Arrival Day

Moshi - Your trip leader will pick you up upon your arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. A car will take you to your hotel. Bristol cottages or Parkview Inn.

Relaxation day

Moshi - You have the morning to rest and relax. After lunch, we will have a brief orientation and equipment check. Then we will do a town tour.dinner and over night at Bristol cottages or Parkview Inn

Drive from Moshi to Machame Gate, hike to Machame Camp (3000m/10,000’)

Machame - Leave from your hotel after breakfast around 9:30am.Drive to Machame gate to meet your guides and porters. You are ready to start the climb. Machame gate to Machame Camp is about 3000m. Hiking time is 5-7 hours through the thick tropical forest. Mountain Camping B.L.D

Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3840m/12,600’)

Mount Kilimanjaro - Today is an easy paced acclimatization day. You will hike over streams, a river gorge, and moorlands. Camp is located on the Shira Plateau, providing views of Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. Hiking time is 4-5 hours. Mountain Camping B.L.D

Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3950m/13,000’)

Mount Kilimanjaro - Today is an important acclimatization day as you travel up to 4250M/15,000’ before spending the night at Barranco. You will ascend through the moorlands to the alpine zone where the only plant life is the heartiest of grasses and lichens. This is the high altitude desert, with glorious views of the Western Breach of Kibo. After about 4 hours the path forks to the right and descends into a gorge (‘Barranco’ in Swahili). There is a fair bit of ‘up and down’ walking today which can be quite tiring. Hiking time is 5 to 6 hours. Mountain Camping B.L.D

Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp (4200m/13,100’)

Mount Kilimanjaro - In the morning you will climb the Barranco wall (not a technical climb) and then follow the Kibo South Circuit.
Wonderful views are to be had of Kibo’s Southern glaciers if the weather is clear. This is a relatively short day, and you should arrive at your camp located just after the Karanga Valley set atop a ridge by lunchtime. Today is a valuable acclimatization day as you will be walking for the morning only and descending various
ridges and valleys during your walk. Hiking time is 3 to 4 hours. Mountain Camping B.L.D

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4630m/15,200’)

Mount Kilimanjaro - As we begin trekking today the trail is a steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we work our way to Barafu Camp. Barafu means “ice” in Kiswahili. The Camp is set on an exposed ridge and is the staging point for our push to the summit. Once again you should arrive by late lunchtime, allowing plenty of time to rest before the final summit attempt. Hiking time is 4 to 5 hours. B.L.D

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak/Mweka or Millennium Camp (11,000’)

Mount Kilimanjaro - A long, hard day! Leaving your campsite at midnight and 12:00am, the climb from Barafu to Stella Point is fairly steep. At Rebmann Glacier (4870m) you head north between Rebmann and Ratzel Glacier, where you may enjoy some stunning views. This brings you to the crater rim just West of Stella Point (about 6 to 7 hours), where you join the main trail for the last leg (about an hour) to the summit at Uhuru (5895m). You will reach Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet, around 8 a.m. At this early hour, before the clouds close in, we have spectacular views of Africa in all directions. The hiking time is 7 to 8 hours. You then head back down, via the Mweka route, where your tents will be pitched for the last time. The section from Uhuru down to Barafu (4 hours) is scree (as on the way up), then you head down through the various vegetation zones, on a continual downhill, into Mweka which is located on the edge of the rainforest area (3-4 hours).
B.L.D

Descend Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive back to Moshi

Moshi - Our last hike of 3 to 4 hours is a descent of 3,500 feet to the trailhead at Mweka Gate. The hike is steep in places and may be slippery if wet. Again we recommend that you use trekking poles. At the gate you will say goodbye to your mountain crew and enjoy a picnic lunch. The trip leaders will take you back to your hotel for a much welcome hot shower. Bristol Cottages or Parkview Inn. B.L

Departure

Moshi - For those returning home you will be transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch your flight. Those continuing on safari or to Zanzibar you will be picked up at your hotel for the continuation of your Real Life African adventure. B.

• Boiled or filtered water on the mountain
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• Camping accommodation during hike
• Emergency Oxygen, oximeters, hyperbaric chamber and Flying Doctors Insurance
• Guide, chef and porters salaries
• All Park Fees

• International or Local Flights
• Alcoholic and soft drinks
• Visa fees
• Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
• Tips
• Travel insurance

The Machame route is now the most popular ascent route on Mt Kilimanjaro. Compared with the Marangu route, the hiking days on the Machame route are longer, the trail steeper.

The scenery is spectacular and the landscape stunning. The Machame route is considered a challenging route and is better suited for more adventurous trekkers and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.

The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. The Machame route approaches the summit from the southwest. It descends using the Mweka route, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau, an optional scramble up Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco Wall, and a traverse underneath Kilimanjaro southern ice field.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.