Kilimanjaro via Machame Route ~ Guided *TREK*CLIMB*

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be picked up by our driver and transferred to Weruweru River Lodge. Later on, your guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. 

The first part of the 11km trail from Machame gate at 1800m to Machame camp follows a gravel road and is very easy to walk. It is a gradual ascend and not very steep. You cross the rain forest and on the way you might see Black and White Colobus and Blue Monkeys. After a short lunch break the trail gets steeper and the forest gets thinner. If the weather conditions allow it, you will get a nice view of your ultimate destination, Kibo Peak, at the end of the day.

Although considered to be the easiest day on the Machame Route, today’s trek includes several uphill sections. Carry plenty of drinking water, as the exposed hike can be hot on a clear day. There are several viewpoints from which you can see the plains and forests below and Kibo and Mawenzi peaks above.

As you gain altitude, notice the change in vegetation. The trees diminish in size, giving way to Kilimanjaro’s famous high-altitude plants, Scenecio Kilimanjaro and Lobelia deckenii. After eating lunch, climb the Shira Plateau, created when Kibo’s lava flows filled the Shira crater. Continue to Shira Camp, where you will relax for the rest of the day. Kibo lies to the west and Mount Meru to the east.

Today’s trek is longer than yesterday’s, though our overall gain in height is modest. Our route, 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).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 acclimatization 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.

Today our Kilimanjaro trek starts  from Barranco Camp, famous for its giant groundsels. We will ascend the great Barranco wall, which divides us form the southern slopes of Kibo. Climbing the Barranco wall it’s a climb over rocks. The route is not technical, but long and tiring and it will take us at Karanga Camp where we will have lunch and our last stop for water before the summit. Afterwards we will continue to walk through the alpine desert towards Barafu Camp (Base Camp, 4640 m).

Tonight you depart from Barafu Camp to ascent to the top of Kilimanjaro (Uhuru Peak)! The climb leads over good trails, the most challenging part is the high altitude. There is 1 personal guide per 2 climbers in order to closely monitor the climbers’ physically and mentally wellbeing.

Once you reach the summit you can enjoy a beautiful sunrise, which is quite impressive at this height! After a small party at the top, you can descend to the nearest glacier if you wish. You return to Barafu Camp and start the descent to Millennium Camp after two hours of rest. When descending pay close attention to where you step in order to prevent an injury.

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration. After celebrating, you will descend back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). Dinner and overnight at Weruweru River Lodge

Today you can relax at the lodge or explore the surrounding area. You can choose to extend your journey with a beautiful Tanzania Safari. Another option is to unwind on the tropical Zanzibar Island.