Climbing Kilimanjaro & Tanzania Safari

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Go for Kilimanjaro trekking via Machame route

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Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania 
Climbing Kilimanjaro
, a complete guide to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. 
Join team of professional mountain guides,cook and porters, utilize their knowledge and experience for your success.
 
Are you planning Kilimanjaro trekking in 2010? Get special treatment from our Best kilimanjaro climbing guides. A lot of knowledge on birds,rocks,volcano,weather,wildlife and more. Use their skills and experience to reach kilimanjaro summit easily.

Decide now which Kilimanjaro trekking route you will use, get quality services and success?... 
Choose any route for Kilimanjaro trekking, choose any day and choose best Guide to start enjoying your Kilimanjaro climbing and trekking experience. 
Complete information about climbing Kilimanjaro including all the Kili trekking routes: Marangu, Machame, Rongai, Umbwe, Shira, and Lemosho. 


SPECIAL PRICE IS 1280 US $ PER PERSON. This price is for 6 days from gate through forest, volcanic rocks to Kilimanjaro summit 5895m and back to gate.


Extra day will cost 140 US $ per person (needed for Shira and Lemosho route) or other tourists just need it for leisure and guaranteed success.


Single Supplement costs 180 US $.


Please read Below Machame details and also visit website for other routes. Contact us for more information, booking or combo holiday package with wildlife safari or beach holiday.



Machame route is also known as Whisky route.




Duration: 6 Days.

Total hiking distance: About 100 km.

 

This is probably the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. All your equipment and supplies are portered and a cook prepares all your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only. This makes Machame (also referred to as the "Whiskey route") better suited to the slightly more adventurous hiker, rewarding him with a scenic splendor such as not seen on the Marangu route. From late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, the Machame route offers the adventurous hiker a stunning scenic "slide show" over 6 days. The Machame route is normally completed in a minimum of 6 days. .

 

There is an added benefit to this, as you are afforded the most valuable commodity on the mountain - acclimatisation. The Machame route takes you high to Lava Tower (4630m) on the day 3 and brings you down by nearly 700m for an overnight at Barranco camp (3950m). This is the secret to successful acclimatisation..

 

6 day Itinerary for the Machame route.

 

The Machame route can also be completed in 5 days. On day 3 on the itinerary below, you go directly to Kibo with an overnight at the Arrow Glacier camp, with your final summating attempt on day 4. An extremely physically and mentally demanding option, not recommended for the average climber..

Day 1: Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame camp (2980m).

Hiking time: 7 hours.

Distance: About 18 km's.

Habitat: Montane forest.

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame village (1490m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. You will receive a lunch pack and you can also buy mineral water in the village. Depending on the condition of the road, it is possible to drive from the village to the Machame gate, but if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour to complete. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon.

Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on your arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite..

            Day 2: Machame camp (2980m) - Shira camp (3840m).

 

Hiking time: 6 hours

                                      .

Distance: About 9 km's.

Habitat: Moorland.

 

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Day 3: Shira (3840m) - Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m).

Hiking time: 7 hours

                                      .

Distance: About 15 km's.

 

Habitat: Semi desert.

The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). Definitely, the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner.

 

Day 4: Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu camp (4550m).

 

Hiking time: 7 hours.

 

 

Distance: About 13 km's.

 

Habitat: Alpine desert               .

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut.

The last water stop on the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice" and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

 

Day 5: SUMMIT ATTEMPT, Barafu camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m).

 

Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak.

 

7/8 hours to descend to Mweka.           

 

 

Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent.

 

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.

 

You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared.

Day 6: Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m).

Hiking time: 3 hours.

Distance: About 15 km's          .

Habitat: Forest   .

 

            . After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! You now drive back to Arusha for a long over due hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!  

 

 

Lava Tower, a famous Landmark on Kilimanjaro


UMBWE ROUTE

DURATION 6 DAYS;

 

The Umbwe route is one of the shortest routes to the Southern Glaciers and the Western Breach. It is probably the most scenic, non-technical route on Kilimanjaro. It is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitude, but the rewards are plentiful. Fewer people, pristine forest and shorter walking distances make it a great option for fit hikers. Add to your experience - OVERNIGHT IN THE CRATER!! Be one of a few fortunate people to spend a night in Africa's largest volcano. This option is highly recommended, as this will be the only opportunity to get close to the beautiful and fascinating glaciers of Kilimanjaro and to be able to visit the ash pit.

 

 

Day 1: Umbwe Gate (1800m) - Bivouac (first) camp (2940m)

Hiking time: 5 hours.

Habitat: Montane forest.

After breakfast you will be driven to the Umbwe Gate at 1800m, passing through villages with coffee and banana plantations. On arrival at the Parks Gate your guide and porters will meet you. Sign the register before you enter the park for your first step to accomplishing a life-long dream. The air is thick with moisture and the path is usually muddy. The route initially follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forest. It then narrows and steepens to climb the ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers, with huge trees surrounding you. The path offers some spectacular views of deep gorges and if you are lucky, glimpses of Kilimanjaro towering above you in the distance. The camp is perched between huge trees and thick undergrowth.

Day 2: Bivouac (first) camp (2940m) - Barranco camp (3950m).

Hiking time: 6 hours.

Habitat: Montane forest & Moorlands.

Shortly after leaving the camp, the forest starts thinning and is replaced by rockier terrain, sparser undergrowth and straggly, moss-covered trees. The path continues along a narrow, but spectacular ridge. As you gain higher altitude, catch glimpses of Kilimanjaro rising majestically ahead of you - etched against the blue sky. The path flattens as you approach Barranco Valley. From the Umbwe ridge the route descends slightly to the Barranco camp. The camp is situated in the valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while your dinner is being prepared.

 

Day 3: Barranco camp (3950m) - Lava Tower (4630m) - Arrow Glacier Camp (4800m).

Habitat: Moorland/Semi desert.

After breakfast you will start your hike towards Lava Tower, a famous landmark on Kilimanjaro. The path is steep and rocky, with views of Mt. Meru, Kilimanjaro's little sister, punching her peak through the clouds. From Lava Tower you turn towards the Western Breach, a steep climb to Arrow Glacier camp (4800m). This is taxing and symptoms of altitude sickness might become noticeable. The campsite is spectacular. Vegetation has now all but disappeared, leaving only rock and scree in varying shades of brown and black. The campsite is very cold and you need to be prepared.

Day 4: Arrow Glacier (4800m) - Crater (5700m).

Hiking time: 5 hours.

Distance: About 15 km's

Habitat: Semi desert/ Snowfields.

 

Day 5: SUMMIT ATTEMPT, Crater (5700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka (3100m).

Hiking time: 2 hours to reach Uhuru Peak.

7/8 hours to descend to Mweka.

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.

You will rise around 04:00, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the early morning darkness. From the crater floor you will probably encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. Time spent on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your live. The walk to Barafu camp from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest, before heading down to Millennium camp (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be provided as well as drinking water.

Day 6: Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m).

Hiking time: 3 hours.

Distance: Habitat: Forest

 About 15 km's.

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a 5-hour, scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! You will then drive back to Arusha for a long overdue hot shower and celebrations!! Overnight at Jacaranda Hotel.

 

NOTE: The itinerary may change at any time due to weather or safety conditions. Hiking times and distances are estimated only, but have been calculated to give the hiker a comfortable pace throughout the hike. The above itinerary is a guide only and extra days can be added according to your preferences. With the above route you can summit via Barafu camp or via Arrow Glacier

 

 

 

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