Machame Route kilimanjaro climbing - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )
Machame Route:
Africa Natural Tours (For Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar) Tanzania safari
company in Moshi
Specialized
in: Wildlife safaris, Mountain climbing,
Cultural tourism and Beach holidays in East Africa
Contact
+255 653 679 958
Email: info@africanaturaltours.com
Website: www.africanaturaltours.com
Duration of climb: 6 – 7 days
Day one: 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 45-minute drive from Moshi
(910m) 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.
Day two: 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.
Day three: 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.
Day four: 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 Karranga 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.
Day five – 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 screen and ice-capped summit
You
will get up around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into
the night. You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy
screen towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers the 6-hour walks
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 screen 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.
Day six: Mweka camp (3090m) – Mweka
Gate (1641m)
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 Moshi for a long overdue hot shower,
dinner and celebrations!!LIMBING
For
more information visit www.africanaturaltours.com
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