8 Days Machame Route

Trekking Hours: 5-7 hours

After breakfast, we will depart from our hotel at approximately 8:30 AM for the Machame village with a Lunch box for you to sporadically bite on you trek. From the park entrance gate (Machame), you will walk for about two to three hours trek through a dense forest of fig and rubber trees, begonia flowers, and other tropical vegetation. A stop for 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. Depending on the pace of the trekkers, arrival at Machame Camp is usually between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Your camp is set up near some old metals huts, which were once used for shelter. This initial stage of the trek is tranquil and relatively easy. There is no point in rushing to get to the camp, as there is little to do there. Guides tend to recommend a slow ascent, even at this point, for gradual acclimatisation. Do not try to keep up with your porters, who will usually bound ahead. Instead, take time to admire the beauty of the afro mountain forest.

Trekking Hours: 4-6 hours

On this and subsequent mornings, wake-up call is at around 6:00 AM. You will be greeted with a steaming cup of tea or coffee, and weather permitting, by a fabulous view of Uhuru peak. Today's trek takes you up a steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, volcanic rock, and bearded heather. You will encounter giant groundsels as you trek through a ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves, and foamy streams. Lunch will be taken just below the Shira Plateau, about three to four hours from Shira Camp. The trek to the next campsite takes approximately six hours and you should arrive between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Most trekkers tend to pace themselves, walking slowly and resting about every half-hour. On arrival in camp, there is time to relax and even so for an acclimatisation trek with your guides before dinner.

Trekking Hours: 4-5 hours

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.

Trekking Hours: 3-4 hours

Crossing the Bastain stream, you will begin to descend towards Barranco Camp. Descending takes you along an immense canyon called the Great 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 is a full day trek and you will feel very tired.

Trekking Hours: 4-5 hours

This morning you begin your trek to Karanga Camp, which is on the same altitude as Barranco Camp. You will encounter a bit of a trek at Barranco wall and spend the rest of the trek trekking up and down the slopes of the mountain most of the way to camp. Climbing is not considered difficult and you should arrive in time for lunch (approximately 1:00PM) having trekked for about four – five hours. In the afternoon, you will have an opportunity to trek in the Karanga Valley where giant senecios and lobelia grows. However, you are well advised to rest as much as you possibly can to prepare you for the trek ahead.

Trekking Hours: 5-6 hours

Enjoy a slow trek through the rainforest to Marangu Gate. Take time to enjoy the lush vegetation with the Old Man’s Beard (tree moss) growing on the giant trees as well as some Giant Ferns towering high over the forest bed. The path has many steps leading you down to Marangu Gate.

Trekking Hours: 8-9 hours

You will be awakened at midnight and after a light breakfast, start trekking at around 12 midnight. It is at this stage that the trek becomes much more tough. Trekkers should carry as little as possible on this portion of the trek. Temperatures will range from -4° to 5° Fahrenheit. You will trek for about six hours before reaching the edge of the crater, Stella points. Another hour of trekking 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 often 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 Barafu camp after about three hours (around 11:30 AM). Climbers will be given the opportunity to rest and have some refreshments before continuing on to Mweka Camp for the night. Arriving into camp at around 5:00PM, you will have trekked a total of thirteen to seventeen hours today.

Trekking Hours: 3-4 hours

On the final day of the journey, trekkers descend from Mweka camp to the base. The descent to the gate will take approximately 5 hours and trekkers usually arrives before noon. Upon arrival at the gate, trekkers will be rewarded with certificates attesting their success at trekking Mount Kilimanjaro.