Climbing Kilimanjaro, 7 days Machame Route
| country: | Tanzania | ||||
| location: | Kilimanjaro | ||||
| trip type: | High altitude, very challenging trekking holidays | ||||
| departures: | 2010: 6 Jun, 20 Jun, 4 Jul, 18 Jul, 1 Aug, 15 Aug, 29 Aug | ||||
| price: | From US $1,895 (7 days) excluding flights. Price includes Kilimanjaro National Park fees, all transport, accommodation as detailed, camping equipment (except sleeping bags and insulation mats), services of guides and porters, all National Park entrance and camp site fees
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| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Climbing Kilimanjaro, 7 days Machame Route
We've designed our Kili trek to give the very best chance of reaching the summit, maximum appreciation of the spectacular scenery and wildlife, and an insight into the natural history and cultures of the environments and peoples we meet.
Trekkers arriving from low level to climb Kilimanjaro often suffer from altitude sickness if they do not acclimatise properly (lack of fitness is rarely a big problem). We use the Machame Route (with an extra day at Karanga Valley) because it is scenically very attractive, gentler than Marangu or Rongai routes, and provides excellent acclimatisation.
Accommodation is camping throughout in 3 person mountain tents shared by two people. All your equipment will be carried by vehicle or local porters, you only carry a day-pack with personal gear. When camping you will not have to participate in camp chores. We buy fresh produce locally and to ensure good standards of hygiene all food is prepared by our own staff. We can cater for special dietary requirements and there are no extra food-kitty payments.
Trekkers arriving from low level to climb Kilimanjaro often suffer from altitude sickness if they do not acclimatise properly (lack of fitness is rarely a big problem). We use the Machame Route (with an extra day at Karanga Valley) because it is scenically very attractive, gentler than Marangu or Rongai routes, and provides excellent acclimatisation.
Accommodation is camping throughout in 3 person mountain tents shared by two people. All your equipment will be carried by vehicle or local porters, you only carry a day-pack with personal gear. When camping you will not have to participate in camp chores. We buy fresh produce locally and to ensure good standards of hygiene all food is prepared by our own staff. We can cater for special dietary requirements and there are no extra food-kitty payments.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | From Arusha drive to the Machame Park gate, then a gentle climb up through the original montane forest, carpeted with unique "busy lizzie" flowers, begonias and ferns. First camp amongst the giant heather at 3,000m. Ascent of 1,200m and 5-6 hours walking. |
| Day 2: | Emerge from the giant heather zone and hike through fine open moorland to camp by the Shira Cave at 3,840m. Herds of eland up here (& occasional lion!) and there are fascinating geological features in the old volcanic caldera which can be viewed during a half hour optional walk in the afternoon. Ascent 840m and 4-5 hours walking. |
| Day 3: | From Shira, climb towards the main peak Kibo, with the western glaciers clearly visible across the rugged high-altitude desert of volcanic rocks and boulders. Skirting around its base and under the imposing Western Breach, descend into the sheltered Barranco Valley for mid-way camp at 3,950m. 5-7 hours walking and only 110m total ascent - but having climbed higher and dropping back down assists acclimatisation. |
| Day 4: | Up the steep Barranco Wall with some sections of very easy scrambling and drop down again to the Karanga Valley. This is a short walking day, around 3 hours, and again you climb about 300m but drop back down again to around 4,000m. There’s an optional further acclimatisation hike in afternoon up onto the scree below the glaciers. |
| Day 5: | Up to a new camp about 100m above Barafu Hut perched high on a rocky bluff at 4,000m. Fantastic views across to Mawenzi peak, and a bit less to climb tomorrow morning! This is another short walking day, about 4 hours with a 700m height gain, and time for a good rest in the afternoon immediately before the hard summit day. |
| Day 6: | A bracing 1am start to climb the steep frozen scree. This is unavoidable on any route but we aim to reach Stella Point on the crater rim for sunrise - another 40 mins and you’re at the highest point on the continent, usually in warm sunshine. We return on the Mweka descent route. Walking time 7 hours and 1,300m ascent to the summit, 5-6 hours and 2,800m descent to our camp in a clearing amongst the giant heather at Mweka. This is a long and hard day - you’ll feel tired but absolutely ecstatic after you’ve done it. |
| Day 7: | A 4-5 hours descent through the forest to Mweka Gate to collect our certificates and meet our vehicle. Return to Arusha, arriving early to mid afternoon. |
traveller reviews for Climbing Kilimanjaro, 7 days Machame Route
I would rate this holiday as probably one, if not the best, trip that I have ever taken. I will never forget seeing the Kibo through the clouds for the first time, the brilliance of the sun reflecting off the glaciers in the early morning sunlight, or the magnificent sunrise I witness from the peak. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
 This long but gentle trek is more expensive than shorter climbs or the Marangu Route but allows good acclimatisation. Your enjoyment, satisfaction, and achievement should take priority over a cheap, stressful and possibly dangerous climb. Our staff are paid well above average wages, have contracts of employment with agreed conditions of service. We provide good equipment for carrying loads, all food and tented accommodation on the mountain. Often porters and guides on Kilimanjaro receive little or no pay, working just for a tip from the clients. Or they carry double loads - earning more money but compromising your enjoyment, arriving late or throwing food and rubbish away to lighten the loads. All our guides are qualified and certified by the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities and we enjoy an excellent relationship with them built up over many years of working together. They adhere strictly to the codes of conduct set out by the Park authority and have training in First Aid and treatment of altitude sickness. They carry radios and/or mobile 'phones as reception high on Kili is superb! We provide our clients with advice on responsible travel behaviour and encourage them to share their cultures with the peoples they meet as a way of improving understanding of our two very different life-styles. Before and after the trek, our Tanzanian Directors can arrange insights into the way of life of the people living around the lower slopes of nearby Mt Meru where your trek directly supports a village primary school - so many trekkers just "do Kili" without any appreciation of, or contact with the fascinating cultures near there. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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