Tour Climb Kilimanjaro: 9 Days Machame Route | Visit Tanzania, United Republic of

Guide

Professional mountain crew. All guides have "Wilderness First Responder" and "Wilderness First Aid" certificates, along with over 7 years of experience in climbing. Each participant will be provided with a porter (who can carry up to 15 kg of personal baggage)

Accommodation

Accommodation prior to the climb (including breakfast; sharing a twin room) Accommodation after the climb (including breakfast; sharing a twin room) Modern The North Face VE-25 tents (During the climb you will share a tent with 1 other climber of the same gender) Warm and comfortable sleeping pads (2 inches thick)

Transport

Transfer to the hotel — Aishi Machame Hotel / Altezza Lodge in Moshi (Basic tour package price includes sharing a twin room. If you need a single bed accommodation only, you should contact a manager a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour) Transfer to the trailhead Meeting the group at the National Park exit and transfer to the hotel Return transfer to Kilimanjaro airport

Others

Kilimanjaro National Park permits Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees Camping/hut fees Oxygen systems and pulse oximeters Warm and comfortable sleeping pads (2 inches thick) First aid kit Group equipment (dining tent, table, chairs, crockery and cutlery) International certificates for a successful ascent

Not included:

Others

Airline tickets Visa fee Lunch and dinner at the hotel (before and after the ascent) Personal gear rentals Tips for the mountain crew (200–250 USD per person)

Flights

International flights are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrival
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), pick-up and drive to Aishi Machame Hotel (breakfast included). Aishi Machame Hotel is nestled in a quiet village at the foot of Kilimanjaro. The territory of the hotel is a lush garden with monkeys and galagos being frequent visitors. Here you will have everything you need for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, swimming pool and Wi-Fi. One of our managers will meet you for a briefing session at the appointed time to answer your questions and make sure you’re ready for the expedition.

Note:

Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.
Day 2 Day 2: Trekking From Machame Gate To Machame Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Trekking From Machame Gate To Machame Camp

Our guide and his crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning to greet you and give you another briefing. When everyone is good to go, you’ll set off for the south-western entrance into Kilimanjaro National Park: Machame Gate (1,800 m). The drive will take about 20 minutes. After a quick registration at the entry gate, you’ll start your trek towards Machame Camp (3,010 m). You’ll be passing through the rainforest (where tropical showers are highly probable), so you’ll absolutely need to have your raincoat poncho ready in your backpack.

This will be your first day at high altitude, so it is strongly recommended that you heed the following instructions:

• Abstain from smoking and consuming alcohol and caffeine

• Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently)

• Take Diamox to alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. However, please be wary of any medical contradictions with this medicine and consult your doctor prior to the trip.

• Pay attention and listen to your body; inform your guide if you start feeling unwell.

Change in Elevation: Machame Gate (1,800 m) — Machame Camp (3,010 m)

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Day 3 Day 3: Trekking From Machame Camp To Shira Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Trekking From Machame Camp To Shira Camp

After breakfast you will start trekking up to your second camp - Shira (3,845 m). The charms of the rainforest will gradually fall, and you’ll get out into the open alpine zone where you’ll see the stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you. When you arrive at the camp, you will have lunch, and after some rest the guides will take you on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp that features a 300-meter gain in altitude.

Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude meant to facilitate your acclimatization. You should take acclimatization hikes very seriously. They will increase your chances to successfully summit Kilimanjaro and prevent the development of altitude sickness.

Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira Camp:

Change in Elevation: Machame Camp (3,010 m) — Shira Camp (3,845 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Shira Camp (3,845 m) — Destination point on the way to Lava Tower (4,120 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1–2 hours
Day 4 Day 4: Shira To Barranco Camp Via An Ascent To The Lava Tower
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Shira To Barranco Camp Via An Ascent To The Lava Tower

After breakfast you will leave Shira Camp (3,845 m) and start your way towards a major trial of this trek: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. It will probably be challenging, and you may feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimatize to the altitude you’ll need to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be served.

Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you will see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive both in its size and steepness! Next day you will be climbing it, but don’t worry: it features a very simple hiking trail.

Note: If one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing Lava Tower and change the route, following the trail for porters instead. In this case you will not reach the altitude of 4,630 meters on this day and get to the maximum of 4,400 meters.

