7 Day Machame Route Trek, Kilimanjaro

Day 1:   At Machame Gate (1,800 m.)

After registration at the gate, the walk begin through the attractive banana and coffee farms of Machame village. The path trails to a ridge through dense montane forest. This is the richest forested where more than 90% of waters on Kilimanjaro come from.  We will have lunch at ‘Halfway Clearing’, a small opening in the trees, and continue trekking bit by bit. The gradient becomes moderate as the forest slowly combines into giant heather close to the next camp near the ruins of Machame Hut (3,000 m.). We may find our first closer stare at the glaciated dome of Kibo if the sundown clouds permit. [6-8 hours walking]

Day 2:  At Shira Hut (3,840m.) [4-6 hours walking]

We will start a day by climbing up a sharp ridge to reach Picnic Rock. There is a better outlook of Kibo and the rough rim of Shira Plateau from here and it is a good rest point too! The trail continues gentling to reach the Shira Plateau.  We will camp near Shira Hut (3,840m.) which has some of the most spectacular views on Kilimanjaro; close to the huge volcanic cone of Kibo, the spectacular rock formations of Shira Plateau, and looking across to Mt. Meru floating on the clouds. [4-6 hours walking]

Day 3:  At the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m.)  [5-7 hours walking]

We will start the morning with gentle ascent and panoramic views, parting the moorland plateau behind to hike on lava ridges under the glaciers of the Western Breach. We will then descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m.) after having lunch  [5-7 hours walking]

Day 4:   At Karanga (4,000 m.), [4-5 hours walking]

We will steeply trek Barranco Wall which get us to an rolling trail on the south-eastern edge of Kibo, with excellent panoramas of the Southern Icefields. The terrain transforms to scree, with pockets of greenish vegetation in sheltered unoccupied, and there is only  a short distance to the camp at Karanga (4,000 m.). There is plenty of time to rest, or for a short optional acclimatization walk in the afternoon up the valley above the camp. [4-5 hours walking]

Day 5: At the South-East valley (4,800 m.). [4-5 hours walking]

We will shortly trek the steep Karanga, and then easily go through compacted scree with wide outlook to reach Mweka Junction (4,150 m.). We will steadily trek to reach the Barafu campsite (4,600 m.) and go on to the plateau at the foot of the South-East valley (4,800 m.). The rest of the day is spent resting reserving energy for the final ascent before an early night. [4-5 hours walking]

Day 6:  To Uhuru Peak (5,896 m) [11-15hours walking]

We will ascent at 1 a.m. in order that we can be at the Crater rim by sunrise. The sharp trek over slack volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady speed will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m.), in about 5-6 hours. We will rest there for a short period to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still energetic can make the 2 hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3,800 m.) Millenium. Most of us will be too tired to notice the beauty of the forest surrounding the crowded campsite. [11-15 hours walking]

Day 7:  At Mweka gate (1,650 m.); [4-6 hours walking]

A constant drop through greenish forest with lush undergrowth takes us to the mweka gate at 1,650 m. and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village. [4-6 hours walking]