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Kilimanjaro Climb -
Machame Route
More difficult than the Marangu Route, and suitable for experienced
climbers.
Campsite accommodation is in high altitude tents.
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DAY
1:
Arrive Arusha, clear Customs and Immigration formalities and transfer to
Mountain Village, where a climb briefing will be held, followed by dinner and
overnight.
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DAY
2:
Transfer to Kilimanjaro Park. After
completing the entrance formalities at the National Park gate, the climb starts
from Machame Gate (1,800 m.) after a short walk through the attractive banana
and coffee farms of Machame village. The path follows a ridge through
dense montane forest. This is the richest forested area on the mountain, and
also the zone from where 96 % of the water on Kilimanjaro originates. On sunny
days, and especially in the dry season, this section is very lush and beautiful;
it can also be a very muddy experience, particularly if it has rained recently!
We have lunch at 'Halfway Clearing', a small opening in the trees, and
continue climbing steadily. The gradient becomes gentler as the forest slowly
merges into giant heather close to the next camp near the ruins of
Machame
Hut (3,000 m.). We may get our first closer look at the glaciated dome of
Kibo if the evening clouds permit. [6-8 hours walking]
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DAY 3:
A shorter day that begins by climbing up a
steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as Picnic Rock.
There are excellent views of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau from here,
and it is a good rest point too! The trail continues less steeply to reach the
Shira Plateau. We camp near Shira
Cave (3,720 m.) which has some of the most stunning views on Kilimanjaro;
close to the huge volcanic cone of Kibo, the spectacular rock formations of
Shira Plateau, and looking across to Mt. Meru floating on the clouds. [4-6
hours walking]
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DAY
4:
A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic
views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the
glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,500
m.) we descend to the bottom of the Great
Barranco
Valley (3,900 m.), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views
of the plains far below. [5-7 hours walking]
DAY 5:
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us
to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of
the Southern Icefields. Lunch is usually taken at Karanga , the last water
point, in a steep valley. After lunch, the terrain changes to scree and we climb
steeply to reach the Barafu campsite
(4,600 m.) by mid afternoon. The remainder of the day is spent resting in
preparation for the final ascent before a very early night. [6-8 hours walking]
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DAY
6:
We will start our ascent by torchlight at
about 1 a.m. so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb
over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady
pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m.), in about five or six hours. We
will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi.
Those who
are still feeling strong can make the two hour round trip from here along the
crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.), passing close to the spectacular
glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent
to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue to
descend to reach our final campsite (3,800 m.) at the edge of
Mweka
Forest. [11-15 hours walking]
DAY 7:
A sustained descent through lovely forest
with lush undergrowth takes us to the National Park gate at Mweka (1,650 m.)
[4-6 hours walking]. Transfer to Mountain Village for dinner, a hot shower and
overnight.
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DAY
8:
The morning at leisure, followed by lunch,
and transfer to the airport for your onward travel arrangements.
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2010 Rates US$ |
16 Dec 2009 to 15 Dec 2010 |
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Per Person Sharing |
Single Room Supplement |
Sole Climber Supplement |
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Climb Package |
1532 |
85 |
1595 |
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Extra Day on Mountain |
237 |
NIL |
NIL |
African Safari
Consultants
TOLL FREE 1-866-733-4263
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