Change in Elevation: Shira Camp (3,845 m) — Lava Tower (4,630 m) — Barranco Camp (3,960 m)

Hiking distance: 12 km

Hiking time: 6–8 hours
Day 5 Day 5: Trekking From Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Trekking From Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

Early wake-up, breakfast and start towards Barranco Wall. We recommend leaving the camp as early as possible to avoid other groups. Climbing this gorge wall is not difficult and doesn’t require any technical skills. It takes only about an hour. Once you’re at the top, you can have a rest and take pictures in front of the Kibo volcano.

After a short rest, you’ll start a more challenging hike towards Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents. In the camp you will have your hard-earned lunch, and in a couple of hours you’ll embark on another acclimatization hike towards Barafu Camp. Once you reach the 200-meter gain in altitude, you’ll turn back and return to Karanga Camp.

Trekking from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp:

Change in Elevation: Barranco Camp (3,960 m) — Karanga Camp (4,035 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4–5 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Destination point en route to Barafu Camp (4,270 m)

Hiking distance: 2.5 km

Hiking time: 1–2 hours
Day 6 Day 6: Trekking From Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Trekking From Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

This will be the day when you reach your summit camp Barafu (4,640 m), the point from which you’ll start your final trek to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). The crew will set up your camp ahead of time so that you can have a rest the moment you reach it. Once your strength is regained, you’ll embark on another acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then trek back to Barafu Camp. The rest of the day should be spent sleeping and relaxing before the summit attempt.

Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp:

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Barafu Camp (4,640 m)

Hiking distance: 6 km

Hiking time: 4–5 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1–2 hours
Day 7 Day 7: Summiting On Uhuru Peak And Descent To Millennium Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Summiting On Uhuru Peak And Descent To Millennium Camp

At about midnight you’ll depart from Barafu Camp (4,640 m) and start your way to the peak of Kilimanjaro (5,895 m). The technical side of the climb is relatively simple - you won’t need any special mountaineering skills or gear. However, high altitude poses a serious challenge. Every two climbers will be assigned a personal guide to monitor your physical condition and raise your morale. Once you’re finally at Uhuru Peak, please try to forget about the dizziness in your head and properly bask in the euphoria of your achievement sinking in simply divine views around.

If you wish and feel up to it, you can do a short 20-minute trek down to the nearest glacier. Another optional extra for especially tough hikers is to do an about 3-hour trek to the crater; however, there are a lot of factors that need to align for this final venture to prove successful: your condition, weather and timing. If having assessed all factors, your guide approves of the idea, he’ll need to separate from the group to accompany you. This is a service that is traditionally rewarded with an extra gratuity for the guide upon descent from the mountain.

Once you’re done with the summit, you’ll return to Barafu Camp for lunch and rest, and in about two hours you’ll continue your descent to Millennium Camp (3,820 m) where you’ll stay the night.

Note: Keep in mind that 90% of all accidents occur upon descent. Please pay attention to your feet not to trip over bumps and stones.

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Millennium Camp (3,820 m)

Hiking distance: 15 km

Hiking time: 8–12 hours
Day 8 Day 8: Descent From Millennium Camp To Mweka Gate
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Descent From Millennium Camp To Mweka Gate

Millennium Camp lies in the tropical rainforest. Once you wake up after the night’s sleep, you will feel relief due to the natural increase of oxygen in the air. After breakfast, you will head for the park’s exit: Mweka Gate (1,650 m). When you’re back at the hotel, you’ll be awarded commemorative certificates, and the whole crew will gather to congratulate you on your new achievement. This is when the tipping ceremony regularly takes place: the chief guide accepts the gratuities from participants and then splits them fairly between all crew members under our control.

Change in Elevation: Millennium Camp (3,820 m) — Mweka Gate (1,650 m)

Hiking distance: 12 km

Hiking time: 4–5 hours
Day 9 Day 9: Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Departure

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.

Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.

9 days tour

Climb Kilimanjaro: 9 Days Machame Route

This tour includes:

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Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Climb Kilimanjaro: 9 Days Machame Route

Day 1: Arrival

Day 2: Trekking From Machame Gate To Machame Camp

Day 3: Trekking From Machame Camp To Shira Camp

Day 4: Shira To Barranco Camp Via An Ascent To The Lava Tower

Day 5: Trekking From Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

Day 6: Trekking From Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

Day 7: Summiting On Uhuru Peak And Descent To Millennium Camp

Day 8: Descent From Millennium Camp To Mweka Gate

Day 9: Departure

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