Mighty Kilimanjaro Machame Rt.

Machame Gate to Machame Camp Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft | Distance: 11 km/7 miles | Hiking Time: 5-7 hours | Habitat: Rain Forest. Start of the day early with the breakfast, depart with packed lunch boxes and 3 litres of mineral water. On reaching Machame gate, the guides and porters will prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment as you rest at the Machame gate shade. When all the packing is done and registration is complete at the gate office, you will start your ascent and enter the rain forest. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which transforms the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop over, about half the way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon.

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft | Distance: 5 km/3 miles | Hiking Time: 4-6 hours | Habitat: Moorland. Wake up early at Machame camp and after breakfast you climb for about an hour 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 freezing.

Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft | Distance: 7 km/4 miles | Hiking Time: 4-5 hours | Habitat: Alpine Desert. Lava Tower to Barranco Camp Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft | Distance: 3 km/2 miles | Hiking Time: 2-3 hours | Habitat: Alpine Desert. The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in the designated area before ascending the rocky 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 by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area. 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, where you can witness a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft | Distance: 4 km/2 miles | Hiking Time: 4-5 hours | 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 would have 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. 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 ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before the 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.

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft Distance: 5 km/3 miles Hiking Time: 7-8 hours Habitat: Arctic Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft | Distance: 12 km/7 miles | Hiking Time: 4-6 hours | Habitat: Rain Forest Wake up in the middle of the night around 23h30. After some tea and biscuits you will head in a northwesterly direction to ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point for many climbers, is 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.

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft | Distance: 10 km/6 miles | Hiking Time: 3-4 hours | Habitat: Rain Forest After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-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 (5685 m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895 m) receive gold certificates. -A vehicle will meet you at Mweka gate to drive you to your hotel at Arusha. At the Kilimanjaro National Park gate it will be time to celebrate with your guides and porters. Kilimanjaro beer for those who drink and sodas will be a good way to celebrate your success of being to the highest point in Africa! The guides will also sing for you Kilimanjaro songs and the jovial mood of the evening will make your trip worth remembering! You will then be transferred to the hotel in Arusha.