8 days of Kilimanjaro ascent via the Machame route

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival

  

  All adventurers must arrange their own travel to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From JRO, WildReality Safari will arrange private transport to your lodge/hotel. That evening, or shortly the next morning, you will meet the WildReality representative and receive a full briefing before the ascent. Transport: Private transfer (40 km)

• day 2

  From Machame Gate to Machame Camp

  

  Breakfast, then transfer to Machame Gate (1815 m) at the foot of Kilimanjaro. Registration formalities at the park rangers' office, then departure for our first day of ascent. The route goes through a dense forest of giant ferns, rubber trees, and ficus, which gradually give way to tall grasses and giant heather. Arrival at the Machame Camp bivouac (3050 m). Transfer: about 2 hours. Walking time: about 5 hours. Ascent: + 1188 m. Night: Machame Camp in a tent with full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

• day 3

  Machame Camp - Shira Camp (3840m)

  

  Continuation to Shira Camp along a steep trail through a savannah of tall grasses and volcanic rocks. Vegetation is sparse. This is the realm of heather and giant groundsels, with ghostly lava landscapes, caves, and streams. If the weather is clear, an extraordinary first view of Kilimanjaro (Uhuru in the local language) appears on the horizon... Wonderful and impressive at the same time! The trail follows the southwest flank and arrives in the late afternoon at the great Shira plateau (3,840 m). Walking time: about 4.5 hours. Ascent: +874 m. Descent: -103 m. Shira Camp under tent with full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

• day 4

  Shira Lava Tower Pass (4,600 m) - Barranco Camp (3,950 m)

  

  Progression towards Barranco camp via the Lava Tower pass (4,600 m). We leave the fertile soil here to enter the mineral kingdom. This is a key stage that serves as acclimatization to the altitude. The glacier is above our heads. We then descend towards the gigantic canyon of the Great Barranco (3,950 m). The giant groundsels are very numerous here, taking advantage of the water from the countless surrounding waterfalls. Walking time: about 7 hours. Positive elevation gain: +827 m. Negative elevation loss: -653 m. Barranco camp in a tent with full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

• day 5

  Camp Barranco - Camp Karanga (3995 m)

  

  Progression on steep terrain assaulting the great Barranco wall. Without difficulty, we place our hands here and there; the landscapes are superb and we can see the impressive summits of Kibo and Mawenzi Point. Arrival in the wild Karanga valley, in a grand and lunar landscape due to the many lava flows that Kilimanjaro has released. Walking time: about 4 hours. Positive elevation gain: +430 m. Negative elevation loss: -350 m. Karanga camp under tent with full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

• day 6

  Karanga Camp - Barafu Camp (4600m)

  

  Then climb up the glacial moraine to Barafu camp (4600 m). This bivouac is set up on the spur that joins the Marengu and Rongaï routes. It is a true high-altitude bivouac, strategically well located for the final ascent. The views of the Mawenzi crater (5149 m) are absolutely spectacular. Walking time: about 3 hours. Positive altitude gain: +600 m. Barafu Camp in tents, full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

• day 7

  Barafu Camp - Kilimanjaro Summit - Mweka Camp (3,100 m)

  

  Departure around midnight to arrive at the foot of the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers and begin a steep ascent between these two hanging glaciers; the atmosphere is unreal. At the first light of dawn, arrival at the edge of the crater between Stella and Hans Meyer points, the junction with trekkers coming from the Marangu route. You will still need to continue for about an hour, along the often snowy ridge of the volcano, to reach the Roof of Africa (5895 m) and watch the sunrise. A unique moment, full of emotion and victory! Then descent to the Barrafu hut for a rest. Do not stay too long at high altitude, you must descend as low as possible... then continue towards Mweka camp (3100 m). Walking time: about 13 hours. Positive elevation gain: +1458 m. Negative elevation gain: -2929 m. Mweka camp under tent with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

• day 8

  Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate - Arusha

  

  Descent through the dense equatorial forest towards Mweka Gate (1800 m). Superb descent where you can see colobus monkeys and blue monkeys swinging from vine to vine... Arrival at Mweka Gate, diploma presentation if you have successfully completed the ascent, then transfer to the city of Moshi or Arusha and end of the trip.