7 Days Mt Kilimanjaro Climb Machame

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Basic Info: This is an intermediate route, not the easiest, but also not the most challenging. It is the most popular of the ‘outfield’ routes, beginning near Machame Village, some 20m north of Moshi. It is widely regarded by Kili aficionados as the most scenically attractive of a cluster of superb route options, and is indeed a trekking experience comparable to any other in the world. The highlight of Machame Route is a long trek through the pristine cloud forest that cloaks the lower slopes.Machame is a 7-day climb, with 5 of those days directed at the summit. Its main advantage lies in its rush to high altitude in the first two days, and then another two days at a broadly even altitude that allows for a measured adjustment to conditions of altitude. The trail follows the Southern Circuit, joining with Lemosho Route at Shira 2 Camp, and then continuing eastwards around the southern flanks of Kibo until the summit is reached via Barafu Camp situated on the southeastern slopes.

Day 1: - Machame Gate (1,634 m/5,363 ft) to Machame Hut (2,834 m/9,300 ft)
Hike time: 7.5 hrs | Elevation change: +1,200 m/+3,937 ft | Estimated distance: 10km/6.21 miles | Final elevation: ,3100 m/10,170 ft A fairly steep but brief initial climb through the Kilimanjaro cloud forest, ending after perhaps 3/4 hours at the Machame Camp at the edge of the forest line.

Day 2: - Machame Hut (2,834 m/9,300 ft) to Shira Hut (3,749 m/12,300 ft)
Hike time: 7 hrs | Elevation change: +800 m/+3,000 ft | Estimated distance: 6km/3.75 miles | Final elevation: 3,800 m/12,467 ft After breaking out of the forest the trail continues through low heather forest before reaching Shira Camp in the mid afternoon.

Day 3: - Shira Camp(3,749 m/12,300 ft) to Barranco Camp (3,901 m/12,800 ft)
Hike time: 5 hrs | Elevation change: +100 m/+328 ft | Estimated distance: ? | Final elevation: 3,900 m/12,800 ft This is the beginning of the hard work, and is a long slow climb to Lava Tower Camp before descending to the scenic Barranco Camp.

Day: 4 - Barranco Hut (3,900 m/12,800 ft) to Karanga Valley (3,963 m/13,000 ft)
Hike time: 3.5 hrs | Elevation change: +100 m/+328 ft | Estimated distance: 4km/2.5 miles | Final elevation: 3,963 m/13,000 ft After a climb of the Great Barranco Wall we continue around the southern ciruit train until we reach another sceneic location of Karanga Camp.

Day 5: - Karanga Valley (3,963 m/13,000 ft) to Barafu Hut (4,600 m/15,091 ft)
Hike time: 3.5 hrs | Elevation change: +600 m/+1,968 ft | Estimated distance: 4km/2.5 miles | Final elevation: 4,600 m/15,091 ft The trail from Karanga to Barafu reaches the bleak high desert of Kilimanjaro. Barafu Camp is a basic camp geared towards the business of reaching the summit.

Day 6: - Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,091 ft) to The Summit (5,896 m/19,343 ft) and then to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft)
Summit time: 7 hrs | Elevation change: +1,300 m/+4,265 ft | Estimated distance: 5km/3.2 miles | Final elevation: 5,896 m/19,343 ft | Descent time: 5 hrs | Elevation change: -2,800 m/-9,186 ft | Estimated distance: 12km/7.5 miles | Final elevation: 3,100 m, 10,170 ft This is a midnight ‘Alpine Summit’ to make sure we reach the summit by dawn, in time to return to Mweka Camp for the sake of improved

Day 7: - Mweka Hut (3,100 m/10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,828 m/6,000 ft)
Descent time: 4 hrs | Elevation change: -1,250 m/-4,101 ft | Estimated distance: 10km/6.21 | Final elevation: 1,828 m/6,000 ft Today is a short walk towards Mweka Gate and pickup. It is a short day with arrival at the Gate at about 12:00 noon. Checkout and return to Moshi.

 

 

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