Machame Route Full Moon Special
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 its incredible ice fields. You will
start your trek at
Machame Forest and head through the lush forest, hanging with
moss and lichen with its enormous forest canopy, gradually up to
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
16 November 2010
Arrive Tanzania and transfer to
the hotel.
17 November 2010
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.
18 November 2010
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.
19 November 2010
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.
20 November 2010
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.
21 November 2010 (Full Moon)
You
will rise around 23h30 on 19th November, 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).
22 November 2010
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.
23 November 2010
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
End of services
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Dates/Prices
Prices are quoted in USD and are subject to
change until paid in full
Price per person sharing:
2
- 5 people per person sharing:
$1245.00
6
or more people per person sharing: $1220.00
Extra days on the
mountain: $172.00 per person per day
Single Supplement:
$65.00 per person
Note: This is
considered low season on the mountain and thus more prone to get
rain on the lower reaches and snow at summit.
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
CONDITIONS:
Tour must be paid in full at time of booking
Price applies to a minimum of two people per person sharing and
excludes single supplements where they may apply.
Price applies to tours undertaken on the above dates
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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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