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Kilimanjaro Safaris

This is probably the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. All your equipment and supplies are portered and a cook prepares all your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only. This makes Machame (also referred to as the "Whiskey route") better suited to the slightly more adventurous hiker, rewarding him with a scenic splendor such as not seen on the Marangu route. From late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, the Machame route offers the adventurous hiker a stunning scenic "slide show" over 6 days. The Machame route is normally completed in a minimum of 6 days. There is an added benefit to this, as you are afforded the most valuable commodity on the mountain - acclimatisation. The Machame route takes you high to Lava Tower (4630m) on the day 3 and brings you down by nearly 700m for an overnight at Barranco camp (3950m). This is the secret to successful acclimatisation.

 

AASTM01: 8 Days Famous Machame Route

Day 1: Nairobi – Arusha
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your Nairobi hotel and thereafter depart for Arusha via Namanga border town for immigration formalities. Rest of the afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay at an Arusha/Moshi hotel.

Day 2: Arusha – Machame
An early start for Kilimanjaro National park. Once we reach the park gate we will proceed directly to Machame but campsite in an average hiking time of 6 hours for meals and overnight in tents. The altitude here is 3,100m.

Day 3: Machame – Shira
After breakfast, hike to Shira hut. The trek takes 4 hours approximately via the rain forest past the valley and a steep rocky ridge ending westward at a river gorge. You will have a rest, dinner and overnight at Shira hut campsite, 3,658m above sea level.

Day 4: Shira – Barranco
From Shira, hike to Barranco hut, in an average hiking time of 6 hours we by-pass the lava tower and past the second junction which brings us to the arrow glacier, altitude 4,876m. We descend to Barranco hut campsite for our third overnight on Kilimanjaro, 3860m above sea level.

Day 5: Barranco – Barafu
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue to the Karanga valley and the junction, which connects with the Mweka trail. We hike to Barafu hut where we set up camp. We will have walked for about 8 hours. Dinner and overnight at the hut campsite, altitude 4,600 m with the possibility of sighting both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks,

Day 6: Barafu – Mweka
via Stella Point and Uhuru peak
We rise early and head for Stella Point altitude 5,745m on our way to the summit Uhuru Peak that is 5,896m above the sea level. This part of the descent takes about 5 hours. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Mweka – Arusha
After breakfast, depart for Nairobi on the morning or afternoon shuttle arriving at 01.00p.m or 06.30 p.m.

Other Mt Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes

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