Kilimanjaro

Machame ROUTE (7 nights / 8 days )
Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, 5895m and the highest mountain in Africa, is certainly one of the most invigorating experiences of a lifetime!

Day 1 – Marangu
On arrival at JKI Airport you will take your shuttle bus transfer to Arusha departing 08h00 from the airport. Transfer from Arusha to your base hotel in Marangu where you will be briefed. Equipment can be hired from the base hotel. Overnight at Marangu Hotel

Day 2 – Machame Hut
Today you will be transferred to Machame Gate and start the climb through the Shambas and passing the forest guard up to the first uniport hut. This is approximately a 5 hour walk which is quite straight forward. Dinner and overnight at Machame Hut-Camping (3100m).

Day 3 – Shira Hut
Breakfast at the campsite. Leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along steep rock ridge (3658m). This is an approximately 4 hours walk. Overnight at Shira Hut Campiste.

Day 4 – Barranco Hut
Today you climb slowly through increasingly barren terrain, straight towards the cone of Kibo and Lava Tower.(4876m). Continue down to Barranco Hut (3860m) overnight. A 6 hours walk today

Day 5 – Barafu Hut
From Barranco Hut, cross the valley towards a wall of cliffs to the east and climb up to the crest of the ridge and continue down the ridge into the Karanga Valley. Climb steeply out of the valley and continue eastwards, through monotonous countryside, to cross the path from Mweka to Barafu Hut for overnight. Today you covered about 8 hours of walking. (B,L,D)

Day 6 – Mweka Hut
Early morning , ascend to Stella Point (5745m) on the way to the summit Uhuru Peak (5895m). (This part of the climb takes about 6 hours, to reach the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest point in Africa). From the summit, continue to straight down to overnight at Mweka Hut Campsite (About 11 hours walking today, the hardest day!) (B,L,D)

Day 7 – Marangu
Today you descend to Mweka gate where you will be met and transferred to Marangu Hotel for overnight. (B, D)

Day 8 – Depart
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Arusha in time to catch your shuttle transfer to Nairobi departing at 14h00. Arrive Nairobi at approximately 18h00 and dropoff JKI Airport.

Equipment Required :- All climbers should attempt to bring as much as possible of the following:- anorak, mittens, balaclava (ski-masks), snow goggles or ski sunglasses, scarf, 3 pairs of warm trousers, sweaters, 6 pairs of warm socks, thermal underwear, waterproof layer, sunproof hat, comfortable boots, sun cream, small first aid kit, daypack, torch plus spare battery, and water bottle(s) with 2 litre capacity. Suggested medicines: headache tablets (preferably not aspirin since this tends to irritate stomachs already sensitive at altitude), Imodium/Lomotil for diahorrea sometimes associated with altitude. Climbers may like to consult their physicians about azetazolomide (Diamox), a drug that many find mitigates the ill effects of altitude, headache, diahorrea & vomiting.

Tipping: It is customary for satisfied climbers to tip guides and porters. Amounts given are entirely within the discretion of the guest. As a general guideline, however, guests are advised to budget $50-100 each for this purpose. The amount per guest tends to be larger the smaller the group.