Rehoboth Safaris leads treks up the Machame, a beautiful route up Kilimanjaro that allows you to experience the southwest and south sides of the mountain, since you go up one way and down another. All your equipment and supplies are carried by porters and a cook prepares all your meals. Unlike the Machame Route where you sleep in huts, on the Machame you sleep in tents (tents are included), and the porters will pitch your tent for you. Meals are served in a dinner tent or on a blanket outside. This makes the Machame, which is referred to as the “Whiskey Route,” better suited to more adventurous hikers, and it also rewards you with better views than the Machame Route. From late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo’s great Barranco Wall, the Machame Route offers the spunky hiker a continuous scenic slide show. The Machame Route is normally completed in 6 days, and this greatly helps your acclimatization. The Machame Route takes you high to Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) on day 3 then brings you down for an overnight at Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft). This intermediate ascent and descent is the secret to a successful acclimatization, and is the reason that this route has a high success rate.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive at Airport
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Hotel in Arusha/Moshi for your overnight.
Day 2 Machame Gate (1490m) to Machame Camp (2980m), distance 18 km, 7 hours
Your day starts early with breakfast and a briefing from your guide. It is approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Moshi to Machame Gate. All your equipment and supplies are taken by porters; a cook will prepare your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route are in huts, the Machame route offers tents only. After all formalities have been taken care at the gate, head into the forest and begin the ascent to the first camp on the mountain, Machame Camp.
Day 3 Machame Camp (2980m) to Shira Camp (3840m), distance 9 km, 6 hours
Breakfast is served early in the mess tent and, weather permitting, you could take in your first view of the Western Breach of Kilimanjaro. The lunch stop will be reached at about 3600m and after this short lunch and an equally limited rest you’ll continue up the rocky ridge to the next camp on the mountain, Shira Camp.
Day 4 Shira Camp (3840m) to Barranco Camp (3950m), distance 15 km, 6 hours
The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky environment where you reach an altitude of 4600m after a 5 hour walk to Lava Tower. As you ascend there are good views of the Shira Plateau to the west, Oehler Ridge to the northeast, and the Western Breach to the east. This day you will climb high and sleep low.
Day 5 Baranco Camp (3950) to Barafu Camp (4550m), distance 13 km, 7 hours
The morning starts with a scramble up the almost vertical Barranco Wall to an altitude of about 4200m and after 3 hours the path now crosses through the southern slopes to reach the Karanga Valley. Continue on a southeasterly direction to the junction before turning north to reach Barafu Camp. The tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and wind-swept ridge. Here you rest and prepare for the midnight ascent to the summit. The summit is only 1345m up and you will make the final ascent at midnight, so prepare your equipment and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. Go to bed at 7:00 pm and try to get 5 hours of precious rest.
Day 6 Barafu Camp (4600m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) to Mweka Camp (3100m), distance 7 km up and 7 km down, ascent 7 hours, descent 7 hours
Wake at midnight and after biscuits and steaming tea, prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise. You’ll head in a northwesterly direction up the southeast valley towards Stella Point on the crater rim. The 6 hour walk is a mental and physical challenge with the steep face just below Stella posing the ultimate challenge. Uhuru Peak is an hour from here and the time you spend on the summit is determined by the weather. The walk down to Mweka Camp from the summit can take over 7 hours.
Day 7Â Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (2000m), distance 15 km, hiking time 3 hours
After you camp for the night at Mweka Camp you depart for the Mweka Gate in the morning where your driver will pick up and take you back to Airport/ to the Hotel in Arushs for overnight.
Package Includes:
– Full board accommodation on the climbs and BB in Arusha
– All park entry fees, hut fees, rescue fees, Guide and porter’s fees.
– Knowledgeable Mountain Guide and porters on climbs for professional trekking.
– Transport to and from the mountain gates.
– Cook and all kitchen utensils on the climb
– Service of an English speaking mountain guide (Tanzanian)
– Crew allowances and park entry fees – Government taxes
Package Excludes:
-Flights
– Mountain Gears, (available for hire, $10@ item per trip)
– Visa, Travel Insurance and Intl. flights
– Extras i.e. drinks, laundry, telephone and internet
– Tips to the Crew (highly recommended)
