Overview of Machame Route
The Machame
Route up Kilimanjaro is one of the most scenic of the routes up to Uhuru
Peak. It also affords one the chance of acclimatisation due to the
concept of climb high, sleep low. The ascent is from the western
side of Kilimanjaro, with the descent down the southern face along
the Mweka route. One
passes through changing vegetation from a tropical forest, to
scrubland, to alpine desert and onwards to the summit with it
incredible ice fields. You will start your trek at
Machame Forest and heads through the lush forest, hanging with moss
and lichen with its enormous forest canopy, gradually up the Machame
Camp for the first night. Next day, the route heads into a scrubland
with giant Lobelia and daisy bushes up toward Shira Camp before
heading next day into the alpine desert towards Lava Tower and back
down to Barranco. From here on in the terrain remains like an alpine
desert, with the glaciers reaching down the mountain like long
fingers, to about 4800m. You will hit the snow line at about 5700m,
maybe higher.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Tanzania and transfer to
the hotel.
Day 2
Your day starts around 06h00
with breakfast, after which you head to Machame village and on to
Machame camp
to start trekking. Rain in the Machame forest is possible although the
paths are in very good condition having been re-worked in 2005. About half
way, you will stop for lunch before continuing up to Machame camp in the
late afternoon.
Day 3
You will head out of
Machame camp and climb quite steeply for about for the hour until you are
above the forest area and then follow a more gently gradient toward the
base Shira Plateau. Then you will head up the rocky outcrop before heading
in an easterly direction, towards Shira Camp.
Day 4
After breakfast, you will
quickly leave the moorland scrub behind and enter into a moonscape of
semi-alpine desert, while you hike constantly upwards toward Lava Tower.
After Lava Tower your route will head down by almost 680m to the
Barranco camping.
Day 5
Early morning, you will head up
the impressive Great Barranco Wall. The route then heads down through the
Karanga Valley over several ridges and valleys where you will see the
magnificent giant Senecio Kilimanjari. You will then join up with your
later descent route where you will head left up the ridge for another
hour, before reaching Barafu Hut.
Day 6
You
will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you will head off 'pole
pole' into the night. Heading in a North westerly direction you
will ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point (5685) on the crater
rim. The hike up is about 6 hours. The remainder of the climb to Uhuru Peak
will take anything from 1-2 hours. After your moment of glory, you will
head back to Barafu, in about 2 hours where you will have a chance to
rest, buy a cola or two before heading down towards Mweka hut
(3100m).
Day 7
After
an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour scenic hike
back to the Park gate. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are
issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak
(5895m) receive gold certificates.
Day 8
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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Dates/Prices
Trekking dates
1 April to 31 May 2010
2-5 people per person
sharing: $1,287.50
6-10 people per
person sharing: $ 1,263.00
Price includes
Transfers
from the airport to hotel and return
All
park fees
The
climb
All meals on the mountain
Sleeping Tents
Eating
utensils
Two
nights accommodation in Moshi on a bed and breakfast, twin /
triple share basis.
Prices excludes
International
flights
Required
airport taxes
Visa’s
Vaccinations
Porters
tips
Items
of clothing, sleeping bags and miscellaneous drinks, etc.
Ratio of porters per climber: 4/5 to 1
Note: The above period is during low season and
the mountain is more susceptible to rain.
CONDITIONS:
Tour
must be paid in full at time of booking and is subject to
availability
Price
applies to a minimum of two people per person sharing
Price applies to treks undertaken between
1 April to 31 May 2010
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Grade - 2c FP
A
combination of very long days with steep paths, boulders and
mountain scrambling. Glaciers and snow may be encountered at high
altitude. There is no need for technical climbing experience. Medium
risk of altitude sickness. Altitudes up to 6000m.
Good cardio vascular
fitness is needed with weight and circuit training and running. Lots
of hill walking. Backpacks will weight about 4-5kg and contain
water, camera and essentials. Trek weight loss in the region of 4kg.
Fully Portered
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