Machame Route 7 Day Itinerary
Our trips begin and end at Ilboru Safari Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania. Clients may arrive at any time on day one. There is a pre-trip meeting around 5:30pm and the included dinner is served at 6pm. Private transfers from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Ilboru Safari Lodge can be arranged for an extra fee. Download the Peak Planet Machame 7 Day Itinerary here.
To book a group climb please take a look at the group climb schedule. To book a private climb, please take a look at the private climb pricing page.
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ITINERARY
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DAY 1
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Arrive anytime at Ilboru Safari Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania. With prior arrangement, airport pick up and private transfers to the hotel are available from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), or simply make your own way by taxi. We will gather in the evening for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check. We will also confirm you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance. |
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DAY 2
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After completing the necessary registration formalities
at Machame National Park gate, we begin to trek through a
beautiful and lush forest. We have a picnic lunch en route. We camp
at Machame Camp (9,800 ft). |
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DAY 3
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We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland
zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily through rocky hills
with wide views of the Shira Plateau. From our camp near Shira
Hut (12,600 ft), we take in the unforgettable views of Mt. Meru
as she floats among the clouds. |
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DAY 4
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A morning of sustained ascent and panoramic views
brings us to lunch near Lava Tower (14,900
ft). The trail then descends to the bottom of the Barranco
Valley (12,800 ft), where we stay in the spectacular Barranco
Campsite sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views
of the plains far below. |
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DAY 5
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A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an
undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb
vistas of the Southern Icefields. The terrain changes to scree,
with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there
is only a short distance to our camp at Karanga Camp (13,100
ft), the last water point on the approach to the summit. |
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DAY 6
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We follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide
views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach Barafu Hut
(14,800 ft) for lunch. There is a short acclimatisation hike to
the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley (15,700 ft). The
remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early
morning final ascent. |
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DAY 7
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We start our ascent by torchlight about 1 a.m. so
that we can be up on the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb
over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow
but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (18,800 ft),
in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time
to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong
can make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim
to Uhuru Peak (19,345 ft), passing close to the spectacular
glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments,
we continue to descend to reach our final campsite, Millenium
Camp (12,500 ft). |
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DAY 8
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A sustained descent on a well constructed path takes
us through a lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting
lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route
winds down to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka
(5,400 ft); and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village,
where we are transferred to Ilboru
Safari Lodge in Arusha. |
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DAY 9
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After breakfast, we can arrange for a private transfer or taxi to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). |
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Trip Profile
MACHAME
ROUTE
Trip
Profile
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Trip
Duration:
9 days |
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Days on Mountain: 7 days |
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Difficulty:
moderate |
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Success
Rate : |
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Distance:
37miles (appox.) |
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Accommodations:
2 nights lodging 7nights camping |
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Meals:
all meals during climb plus breakfast and dinner at lodges |
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Park
Fees:
all park fees are included |