Kilimanjaro Climbing Tours
The Machame Route is known as the "Whiskey Route" in comparison to Marangu's "Coca Cola Route". This is because Machame is a more difficult route, and does not have sleeping huts for accomodation. Machame is the second most popular route on the mountain. .
The trek begins in the south-west area of the mountain at Machame Gate. The route takes six days minimum to complete, although seven days is recommended. The descent is down Mweka, on the south-east side of the mountain. Because of the ascent in the west and descent down the north, Machame offers great vistas of Kilimanjaro. Additionally, Machame visits stunning places such as Shira Plateau, Barranco, and Lava Tower.
Machame is ideal for those who want a more difficult climb, and are confident in their ability to hike over extended periods of time on sometimes steep terrain. Climbers using Machame place a premium of varied scenery, but also accept heavy traffic.
7.15 a.m. Pick from your Nairobi hotel. 8.00 a.m. Depart for Arusha via Namanga border town for immigration formalities. Rest of the afternoon at leisure. Overnight at an Arusha hotel.
An early start for Kilimanjaro National Park. Once we reach the park gate we will proceed directly to Machame hut campsite in an average hiking time of 6 hours for meals and overnight in tents. The altitude here is 3.10071.
After breakfast hike to Shira hut. The trek takes 4 hours approximately via the rain forest past the valley and a steep rocky ridge ending westward at a river gorge. You will have a rest. Dinner and overnight at Shira hut campsite, 3,658m above sea level.
From Shira, hike to Barranco hut. in an average hiking time of 6 hours. We by-pass the lava tower and past the second junction which brings us to the arrow glacier, altitude 4,876m. We descend to Barranco hut campsite for our third overnight on Kilimanjaro. 3,860 m above sea level.
After breakfast we leave Barranco and continue to the Karanga valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka trail. We hike to Barafu hut where \ve set up camp. We will have walked for about 8 hours. Dinner and overnight at the hut campsite, altitude 4.600m with the possibility of sighting both Mawenzi & Kibo peaks.
We rise early and head for Stella Point altitude 5,745m on our way to the summit Uhuru Peak which is 5,896m above sea level.This part of the hike takes about 6 hours. From the summit we descend to the Mweka hut campsite, 3,100m above sea level. This part of the descent takes about ’5 hours. Dinner and overnight at the hut campsite.
After breakfast, we descend to the Mweka Park Gate in an average hiking time of 4 hours and then drive back to Arusha for overnight.
After breakfast depart for Nairobi on the morning or afternoon shuttle arriving at 1.00 pm or 6.30 pm.
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