Kilimanjaro Conquest

MACHAME ROUTE
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
KILIMANJARO CLIMB ITINERARY

Machame is by far the most popular route and has a very high success rate of making it to the top. It starts with a nice day of walking through the rainforest and has a nice steady altitude increase each day. The route is very scenic, providing hikers with incredible views and varying landscapes. The Machame route is relatively difficult as climbers need to be able to ascend the Barranco Wall on day four and contend with a steep incline up Kibo on summit night. That being said, there are no parts on the route that require any technical climbing skills.

Day 1

You arrive at your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay

Day 2

Your head guide will meet you for the drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate (approximately 45min). After registration, begin climbing along a winding trail through beautiful and lush forest. The climb is steady, gradually easing as you approach camp at Machame Hut. The camp is located on the edge of the forest and giant heather zones.

Elevation Gain: Machame Gate (1,800m / 5,900ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m / 9,800ft)

Day 3

Today is a little shorter, beginning by climbing a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as Picnic Rock. There are excellent views of Kibo, the summit cone of Kilimanjaro, and the jagged rim of the Shira Plateau. Once on the plateau the trail becomes gentler as you continue your climb to Shira Camp. On a clear day the views from here are spectacular.
Elevation Gain: Machame Camp (3,000m / 9,800ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m / 12,600ft)  

Day 4

Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours. This tower is a 300 foot high volcanic plug. Then begin a steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing large flowering plants which actually look like trees, the scenecios. This is good practice for your descent from the summit in a few days time and will take 1-2 hours. Although you will end your day at almost the same elevation as you started, today is very important for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit day. Barranco Camp is in a beautiful, sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall.
Elevation Gain: Shira Camp (3,840m / 12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,850m / 12,650ft) via Lava Tower (4,550m / 14,900ft)

Day 5

After breakfast, leave Barranco Camp and begin the climb up the Barranco Wall. This is an impressive scramble where you will be rewarded with fantastic views back towards camp. From the top, at 4,200m, you will follow an undulating path around the mountain side. On a clear day there are spectacular views of Kibo to your left and Mount Meru to your right. After descending into the Karranga Valley your climb takes you up a short steep path to Karranga Camp.

Elevation Gain: Barranco Camp (3,850m / 12,600ft) to Karranga Camp (3,950m / 13,000ft) via the Barranco Wall (4,200m / 13,800ft)

Day 6

Today you will spend the morning climbing steadily on to Barafu, which is Swahili for ice. This camp is located on the ridge below the summit cone. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. You will arrive at Barafu in time to spend the afternoon resting and enjoy an early dinner in preparation for the summit climb. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Elevation Gain: Karranga Camp (3,950m / 13,000ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m / 15,100ft)

Day 7

In the early hours of the morning you will begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day and therefore you will want clothing for both extremes. The sun will rise and you will be rewarded with a rich red sky framing Mawenzi. At Stella Point (5,750m) you join the crater rim. From here, climb gently to Uhuru Peak which is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit the descent will take you straight down to Mweka Hut, with lunch served on the way. Later in the evening enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Elevation Gain / Loss: Barafu Camp (4,600m / 15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m / 19,300ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,110m / 10,200ft)
 

Day 8

Descend straight to the gate through lush forest, looking for monkeys along the way. Return to Moshi from Mweka Village.

Elevation Loss: Mweka Camp (3,110m / 10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m / 6,000ft)