Kilimanjaro Machame Route

You will arrive latest 1pm to begin the expedition. Destination airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where you will be greeted by our friendly ground staff and transferred for an overnight stay in Moshi in an exclusive setting. There will be a final gear inspection on arrival with the opportunity to procure any last minute items locally.

Breakfast at hotel then drive and register at Kilimanjaro National Park Gate and enter the park through Muchame gate. There will be a quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group then starts trekking up to Machame Camp. The route includes passage through the rainforest (where tropical showers are highly likely), so we recommend you take not only spare clothes, but also your raincoats with waterproof boots. This will be your first day at this altitude, it is therefore recommended that trekkers adhere to the following instructions from here on: - Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine - Drink over 4 -5 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently. - Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the expedition in case of potential allergies. At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay close attention to your own body and discuss any altitude sickness symptoms with your guide. Altitude: 1 800m to 3010m Hiking time: 5-6 hours Distance: 5Km Difficulty: Low Habitat: Rain Forest

After breakfast you will start trekking up to the second high-altitude camp, Shira Camp . On this day you will emerge from the rainforest and for the first time be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you. Physically speaking, the trekking is not very difficult, but you may feel the changes in altitude, so pay attention to your body and remember that choosing the proper pace is extremely important for good trekking. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and some rest, after which the group will go on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp with a 300-meter gain in altitude. Back down at Shira Camp you will be served a hot dinner. Altitude: 3,845 m to 4,630m Hiking time: 6-8 hours Distance: 11Km Difficulty: Medium Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast you will leave Shira Camp and start your way to the key point of the route: Lava Tower. This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. It might be difficult, and you may feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be. Then you will descend to Barranco Camp. Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! Next day you will be climbing it, but don't worry: it features a very simple hiking trail. Altitude: 3,845m to 4,630m then descend to 3960m Hiking time: 6-8 hours Distance: 11Km Difficulty: Medium Habitat: Moorland

Early wake-up, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall (we recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups). Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano. Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don't worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp you will be offered warm lunch. After a couple of hours you will have to complete ascend to Barafu Camp where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before night summiting. Altitude: 3,960m to 4,640m Hiking time: 8-10 hours Distance: 11Km Difficulty: High Habitat: Alpine desert

Departure from Barafu Camp at night and the start of summiting Kilimanjaro: Uhuru Peak . Technically the climb is relatively simple; however, the most challenging part is the high altitude. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental conditions. After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak, you can descend to the nearest glacier if desired. Then you will return to Barafu Camp and after a 2-hour rest continue your descent to Millennium Camp. Altitude: 3,960m to 4,035m Hiking time: 8-10 hours Distance: 11Km Difficulty: High Habitat: Alpine desert

The camp is situated in a tropical rainforest. When you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction of the height and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the park's exit: Mweka Gate (1,640 m). After your descent the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the climb in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates in our office and provide you a transfer back to the hotel. Altitude: 3,820m to 1,640m Hiking time: 4-5 hours Distance: 12Km Difficulty: Low Habitat: Rain Forest

Depart from Tanzania - Expedition ends.