Machame route
| KILIMANJARO ROUTE GUIDE |
| MACHAME ROUTE |
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The Machame route is the most scenic and interesting on the mountain. On the Machame route you will traverse up and down over river valleys on the southern slopes. This increases the body’s ability to acclimatize more properly. The Machame route is definitely recommended for people experiencing high altitude mountaineering for the first time. A minimum of 6 days is needed,, but for more comfort and to increase your chance of success, 7 days are recommended. Accommodation on this route will be in tents. |
| ITINERARY DAY 01 | |
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After arriving at Kilimanjaro
International Airport you will be met by a representative and be transferred to
Hotel Springlands in Moshi. This hotel offers great views of mountain
Kilimanjaro on a clear day. You will overnight at Hotel Springlands. |
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ITINERARY DAY 02 Day 01 on Kilimanjaro |
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| Starting point | The Machame Park gate at +/- 1500m |
| End point | The Machame camp at +/- 2980m |
| Terrain | Rain forest |
| Distance to walk | +/- 17 Km |
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From hotel Springlands it will be a
+/-60 minutes drive to Machame Gate, the starting point on the south western
side of the National park. After signing yourself in at the gate you start your
hike. The first day you will be hiking though the rainforest belt that is found
around the park. Lunch will be provided to you in a form of a lunch packet at
the gate, and the first day will take you approximately 7 hours. Soda’s and
beer will normally be available to purchase, but preferably do not consume any
alcohol as this dehydrates a person, and that leads to altitude related
problems. Your sleeping arrangements will be in tents that is part of the
package with Dream World Adventures. No running water is available at the camp
site, it is also no need for you to go fetch water at the closets river. Your
guide will be more than happy to provide you with water, and also boil it for
you on request. |
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ITINERARY DAY 03 Day 02 on Kilimanjaro |
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| Starting point | The Machame camp at +/- 2980m |
| End point | The Shira camp at +/- 3840m |
| Terrain | Heathland / Moorland |
| Distance to walk | +/- 9 Km |
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Breakfast is served normally around
07h00, and shortly after you leave, the rain forest and enter a
Heathland/moorland area. The path continues to ascent crossing the little
valley along a steep rocky ridge with spectacular views of the Shira Plateau on
your left, and Kibo on your right. Turning west you will end up onto a river
gorge at the Shira campsite. Amazing sunsets and moon risings can be filmed
from the campsite. This day will take you approximately 6 hours, and this day
is by far the easies for the trip. |
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ITINERARY DAY 04 Day 03 on Kilimanjaro |
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| Starting point | The Shira camp at +/- 3840m |
| Highest point | Lava Tower at +/- 4600m |
| End point | Barranco camp at +/- 3860m |
| Terrain | Alpine Desert |
| Distance to walk | +/- 15 Km |
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From the Shira camp the route turns
east towards Kibo and then south east towards the Lave Tower. Just below the
Lava tower, lunch is normally served. At this point you will have the choice of
either ascending higher to the Lava Tower, or to take the lower road down to the
Barranco encampment. It is of up most import ants to ascent very slowly hear to
avoid altitude related problems. This part is also normally very warm and dry
so remember to cover up with sun block and to drink water regularly. From Shira
to Lava Tower will take you approximately 5 hours, and from Lava Tower to the
Barranco camp approximately 3 hours. |
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ITINERARY DAY 05 Day 04 on Kilimanjaro |
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| Starting point | Barranco camp at +/- 3860m |
| End point | Barafu camp (4600m) |
| Terrain | Alpine Desert |
| Distance to walk | +/- 13 Km |
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Start as early as possible to cross over the great Barranco wall. The wall looks more difficult than it is, but will still take you the best of 2 hours. From the top of the wall a couple of valleys need to be crossed until reaching the Karanga valley. Here you will be served a big lunch before continuing onto the Mweka route. The Karanga valley runs a small river and this will be your last water point prior to your descending from the summit. Your guide will also advise you on this fact. We now continue on the Mweka route up to the Barafu camp. This day will take you approximately 8 hours to complete.
It is our recommendation to ad an
extra day on the mountain to complete this day. You will then instead of hiking
all the way to the Barafu camp, split the day in half to overnight at the
Karanga valley encampment. Doing this you will shorten the following day so
that you can reach the Barafu camp earlier and provide you with much more time
to rest prior to your summit attempt. |
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ITINERARY DAY 06 Day 05 on Kilimanjaro |
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| Starting point | Barafu camp at +/- 4600m |
| First major landmark | Stella Point at +/- 5250m |
| Second major landmark | Uhuru Peak at +/- 5895m |
| End point | Mweka camp at +/- 3100m |
| Terrain | Alpine Desert scree slope with ice/snow and Glaciers |
| Distance to summit | +/- 6 Km |
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Around midnight you will have to
start your final ascent to the summit. You will be woken with tea/coffee and
biscuits. This part of your hike will be done at night to be able to reach
Stella Point around first light (+/- 6 hours from Barafu camp). This will be
by far the most difficult part of your hike, as you will not only be hiking on a
slope of lose gravel, but also be doing so at altitude. Remember to constantly
be on the move, and only take short breaks every 2 hours or so to avoid getting
cold. Your equipment that you have on should be able to assist your body to
warm itself, and to keep cold wind out, but when not moving this becomes more
difficult. Once arriving at Stella Point, people tend to stay to long, and
subsequent to that will turn around at this point. Do not spend more than 10
minutes here as you still have the last leg of your trip to complete. Another
+/- 1˝ hours hike and you will have reach Uhuru Peak – the highest point in
Africa. After this amazing and emotional experience you will return back to
Barafu camp via Stella Point. This will go allot fasters than when you
summated. You should arrive back at Barafu camp just before lunch time for a
light lunch and a short break. After that you will continue down with the Mweka
route to the Mweka camp for dinner and a well earned rest. |
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ITINERARY DAY 07 Day 06 on Kilimanjaro |
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| Starting point | Mweka camp at +/- 3100m |
| End point | Mweka gate at +/- 1980m |
| Terrain | Rain forest |
| Distance to walk | +/- 15 Km |
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No need for walking slow anymore, it
is also not necessary to run. Enjoy the scenery as you walk thought the rain
forest. Lunch will be served at the Mweka gate around 12h00. It will take you
approximately 4 hours to reach the gate from Mweka camp. From the gate you will
be collected and returned to Hotel Springlands for a celebration dinner. All
successful mountaineers that have reached Uhuru or Gilman’s point will be
presented with a unique certificate to commemorate your achievement. |
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| OTHER ROUTES: | |
| MARANGU ROUTE | |
| LEMOSHO ROUTE | |
| RONGAI ROUTE | |
| UMBWE ROUTE | |
DREAM WORLD ADVENTURES
TEL
: +27 12 331 6730 (South Africa)
FAX
: + 27 86 500 4293 (South
Africa)
E-MAIL :
webenquiry@dreamworldadventures.co.za