Mt Kilimanjaro - Machame (Ex Kili Airport)
Mount Kilimanjaro is a magical mountain, with diverse vegetation and superb views from the summit
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. It lies close to the equator, yet snow, ice and glaciers are to be found on its highest slopes. Soaring to the impressive altitude of 5895 metres (19,350 feet), it provides incredible views of hundreds of square kilometres of surrounding countryside – thousands of feet below – as well as of the mountain peaks, valleys and glaciers around you.
The walk to the summit takes you through a number of distinctly different climatic and vegetation zones – from beautiful rainforest, to alpine moorland, to volcanic desert, to glaciers, ice and snow. (Indeed, even if you do not make it to the top, the scenic interest and rewards of the lower sections are considerable). No mountaineering experience is required; you are able to walk all the way. As you gain height, however, the going will seem tough at times – the increasing effect of altitude, and walking on scree slopes on the upper sections, mean that this is a far from easy undertaking. In addition, very cold conditions can be encountered on the higher slopes, and you must be adequately equipped with cold and wet weather clothing. However, if you walk slowly, even from the start at lower altitudes, and have a good mental attitude and a reasonable degree of physical fitness, this will all help immeasurably. You will be accompanied by guides, and porters will help to carry your luggage. On the way up your nights are spent in tents, on the Machame route; however on the descent you join the Mweka route, spending one night in this area (but still using our own tents). The thrill of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro gives you an unsurpassed sense of achievement. The Machame Route is a day longer than the standard trail, and we have added a further day to the standard itinerary. This provides important additional time for acclimatisation and may well increase your chances of summiting.
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Tour Highlights
- Climb Mt Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest peak
Inclusions
• Peregrine’s specialist English-speaking local mountain guide.
• The services of porters and a cook on the trek. We work with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project to ensure our porters are treated and paid well.
• 7 days in Kilimanjaro National Park ascending along the Machame Route and descending along the Mweka Route.
• Equipment: a soft-sided, sturdy canvas bag for your main luggage which will be carried by the porters; down jacket; warm sleeping bag with hood (rating 4 seasons or better - down to -20 °Celsius); cotton inner sleep sheet; and sleeping mat.
• Two extra acclimatisation days to maximise your chances of summiting.
• Entrance and park/mountain fees.
• 6 nights camping in spacious dome tents set up for you by the porters.
• 2 nights in comfortable Aishi lodge located at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro.
• Arrival transfer and group departure transfer.
- Private vehicle
This trip spends seven days in Kilimanjaro National Park.
- 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
Mt Kilimanjaro - Machame (Ex Kili Airport)
Day 1
Machame Village - Moshi
Meals Privided:
On arrival in Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Please note this is an arrival day and you may arrive at any time.
The Aishi lodge is beautifully located in the village of Machame, at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro. The lodge features large gardens, comfortable rooms and a peaceful setting amidst local banana plantations, and is a perfect place from which to start and end your Kilimanjaro climb!
In the evening there is a briefing on the trek. At this time you will also receive your own personal trek pack. This trek pack will contain a kit bag that your porter will carry, an appropriate sleeping bag, sleep sheet, down jacket and sleeping mat. You will need to transfer your other possessions into this bag. You will be able to leave your normal travelling bag and any excess luggage at our Machame Hotel to be collected upon your return.
Day 2
Machame Hut
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will meet up with your porters and guides after breakfast at the hotel, and transfer the short distance to the Machame Gate, at around 1800 metres, situated at the entrance to the forest. After completing registration procedures at Machame you should be on your way by late morning. Today’s walk is about five to six hours, gradually ascending through the forest to a ridge between two streams, before eventually emerging into heather at around 3000 metres. Note that it can be wet in the rainforest. The night is spent camping near Machame Hut, at much the same altitude.
The porters will carry your trek bag with all of your kit. You will carry a day pack with your wet weather gear, camera, lunch and water. The porters will generally walk ahead so that they can reach camp first and put up your tents prior to your arrival.
Day 3
Shira Hut
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you set off around 8.00am to head up to the Shira Plateau. From your overnight campsite you cross a small valley and continue up along a steep ridge, through open moorland, to about 3600 metres. The peak lies straight ahead of you, giving you inspiration on what is, at times, a tough day’s walk. After some three to four hours the route veers left before flattening out into a gorge, and from here you gradually ascend towards the Shira Plateau, and your overnight camp, Shira Hut, at 3850 metres, to the west of Kibo.
Day 4
Barranco Hut
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is an important acclimitisation day as you travel up to 4250 metres before spending the night at Barranco (3950m). The path continues directly up the ridge towards Kibo. This is high altitude desert, with glorious views of the Western Breach of Kibo. After about 4 hours the path forks to the right and descends into a gorge (‘barranco’ in Swahili). There is a fair bit of ‘up and down’ walking today which can be quite tiring. Turning south-east towards the lava tower known as Shark’s Tooth, you reach Barranco Hut and your overnight campsite at 3950 metres. With luck you’ll enjoy a great sunset tonight!
Day 5
Karanga Valley
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning you will climb the Barranco Wall (not a technical climb) and then follow the Kibo South Circuit. Wonderful views are to be had of Kibo's southern glaciers if the weather is clear. There's a pleasant lunch stop by the river, in the Karanga Valley. This is a relatively short day, and you should arrive at your camp around lunchtime, located just after the Karanga Valley set atop a ridge.
Today is a valuable acclimitisation day as you will be walking for the morning only and you will be ascending and descending various ridges and valleys during your walk.
Day 6
Barafu Hut
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Karanga you head up to the intersection of the South Circuit and the Mweka route. Here you start climbing up a ridge for a further two hours to Barafu Hut, at 4600 metres. Barafu is Swahili for ‘ice’ and it can be very cold here at night. Once again you should arrive late lunchtime, allowing plenty of time to rest before the final summit attempt.
Day 7
Summit day
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A long, hard day! Leaving your campsite between midnight and 2.00am and walking with torchlight, the climb from Barafu to Stella Point is fairly steep. At Rebmann Glacier (4870m) you head north between Rebmann and Ratzel Glacier, where you may enjoy some stunning views. This brings you up to the crater rim just west of Stella Point (about 6 to 7 hours), where you join the main trail for the last leg (about an hour) to the summit at Uhuru (5895m). You then head back down, via the Mweka route, where your tents will be pitched for the last time. The section from Uhuru down to Barafu (4 hours) is scree (as on the way up), then you head down through the various vegetation zones, on a continual downhill, into Mweka which is located on the edge of the rainforest area (3-4 hours). At an altitude of approx 3100 metres, it's nice to have some 'air' to breathe!
Day 8
Machame Village - Moshi
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
From Mweka down to the park gate, is a 3-4 hour walk, through the rainforest, which may be slippery in patches. At the gate you can often buy beers (or from the villages on the way back), and there’s then a very short hike to the roadhead where you will be met by the vehicle and transferred back to the hotel for a swim, a beer, and a VERY welcome hot shower!! Celebrations at the Aishi Hotel will, no doubt, continue into the evening!
Day 9
Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
In the morning you will be picked up by your transfer vehicle and driven from the Machame Hotel to Kilimanjaro Airport. You can book this transfer for anytime. Your tour ends on arrival in Kilimanjaro Airport.
