BTC 5 - Machame Route (6 days trekking)
Areas of Interest: Machame campsites, Arrow Glacier, Lava tower, Western Breach, Uhuru Peak, Horombo Hut, Moshi/Arusha
Activity: Game Viewing, Camping, Scenery, Trekking, Photography, Culture, and Bird Watching
Country: Tanzania
Tanzania offers some of the best trekking in Africa. The biggest attraction being the highest mountain in Africa and one of the highest volcanoes in the world - Mount Kilimanjaro. It is also the highest mountain anywhere that can be climbed by a regular tourist, and thousands of guests attempt to make it to the summit every year. The hike is even more attractive because you can walk all the way to the summit without the need of ropes or technical climbing experience, but you still need the right preparation.
The best time to go trekking is in the dry season, from late June to October when the rains have ended and from late December to February or early March, just after the short rains.
The Machame route is a diverse, scenic and steady climb taking longer than other routes providing extra acclimatization, which gives trekkers a better chance of making it to the summit. It is also less crowded, thus more enjoyable.
To see Kenya route map click here
To see East Africa route map click here
Day 1 - Machame Campsite
6 hour ascent.
We take you from Moshi to the Machame Park gate with porters and guides where we start our climb with a picnic lunch and camp at the Machame Campsite 1 (9,840ft / 3000m). Machame Hut is on the edge of the forest and at the beginning of the moorland. There are good views of the mountain from here. The water supply is down a steep valley side.
Day 2 – Shira Hut
6-8 hour ascent
After breakfast climb we start the ascent towards the Shira plateau. The walk starts with quite steep inclines, and you soon get some of the best approach views of Kibo. Dinner and overnight at the site at an altitude of 12,500ft/3,500m. Here you will begin to feel the effects of altitude so drink water and keep a slow, steady pace.
Day 3 – Barranco camp
7 hr walk (ascent & descent)
Another day without much height gain (you will only gain 300m of height), but many ups and downs, to Barranco Hut at 12,800 feet. However during the day's walk you will ascend to almost 15,000 feet and then drop back down at Barranco camp. The walk offers splendid views of Kibo ahead of you and down the valleys to the plateau and rainforest below. The camping spot at Barranco is perhaps the most spectacular on the Machame route.
Day 4 – Barafu Hut
7 hr ascent
We depart in the early morning in order to reach Barafu in good time for an early supper and sleep so that you can build up your reserves for the arduous next day. The first part of this day's climb is spectacular and you start the day with a climb of what appears to be an incredibly steep face. Lunch will be at Karanga Valley which is also the last water point.
Day 5 - Uhuru Peak then Mweka camp
7-8 hr ascent, 4-7 hr descent
An early morning start towards Stella Point on the Crater Rim. It is crucial at this point to walk slowly. Reaching the rim at sunrise, you may opt to continue towards the highest point of Uhuru at an altitude of 5,896m/19,340ft.
At Uhuru peak you will have reached the highest point in Africa and if the weather is good you will certainly want to celebrate your triumph and take in the breathtaking views.
From the summit, follow the path eastwards around the rim to reach Stella point after about an hour, and then continue down to Barafu hut and lastly down to Mweka Hut. There are places to camp and water is available from a nearby stream.
Day 6 - Moshi
4-5 hr descent
After breakfast, you begin the descent to Mweka Park Gate. The steep descent continues through the forest following a broad ridge. This path can be slippery so trekking poles are useful here. The path improves and after about four hours you reach Mweka gate to board your vehicle for Moshi. We drop you off at your hotel for a relaxing bath and prospect of a good meal.

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