Description

Ever dreamed of conquering Africa’s highest peak – Kilimanjaro! The climb starts out through lush rainforests teeming with bird life and other forest creatures. The vegetation thins as you climb in altitude. Your reward on the fifth day is summiting Uhuru Peak at an altitude of 5896m. It’ll be just after sunrise when you get to stand next to the famous sign board to take your photo, thereby adding your name to Africa’s hall of fame!

Highlights

• Starting out through lush montane forest
• Traversing Shira Plateau
• View of the Western breach and Lava Tower
• Sunrise at Stella Point looking up to Uhuru Peak
• Summiting Africa’s highest peak

Sample Itinerary

The Machame route is a day longer than most of the other routes on Kilimanjaro. For most of the trek you will be climbing on a natural, rather than manmade path. Whilst the route is somewhat more demanding, it is by far a much quieter and more scenic route as you traverse the Shira Plateau, pass the Barranco Wall and cross the Karanga Valley to reach the summit via Stella Point. The additional day also allows for more time to acclimatise. Accommodation is in tents which are carried and pitched by the accompanying porters.

Day 1
Meet at Johannesburg International Airport at 12h00, you will be assisted with check-in for your flight to Tanzania. Depart from Johannesburg at 14h55 on flight TC7909, transitting in Dar Es Salaam you arrive Kilimanjaro International airport at 20h20. Upon arrival you’ll be met and transferred to the Mountain Inn in Moshi. After check in, meet in the lounge for a pre-climb briefing on the trek. After dinner make final preparations before getting a comfortable night’s rest.

Day 2
Transfer to Machame gate in Kilimanjaro National Park from where the hike starts. The first section of the climb takes you through the dense montane forest along a ridge, through some giant heather and on to the Machame Campsite. The campsite lies at 3000m and the walk will take 5 to 7 hours.

Day 3
Today’s hike takes you up the steep ridge and across moorland to ‘picnic rock' which is an ideal resting spot with spectacular views of the Shira Plateau. Continue on the plateau, passing Shira Cave to reach Shira Campsite where you’ll be staying overnight at an altitude of 3840m. The hike will take approximately 5 to 7 hours.

Day 4
Leaving Shira Campsite, the trail climbs gradually towards Kibo. Passing the Lava Tower and Western Breach, you drop down scree slopes and cross a stream. Continue along the ridge passing the Great Barranco Valley to get to the overnight stop, Barranco Campsite which is located at 3950m. The hike takes 5 to 7 hours.

Day 5
Crossing the floor of the Great Barranco Valley, continue up the steep climb up Barranco Wall and on to the Karanga river which is the last high altitude water point on this route. After a short rest hike through two shallow valleys before a steep climb over rocky slabs to reach Barafu Campsite at 4600m. The spectacular views are a just reward after 8 to 9 hours of hard hiking.

Day 6
A very early start for the summit - Uhuru Peak the highest point in Africa lies at an altitude of 5896m. The ascent takes 6 to 7 hours, reaching Stella Point at sunrise and continuing on to Uhuru Peak just after dawn. Descend retracing your steps back to Barafu Campsite and then hike down the steep path to Mweka Campsite located at 3000m on the edge of the forest. The descent takes 5 to 7 hours. Overnight Mweka Camp

Day 7

The last day takes you on a steep path through the forest to the park gate at Mweka Wildlife College. If it’s been raining the path can be very muddy but normally takes 3 to 4 hours to hike down. At the gate you will be met and transferred to the Mountain Innl in Moshi where you will stay overnight.

Day 8
An early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg. The flight departs Kilimanjaro at 09h00 and arrives in Johannesburg is at 13h50.