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Trek: Machame Route
Duration: Six days/Five nights
"This is probably the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. With a lovely,
gradual ascent through forest you emerge to see wide views of the
moorland on Shira Plateau and further on the crags and snow of Kibo and
the Western Breach. Beautiful and varied vegetation enhances the scenery
along this route. For those who want a slightly more technical climb,
we recommend a Uhuru summit from Arrow Glacier camp (through the Western
Breach), but less challenging routes can be taken from Barranco Hut."
ITINERARY
Day 1 After an early morning pick up from your
hotel in Arusha or
Moshi, we will drive to the Machame village. Here will do final
packing, organize porters and, if need be, purchase last foodstuffs for
the trek. Depending on the condition of the road with will either drive
or hike on a dirt track another 3 kms through coffee farms and forest to
the Park gate. At the gate we will spend an hour or so registering and
paying park fees. A clear trail continues up through plantation and
natural forest to the ridge between the Weru Stream and the Makoa Stream
until the main trailhead is reached. From here a narrow forest
(sometimes sloggy and wet) path continues up to Machame Campsite.
Day 2-3 After hiking through the forest, the
trail and vegetation
will dry and you will hike up a steep boulder ridge. At 3-4 hours the
trail goes west into a gorge and ascends to Shira Hut/Camp on the Shira
Plateau. We will spend a second night in this area around 16,000 feet,
doing day hikes to higher altitudes to acclimatize.
Alternatively, we will travel to Barranco, Moir or Lava Tower
Camp
to spend the third night. Barranco Trail leads past the Wedge Buttress
point and down into the Barranco Valley. The Barranco Camp is reached
by the late afternoon at 3950m.
Day 4 We will travel to a short distance to
Arrow Glacier above the
Lava Tower camp. At the glacier you will have impressive views of the
Shira plateau behind you and a rock/scree ridge, the Western Breach, in
front of you leading up to the crater rim.
Alternatively from Barranco Camp, we take a more moderate
Barranco
Trail if the Western Breach is to be avoided. We cross the floor of the
Great Barranco Valley, up to the Barranco Wall and continue the trek on
the South Circuit parth, passing through the Karanga Valley (last
water--Karanga River). The trail then joins Mweke route and up the
broad ridge to Barafu Hut at 4600m. Here there are excellent views of
the Kibo Dome, the Mawenzi Peak and the plains below.
Day 5 Day five will begin shortly after Day four
is over. We will
break camp early between 1 and 3 a.m. for the last push to Uhuru Peak
through the Western Breach. After crossing glacial scree we will head
straight up through a steep boulder field (this part of the route is
strenuous and not recommended for anyone with acrophobia). At the top,
Kibo crater. Another 1-2 hours and Uhuru Peak will have been reached.
From the peak, any route down can be taken, but we recommend Marangu or
Mweke. Mweke is less traveled and affords beautiful views of the
mountain as we descend to Mweke camp slightly below the tree line.
Alternatively, we will go up from Barrafu Camp up a steep rock
and
sand trail. The footing is loose and ardious, but gradual effort takes
you to Stella Point, 5775m. From here, it is just a hop, skip and a
jump to Uhuru Peak, 5895m (actually, anywhere from 40min to 2 1/2 hours
depending on conditions). Decent usually via Mweka or Marangu.
Day 6 Awake at Marangu Hut or Mweka Camp and go
down through the
forest and to the Mweke/Marangu trailhead/gate. Our car will pick you
up and return you by dinner to your hotel. Yeah!!!!, Hot shower......
Distances
Machame village to Park gate: 1 hrs
Park gate to trailhead: 1-2 hrs
Trailhead to Machame Huts: 4-5 hrs
Machame Huts to Shira Hut: 5 hrs
Shira to Arrow Glacier Camp 4 hrs
Arrow to Uhuru Peak: 6-8 hrs
Uhuru to Mweke Camp: 3-6 hrs
Huts/Camps
Machame Camp- 3000 m. These are 2 unfurnished uniports, which each
can sleep 6. Water can be found in a stream about 5 minutes down valley
below the huts and there; platform toilets.
Shira and other upper Camps-- The uniports are old and not been
maintained well by the park service. They are primitive metal
structures and are used by the porters/guides for accommodations. They
also serve as the cooking area. Guests sleep in tents which we
provide. The only equipment you will need is your own sleeping bag. We
normally use 2-person tents, but please let us know if other
arrangements are needed.
All prices include all park fees, salaries of guides/porters/cook,
all meals on the mountain, equipment and transfer to/from Arusha or
Moshi. Not included: tips and items of a personal nature.