic “slide show” over 7 days. To make the most out of your climb we recommend that you take a minimum of 7 days. Incorporating an extra day into your climb is an added benefit, as you are afforded the most valuable commodity on the mountain – acclimatization. One of the climbing technique that can maximize your chances on this route is the trek that takes you high to Lava Tower (4630m) on the day 3 and brings you down by nearly 700m for an overnight at Barranco camp (3950m). This is has proven the secret to successful acclimatization.

ITINERARY

DAY 01 ARRIVAL INTO KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

On arrival you are personally met at Kilimanjaro International Airport by one of MAPPING AFRICA  staff and transferred to Arusha to a well-appointed hotel. If you arrive during the day then in the afternoon there is a full briefing with the climbs Manager and your guide. Who will also help you go through your climb gear to make sure that you have all that is need to make your climb a success.

Overnight at your hotel in Arusha  

After breakfast you depart by a private vehicle to Kilimanjaro trailhead. To make no porter carries more than the stipulated weight of 20 Kgs per porter your crew will finalize packing at the gate. On arrival at the trailhead you will go through some formalities and after finishing with formalities you will start your Mount Kilimanjaro trekking from the Machame gate. Your first day’s hike is through verdant afromontane forest to Machame camp and on route you have a picnic lunch. Look out for pretty endemic flora and a gradation of forest zones!

Overnight Machame Camp (breakfast – lunch – dinner)

You will spend a second night at Horombo. This is an extra day which has been added to improve your chances of reaching the peak which is your ultimate goal. The entire day will be spent here acclimatizing, in the morning trek up for about 3 hours, then start descending to arrive at your base in time for lunch, after lunch relax, spend rest of the day relaxing, in the evening have a small walk along the valley, return to the Banda for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, you have a long hike that is 13 km to Kibo hut at an elevation of 4,732 m above sea level in an average hiking time of 6 hours. You will now get a chance to encounter spectacular mountain vegetation like Lobelia, giant cactus and groundsel.

This is the day you have been waiting for, you are nervous but excited. Wake up at 02.00 a.m. for a pre-down attempt of the summit. It will take you about 5 hours to reach Gilman’s Point at 5,681 m above sea level. From Gilman’s it takes 1 hour to summit Uhuru Peak, the highest point in African at 5,896 m above sea level. After reaching Uhuru Peak spend some time taking photos and watching as the African sun rises from the horizon. Afterwards descend to Horombo hut for overnight.

This is the day you have been waiting for, you are nervous but excited. Wake up at 02.00 a.m. for a pre-down attempt of the summit. It will take you about 5 hours to reach Gilman’s Point at 5,681 m above sea level. From Gilman’s it takes 1 hour to summit Uhuru Peak, the highest point in African at 5,896 m above sea level. After reaching Uhuru Peak spend some time taking photos and watching as the African sun rises from the horizon. Afterwards descend to Horombo hut for overnight.