Detailed Itinerary Machame Route – 6 Days

Day 1:        

The climb starts from Machame Gate (1,800 m) and follows a ridge through dense forest.  This is the richest forested area on the mountain, and also the zone from where 96% of the water on Kilimanjaro originates.  On sunny days, and especially in the dry season, this section is very lush and beautiful.  It can also be a very muddy experience, particularly if it has rained recently!  We have lunch at Half way clearing, a small opening in the trees, and continue climbing steadily.  The gradient becomes gentler as the forest slowly merges into giat heather close to the next camp near the ruins of Machame Hut (3,000 m).  We may get our first closer look at the glaciated done of Kibo if the evening clouds permit [6-8 hours walking]

Day 2:

A shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as Picnic Rock. There are excellent views of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau from here, and it is a good rest point too!  The trail continues less steeply to reach the Shira Plateau.  We camp near Shira Hut (3,840 m) which has some of the most stunning 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:        

A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,550m) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900m), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains for below [5-7 hours walking]

Day 4:        

A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Ice fields.  The terrain changes to scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and drops down into Karanga valley where we take lunch.  Afterwards the trail follows on easy path on compacted scree with wide views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach that Barafu compsite (4,600m).  The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night. [6-9 hours walking]

Day 5:        

We will start our ascent by torchlight about 1 am so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise.  The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m), in about five or six hours.

We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi.  Those who are still feeling strong can make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to UhuruPek (5,896m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs tht still occupy most of the summit area.  The dissident to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and oafter some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3,800 m) Millenium. [11-15 hours walking.

Day 6:

A sustained descent on a well constructed path through lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest.  Our route winds down to the National Park gets at Mweka (1,650 m). Here we sign out from the national park before walking on for a further 15 minutes through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village where our vehicle awaits.  The shower, the beer, and the swimming pool are tantalizingly close!  [4 – 6 hours walking]