Machame Route

Day 02: You wake up around 7:00, have breakfast and then a pre-climb briefing will be conducted by our professional mountain guide so that you know what to expect during the climb. He will inspect your mountain climbing gears / equipments to ensure you have carried the appropriate one. At approximately 8:00 in the morning, we depart from our hotel for the Machame gate, where you will be assisted to complete the check-in formalities.  From the park entrance gate you will walk for about two to three hours through a dense forest of fig and rubber trees, begonia flowers and other tropical vegetation.  A stop for picnic lunch will be made halfway to this evening’s campsite.  As you continue your ascent, you will find that the tropical forest has given way to tall grasses and giant heather.  You will be walking on a ridge, to the left of which is the Semira stream, and on the right the Weru Weru.  Depending on the pace of the climbers, arrival at Machame Camp is usually between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.  Your camp is set up near some old metal huts, which were once used for shelter. Overnight at Machame Camp (10,000 ft)

Day 04: The entire Shira Plateau greets you this morning with sweeping vistas across to Meru and the Shira Needles.  A steady walk takes you up to the pass at Lava Tower (15,000 ft), where you stop to have lunch.  Crossing the Bastains Stream, you will begin to descend towards Barranco Camp.  The descent takes you along an immense canyon called Grand Barranco.  Along the way, you will see numerous waterfalls, which are fed by streams coming from the mountain, converging here to form the Umbwe River.  Your camp is set at almost the same altitude as the night before.  Today’s trek lasts for about six hours and arrival at camp is between 4:30 and 5:30 pm. Overnight at  Barranco Camp (13,000 ft)

Day 06: You will be awakened at midnight and after a light breakfast, start climbing at around 1:00 am.  It is at this stage that the climb becomes much more difficult.  Here, very few will not be suffering from altitude sickness in some form or another; and climbers should carry as little as possible on this portion of the climb.  Temperatures will range from -4° to 5° Fahrenheit.  Making your way up a path that is flanked by the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers, you will climb for about six hours before reaching the edge of the crater, between Stella and Hans Meyer points.  Another hour of climbing brings you to the summit. Uhuru stands at 19,340 feet and is the highest point on the continent of Africa.  The track around the edge of the crater is rocky and icy.  Concentrate on your feet and follow your guide very closely for this portion of the journey. The descent is no easier than the ascent.  You will reach Kibo Hut after about three hours (around 11:30 am).  You will have the opportunity to rest and have some refreshments before continuing on to Mweka Camp for the night.  Arriving into camp at around 5:00 pm, you will have trekked a total of thirteen hours today. Overnight at  Mweka Camp (10,200 ft)