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6 Days Machame Route
This 6 Days Mt Kilimanjaro Climb Machame Route is for very fit people who want a challenge ONLY. The advantage of this route over the Umbwe 6 Day or Rongai 6 Day Routes is crossing the Shira Plateau and still seeing a large portion of the national park. Also, it is easier to access and so actually a better value trip as well.
This is a 6 Days Mt Kilimanjaro Climb Machame Route hike starting at Machame Gate, ascending through Afromontane forest and then into the heath zone and onto the edge of the remnants of the Shira volcano. The route then circumnavigates the main peak, Kibo, anticlockwise passing some spectacular features such as giant steps and glacial valleys. The key difference between the 7 and 6-day versions of this route is that the 6-day hike misses a night camping at Karanga Camp. This means the hiking section from Barranco to Base Camp is long and the time to rest before your summit bid is short. This means if you do not acclimatize well or are unfit, this is very tough. The final ascent is from the Barafu camp. It is a nighttime ascent to Uhuru Peak via Stella Point. The descent is via the Mweka route.
Kilimanjaro: Afromontane forest, Shira plateau, glacial valleys and alpine desert, views of Mawenzi, the ascent of Kibo, and possible views of Kibo caldera and ash pit. Glaciers and the roof of Africa!
Itinerary In Details
Destinations:
Machame Camp
Shira
Barranco Camp
Barafu
Mweka Camp
Summit
Arusha
After breakfast, you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate, your crew finalizes packing and after finishing with formalities you start hiking from Machame Gate. Today’s hiking is through verdant Afromontane Forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is taken on the trail during the hike before reaching Machame Camp for the night.
END – 12,304FT / 3750M
DISTANCE – 3 MILES / 5KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – AFROMONTANE FOREST / HEATHFrom Machame camp you hike to Shira Camp. The first section is relatively steep and altitude is gained rapidly but you will still make it to your next camp in time for a hot lunch. The zone you pass into today is known as the heath zone where attractive helichrysum and lobelia plants become apparent. Various geologic features can be seen today from lava tubes to glacial valleys.
END – 12,796FT / 3900M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 6-8 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERTToday is a “walk high sleep low” day. You ascend into alpine desert to Lava Tower (Alt: 15,092ft, 4600m) where lunch is taken before descending to Barranco Camp. This is a long day but note that the next time you head to this altitude is at base camp – a great acclimatisation day!
END – 15,332FT / 4673M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 9KM
TIME – 6-8 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT, HEATHFrom Barranco camp, famous for its’ giant groundsels (Senecio species), you ascend the Barranco wall and hike glacial valleys to Karanga camp. Lunch is taken at Karanga valley before heading to Barafu in the afternoon. Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds rip over this camp and yet in the evening, splendid views of Mawenzi peak are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the evening. Overnight Barafu Camp. Alt 4,600m,15,092ft (full board).
END – 10,171FT / 3100M
DISTANCE – 11 MILES / 18KM
TIME – 14-16 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT, ARCTIC, HEATHMost people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence are the name of game to reach the summit (Uhuru Peak: 19341ft, 5895m) and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point (Alt: 18,865ft, 5750m) affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down, however. The first stage is to get back to our base camp for a quick change of clothes and refuel before the long hike downhill to Mweka Camp. The downhill is hard on the knees and walking poles at this stage are highly recommended. You should reach Mweka Camp before dusk for your final night on the mountain.
END – 5,381FT / 1640M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 3-4 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you descend once again through the Afromontane Forest and around midday, after lunch, diplomats’ collection and saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a Tour Tamu Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went, and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.
Tour Includes
Tour Excludes
Private safaris are tailor-made according to your wishes and needs. Let’s help you plan your dreamlife African Holiday.
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