Local Tours & Experiences by Dismas Alex

DAY 01: Moshi/Machame Gate to Machame Camp Elevation (m): 1830m to 3100m Elevation (ft): 6000ft to 10,200ft Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Montane Forest At 0800 hrs drive from Sali Salinero Hotel Moshi to Machame National Park Gate it takes about forty minutes drive from Moshi and one hour and half from Arusha. The journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. After registration and all the formalities, with the porters and guides you leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp. DAY 02: Machame Camp to Shira Camp Elevation (m): 3100m to 3840m Elevation (ft): 10,200ft to 12,600ft Walking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Moorland After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite. DAY 03: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp Elevation (m): 3840m to 4630m to 3860m Elevation (ft): 12,600ft to 12,700ft Walking Time: 5-7 hours Habitat: Semi-desert From the Shira Plateau, we continue to northeast up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South east towards the Lava Tower, where we will be having picnic hot lunch, shortly after the tower, we can see second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 4,876 meters. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3,860 meters. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day. DAY 04: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp Elevation (m): 3860m to 4200m Elevation (ft): 12,700ft to 13,800ft Hiking Time: 3 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. DAY 05: Karanga Camp to Barafu High Camp Elevation (m): 4200 to 4600m Elevation (ft): to 15,100ft Distance: 6 km Hiking Time: 3 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert After breakfast, we leave Karanga and continue to the Barafu High camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position. DAY 06: Barafu High Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m) Elevation (ft): 15,100ft to 19,300ft (and down to 10,200ft) Distance: 7km ascent / 23km descent Hiking Time:6- 8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (5685m), 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 may encounter snow all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu high camp for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. DAY 07: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi Elevation (m): 3100m to 1830m Elevation (ft): 10,200ft to 6000ft Distance: 15 km Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Forest After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka gate to drive you to Moshi 7 DAYS MACHAME ROUTE CLIMBING ITINERARY. MACHAME ROUTE CLIMBING ITINERARY INCLUDES: • Tanzania VAT on tourism activities and park fees • Transfer from your hotel to starting point for your climb and return to your hotel after your climb • Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food • All Kilimanjaro National Park gate fees, camping fees, and climbing permits. • Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees (Kilimanjaro Rescue Team) • Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summiting aid) • Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only) • Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters and cook • Salaries for the mountain crew as per guidelines set by Kilimanjaro National Park • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as hot drinks on the mountain • Camping equipment (tents, camp chairs, tables & sleeping mattress • Water for washing up daily • Porter to carry your duffel bag (max weight 15kg / 32 lbs) from one camp to the next camp. • Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt • A comprehensive Climbing Kilimanjaro travel info pack MACHAME ROUTE CLIMBING ITINERARY EXCLUDES: • Items of a personal nature • Compulsory tips for guides, porters and cook (average tip is anything from $ 230 to $ 300 per hiker – depending on the number of days / how many hikers in the group and route chosen) • Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store • Optional but highly recommended Portable toilet • Snacks, personal medicine, and water purifying tablets • Meals & drinks not specified and snacks • Tips and any items of personal nature. SAFETY Success is what we want during our trip. We are prepared for any urgent situation and also have in place a complete evacuation procedure in case of altitude sickness. We carry first aid supplies, supplement summit oxygen, and Pulse Oximeters).

What's Included

• Sight Seeing
• Meals Included
• Stay Included
• Vehicle Included