11 DAYS KILIMANJARO CLIMB MACHAME ROUTE AND SAFARI
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Duration
Tour Type
Daily Tour
Group Size
Unlimited
Languages
English
Overview
Why Machame?
This is most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. With Lovely gradual ascent through forest you emerge to see wide views of the moorland on Shira plateau, Kibo and western breach.
Itinerary
Day 1

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport you will be met by our representative and taken to Keys Hotel Travel and Tours. It is a family run hotel located on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, with comfortable accommodation, variety of meals, clean swimming pool and friendly services. Located just ten minutes walking distance to Moshi town center, palatable meal and luxurious accommodation; Keys Hotel is the most spectacular place one will always wish to stay, Keys Hotel Travel and Tours – 2700 ft (BB).
Day 2: Machame Gate (1,800 m/5,380 ft) – Machame Camp (2,980 m/9,780 ft)
Walking distance: 11 km/7 miles
Walking time: 5-7 hours
Altitude gain: 1,490 m/4,890 ft
After breakfast, we will depart from our hotel at approximately 8:30 AM for the Machame village with a Lunch box for you to sporadically bite on you trek. From the park entrance gate (Machame), you will walk for about two to three hours trek through a dense forest of fig and rubber trees, begonia flowers, and other tropical vegetation. A stop for lunch will be made halfway to this evening’s campsite. As you continue your ascent, you will find that the tropical forest has given way to tall grasses and giant heather. You will be walking on a ridge, to the left of which is the Semira stream, and on the right, the Weru. Depending on the pace of the climbers, arrival at Machame Camp is usually between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Your camp is set up near some old metals huts, which were once used for shelter. This initial stage of the climb is tranquil and relatively easy. There is no point in rushing to get to the camp, as there is little to do there. Guides tend to recommend a slow ascent, even at this point, for gradual acclimatisation. Do not try to keep up with your porters, who will usually bound ahead. Instead, take time to admire the beauty of the afro mountain forest. Overnight: Machame Camp (FB)
Day 3: – Machame Camp (2,980 m/9,780 ft) – New Shira Camp (3,840 m/12,600 ft)

