Mt. Kilimanjaro – Machame Route Down Mweka

Day 1: NAIROBI-MOSHI

Leave Nairobi in the morning by a shuttle bus.Arrive in Namanga border town and after visa formalities proceed to Arusha and eventually Moshi arriving around 1600hrs.Dinner and overnight in a hotel.tas etiam dictum varius.

Day 2: MOSHI –MACHAME CAMP.

Elevation:5,400ft -9,400ft

Distance 11km

Hiking Time 5-6hrs

Habitat:Rain Forest

The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.

After check in, leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Sometimes, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and walking sticks are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp for overnight.

Day 3: MACHAME CAMP-SHIRA CAMP

Elevation 9400ft-12,500ft

Distance 5km

Hiking Time 4-5 hours

Habitat:Moorland

Have breakfast, then we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.

Day 4: SHIRA CAMP-LAVA TOWER- BARRANCO CAMP

Elevation: 12500ft-13,00ft

Distance: 10km

Hiking Time:6-8Hours

Habitat:Semi-desert

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Day 5: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP

Elevation: 13,00ft – 13,100 ft

Distance: 5km

Hiking Time: 4-5hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

After the day break we have breakfast, then leave Barranco camp and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite for overnight. This is a short day meant for acclimatization. The day will help the body to prepare well for the summiting.

Day 6: BARAFU CAMP-THE SUMMIT –MWEKA CAMP

Elevation :15300ft – 19,345ft and go down to 10,000ft.

Hiking Time :5km going up and 12km coming down

Hiking Time:6-8 hours up and 4-6 hours down.

Habitat :Snow and ice

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (if weather is clear). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka camp , stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.