Snow-capped and not yet extinct, at 5895m it is the highest peak in Africa. From cultivated farmlands on the lower level, it rises through lush rainforest onto alpine meadow and finally across a barren lunar landscape to the snow- and icecapped summit. The rainforest is home to many animals like buffalo, eland, antelope and the black&white colobus monkey.
Machame route is a bit more difficult then Marangu route. On the other hand, as the climb takes one day longer, there is a better acclimatization. Overnight in the camping area.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Gate - Machame Camp (3000m), 18 km, 6-7 hours walk. Collect from your hotel in Arusha and transfer to Machame gate. Trek to Machame Camp, through the dense mountain forest along a ridge, rising steadily with a small opening in the trees known as Halfway Clearing, a good place for a rest. The gradient relents as the forest merges into giant heather, and the path leads more easy to Machame Camp. Cloud permitting, the summit of Kibo is visible beyond the foothills. Includes: (L), (D);
Day 2: Machame Camp - Shira Camp (3840m), 9 km, 4-5 hours walk. From Machame Camp, follow the clear path up the steep rocky ridge, crossing and re-crossing the crest a few times. You'll rest at Picnic Rock, where you can view the Shira Plateau. You pass through clumps of grass and across patches of sand and ash. Then you reach Shira Cave. Beyond the cave the path climbs over a small ridge, then drops across a stream before another small rise up to Shira Camp.
Includes: (B), (L), (D);
Day 3: Shira Camp - Barranco Camp (3950m), 11 km, 5 - 6 hours walk. From Shira Camp, the path is clear as it climbs Shira Camp. From Shira Camp, the path is clear as it climbs gradually in an easterly direction towards the main peak of Kibo. The northern path passes Moyr Hut, the start of the northern circuit path dropping sleeply down the side of the ridge to reach Barranco Camp. Includes: (B), (L), (D);
Day 4: Barranco Camp - Barafu Hut (4600m), 11 km, 4.5 - 6 hours walk. Leave Barranco Camp and walk down up to the junction where you ascend up to the Barafu Hut for camping. If you took one extra acclimatization day, your walk today will start from Karanga Valley (4 km, 2.5 - 3.5 hours). Includes: (B), (L), (D);
Day 5: Barafu Hut - Uhuru Peak (5896m), 5 km, 6 - 7 hours walk. Uhuru Peak - Mweka Camp (3100m), 16 km, 6-7 hours walk. The trek involves between 10-15 hrs of walking, which is made even more strenous by the effects of altitude and extreme cold. You start this day walking very early in the morning to see the sunrise at the crater rim and try to avoid the mist. Sunrise is at about 6.00 am and it takes 5-6 hours to get from Barafu Hut to the rim of Stella Point (5700m) plus another 1.5 hrs to Uhuru Peak.The route from Barafu Hut joins the route from Gillman's Point, continue westward round the Kibo rim to reach Uhuru Peak. Includes: (B), (L), (D);
Day 6: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate (1500m), 11 km, 3 - 4 hours walk. Descend steeply through forest on a narrow path along the crest on a broad ridge between two river valleys down to Mweka gate. Transfer back to your hotel in Arusha. Includes: (B), (L).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price for 7 days (with extra acclimatization day): 1640 USD pp.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Tanzania
Hiking & Trekking
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