Walking distance: 9 km/5.5 miles
Walking time: 4-6 hours
Altitude gain: 860 m/2,820 ft
On this and subsequent mornings, wake-up call is at around 6:00 AM. You will be greeted with a steaming cup of tea or coffee, and weather permitting, by a fabulous view of Uhuru peak. Today’s trek takes you up a steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, volcanic rock, and bearded heather. You will encounter giant groundsels as you hike through a ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves, and foamy streams. Lunch will be taken just below the Shira Plateau, about three to four hours from Shira Camp. The hike to the next campsite takes approximately six hours and you should arrive between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Most climbers tend to pace themselves, walking slowly and resting about every half-hour. On arrival in camp, there is time to relax and even so for an acclimatisation hike with your guides before dinner. Overnight: Shira Camp (FB)
Day 4: Shira Camp (3,840 m/12,600 ft) – Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) – Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft)
Walking distance: 15 km/9.3 miles
Walking time: 7-9 hours
Altitude gain: 10 m/360 ft (680 m/2,230 ft to Lava Tower)
The entire Shira Plateau greets you this morning with sweeping vistas across to Meru and the Shira Needles. A steady walk takes you up to the pass at Lava Tower (15,000 ft), where you stop to have lunch. Crossing the Bastain stream, you will begin to descend towards Barranco Camp. Descending takes you along an immense canyon called the Great Barranco. Along the way, you will see numerous waterfalls, which are fed, by streams coming from the mountain, converging here to form the Umbwe River. Your camp is set at almost the same altitude as the night before. Today is a full day trek and you will feel very tired. Arrival at camp is between 4:30PM and 5:30PM.Overnight: Barranco Camp (FB)
Day 5: Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft) – Karanga Camp (4,040 m/13,255 ft)
Walking distance: 5.8 km/3.4 miles
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 55 m/185 ft
This morning you begin your hike to Karanga Camp, which is on the same altitude as Barranco Camp. You will encounter a bit of a climb at Barranco wall and spend the rest of the trek climbing up and down the slopes of the mountain most of the way to camp. Climbing is not considered difficult and you should arrive in time for lunch (approximately 1:00PM) having trekked for about four – five hours. In the afternoon you will have an opportunity to hike in the Karanga Valley where giant senecios and lobelia grows. However, you are well advised to rest as much as you possibly can to prepare you for the climb ahead. Overnight: Karanga Camp (FB)
Day 6: Karanga Camp (4,040 m/13,255 ft) – Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft)
Walking distance: 3.5 km/ 2.2 miles
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 510 m/1,675 ft
The scenic climb to Barafu is mostly on a moraine and lava ridge with a view of Mawenzi peak towering majestically to the right, and overhead, Kibo peak seemingly just out of reach. The alpine desert terrain encountered at this point is mostly a mineral environment with few lichens and mosses. Lunch is taken in camp and in the afternoon there is a summit clothing check. Climbers who choose to ascend the peak will go to bed very early this night, as the next day is the longest one. Overnight: Barafu Camp (FB)
Day Seven: Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) – Summit via Stella Point (5,752 m/18,871 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) and descending to Millennium Camp (3,820 m/12,530 ft) or to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft)
You will be awakened at midnight and after a light breakfast, start climbing at around 12 midnight. It is at this stage that the climb becomes much more tough. Climbers should carry as little as possible on this portion of the climb. Temperatures will range from -4° to 5° Fahrenheit. You will climb for about six hours before reaching the edge of the crater, Stella points. Another hour of climbing brings you to the summit. Uhuru stands at 19,340 feet and is the highest point on the continent of Africa. The track around the edge of the crater is rocky and often icy. Concentrate on your feet, and follow your guide very closely for this portion of the journey.The descent is no easier than the ascent. You will reach Barafu camp after about three hours (around 11:30 AM). Climbers will be given the opportunity to rest and have some refreshments before continuing on to Mweka Camp for the night. Arriving into camp at around 5:00PM, you will have trekked a total of thirteen to seventeen hours today.
Overnight: Mweka Camp (FB)
Day 8: Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) – Mweka Gate (1,980 m/6,500 ft) BB
Walking distance: About 15 km, 9.3 mile
Walking time: 3-4 hours
Descend: 1,120m/ 3,670ft
On the final day of the journey, climbers descend from Mweka camp to the base. The descent to the gate will take approximately 5 hours and climbers usually arrives before noon. Upon arrival at the gate climbers will be rewarded with certificates attesting their success at climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. After finishing your climb you will be taken to Keys Hotel Travel and Tours for hot shower, dinner & overnight rest. (BB).
Day 9: Moshi – Tarangire Nationa Park
After breakfast at Keys Hotel, depart for Tarangire National Park Tarangire National Park for Game drive. The driving is along beautiful masai steppe & many villages.
Tarangire is one of the best National park in Northern Tanzania which runs along the lines of Tarangire River and it contain low lying hills appears on the floor of Great Rift Valley. The vegetation of the park is mainly acacia woodland and huge African Baobab trees with a swamp area on the South.
Tarangire River and the swamps attract a large number of wild animals as it is the only permanent water sources in the entire park. Tarangire National park is famous for its large elephant population found nowhere else in Africa, you may expect to spot giraffe, buffalo, zebra, impala, wildebeest, warthog, baboons & lots of monkeys. The three rare species of Greater Kudu, Fringed-Eared Oryx and the Ash stalling can also be seen here. Lion, leopard, hyena, jackals, cheetah, vultures & other birds of prey also inhabit the park. For bird watchers this is the place as over 400 species of bird where recently recorded here which includes migratory one.
Later afternoon during the sunset drive to Kudu Lodge for dinner & overnight with a brief stop at Lake Manyara view point for some nice picture of Lake Manyara & its forest from the edge of Great East African Rift Valley.
Overnight at Kudu Lodge in Karatu town. All Meals included.
Day 10: Tarangire – Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast drive up to Ngorongoro highlands, spend few minutes for registration at the gate before driving up to the Crater view point where you can make a brief stop to get the most breathtaking views of the Crater floor from above, you may take some pictures before descending 600 meters high walls into the Crater floor for a full day game drive.
Ngorongoro Crater is often referred by many as the Eden of Africa, because of its great scenery and abundance of wildlife. Large mammals and plain animals are making home in this natural wildlife sanctuary. Lunch box will be taken at the Crater floor. You can expect to spot herds of wildebeest, eland, zebra, hippos, African elephant, gazelles and the rare black rhino in their natural habitat.
Another big draw card in this huge caldera is the denser population of predators which include lion, hyena, cheetah, jackals and the ever-elusive leopard that needs sharp eye to be spotted. All this animals are bounded by the volcanic walls of 600 meters and can be viewed in a very close range. You will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner which is among the main features of the crater. Large flocks of flamingos, many aquatic birds & hippos can usually being seen here.
In the evening before sunset drive to Rhino Lodge Ngorongoro.
Overnight at Rhino Lodge in Ngorongoro. All meals included
Day 11: Ngorongoro – Lake Manyara National Park – Moshi

On this day after breakfast we will take you to Lake Manyara National Park the ever green park nestling at the base of the Great East African Rift Valley with overlapping habitats which supports a large number of animal species include the famous Lake Manyara tree climbing lions, giraffe, elephant, zebra, buffalo, leopard, hyena and many more.
Afterward drive back to Moshi, if you wish you may visit Mto wa Mbu market or any Masai market on the way before reaching Moshi in late evening.
Please let us know if you are flying on this day or need accommodation in Keys Hotel Moshi
Included/Excluded
- 1: Transport from JRO airport
- 2: A night before and after the trek on bed and English breakfast.
- 2: All food on the climb.
- 3: Transfer to and from the gate.
- 4: Tents (Four season,3-person mountain tent – double occupancy), chairs and table
- 5: Mattress (Sleeping pad foam 1.5 inches thick)
- 6: First aid kit/Bottled of oxygen/pulse oximeter
- 7: 2 nights’ accommodation on safari on FB
- 8: Crater fee
- 9: Concession fee
- 10: Park fees on climb and safari, Camping fees and Rescue fees
- 11: Forest fees where applicable
- 13: 4×4 safari vehicle
- 14: Lunch box on safari
- 15: Guides and porters fees as per government regulations, their food and public
- Liability insurance for the porters/guides.
- 16: Value Added Tax (VAT) and other government taxes
- 1: Transport back to the airport.
- 2: 3 liters of water for the first day.
- 3: Drinks
- 4 Tips for guides and porters
- 5: Food for the first and last night at the hotel
- 6: Personal equipment for mountain climbing
- 7: Accommodation at Keys after safari
Durations