9-Day Kilimanjaro Climb – Machame Route

A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at your hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing. Then you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's entrance: Machame Gate. After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Machame Camp. Day 1 on the Machame Route includes passage through a rainforest where tropical showers are highly probable, so we recommend you take not only spare clothes but also a raincoat.

PLEASE NOTE:This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:

• Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently);
• To help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness, consider using a preventive measure like a high-altitude aid medicine. Many mountain climbers take such pills in the morning, before they begin their ascent, to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. Our managers will provide more specific details together with your travel itinerary. We recommend consulting your doctor prior to the trip to discuss any potential allergies or health concerns.

At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your breathing pattern at night, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and experience a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.

 

Trekking time:

5-6 hours

Distance:

5 km (3.1 miles)

After breakfast, you will start trekking up to the second high-altitude camp, Shira Camp. On this day you will emerge from the rainforest and for the first time be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you. Technically speaking, trekking is not very difficult, but you may feel the change in altitude, so pay attention to your body and remember that choosing the proper pace is extremely important for good trekking. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and some rest, after which the group will go on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp with a 400 m /1,312 f gain in altitude. Back down at Shira Camp, you will be served a hot dinner.

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation:

Shira Camp (3,750 m /1 2,303 ft)

Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,120 m / 13,517 ft)

Hiking distance:

2 km (1.2 miles)

Hiking time:

1-2 hours

 

Trekking time:

4-5 hours

Distance:

5 km (3.1 miles)

After breakfast, your group will depart Shira Camp and head towards Lava Tower. The rise-and-fall nature of this trek may present some difficulties. However, reaching the 4,600 m /15,088 f altitude at the Lava Tower is crucial for proper acclimatization, which is why we encourage our groups to eat lunch at the top of the Lava Tower. This allows you some additional time at a high altitude before descending approximately 700 m /2,297 f to Barranco Camp, which is the next overnight stop on this route.

Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! The next day you will be hiking it, but don't worry: it features a very simple hiking trail and is not intimidating at all.

 

Trekking time:

6-8 hours

Distance:

11 km (6.8 miles)

On this day it is best to make an early start to avoid crowding on the way up Barranco Wall. Despite the Wall's seemingly daunting height and steepness the actual climb is rather simple and takes only an hour or so to complete. The top of the wall provides a great photo opportunity with Kibo Peak as the backdrop.

The next part of the day is rife with ups and downs and your guides will choose the best pace for individual trekkers. A lunch break at Karanga Camp will be followed by an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with its highest point of the hike being 3,995 m /13,104 f. The group then hikes back to Karanga Camp for the night.

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation:

Karanga Camp (3,995 m / 13,106 ft)

Highest point reached: 4,270 m / 14,009 ft

Hiking distance:

2.5 km (1.5 miles)

Hiking time:

1-2 hours

 

Trekking time:

4-5 hours

Distance:

5 km (3.1 miles)

After breakfast, you will begin your way to Barafu Summit Camp. Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax upon arrival. After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization climb towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp with its highest point being 4,870 m /15,974 f and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before the night summit.

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation:

Barafu Camp (4,673 m / 15,331 ft)

Kosovo Camp (4,870 m / 15,977 ft)

Hiking distance:

2 km (1.2 miles)

Hiking time:

1-2 hours

 

Trekking time:

4-5 hours

Distance:

6 km (3.7 miles)

Summiting starts around midnight. You will begin at an altitude of 4,870 m /15,974 f and climb to Uhuru Peak at 5,895m/19340f. While the trek itself is fairly simple, the high altitude means that even regular physical exercise will feel strenuous. Therefore, climbers will be put in groups of two and assigned a personal guide who will monitor their condition throughout the climb for the entire summit trek. Upon summiting, you will have an opportunity to walk to the nearest glacier. You will enjoy a 2-hour rest at Barafu Camp and then continue descending to Millennium Camp.

PLEASE NOTE:The descent is deceptively easy and some areas have poor footing. 90% of accidents occur during the descent. Mind your feet if you want to avoid falling and damaged toenails!

 

Trekking time:

7-12 hours

Distance:

15,5 km (9.6 miles)

Relax or transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport / next destination (e.g. Zanzibar or safari)
Meals: Breakfast