20 December 2020: Meet at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to hotel.
21 December 2020: Machame Gate (1830m) - Machame Camp (2835m)
- Elevation: 1830 metres to 2835 metres
- Distance: 5.5km
- Trekking: 5 to 7 hours
- Environment: Montane forest
Today after a brief stop in Moshi we drive to Kilimanjaro park entrance at Machame, near the Machame village. Here we complete formalities for trekking permits and then start trekking through the forest. Rain is possible in Machame Forest.
22 December 2020: Machame Camp (2835m) to Shira Camp 2 (3840m)
- Elevation: 2835 metres - 3850 metres
- Distance: 9km
- 5 to 6 hours
- Environment: Moorland
You leave Machame camp and climb quite steeply for about an hour. The route then follows a more gentle gradient toward the base Shira Plateau which is actually a the remains of a caldera, or collapsed volcanic crater. Then you traverse up the rocky outcrop before trekking in an easterly direction, to Shira Camp, Shira being one of the three volcanoes of the Kilimanjaro massif.
23 December 2020: Shira Camp 2 (3840m) to Lava Tower (4640m) - Barranco Huts (3985m)
- Elevation: 3840 metres - 3985metres
- Distance: 12km
- Trek: 6 to 7 hours
- Environment: Moorland
Shira camp can be quite cold early morning as you hike away from views of Mt Meru into an arid desert type environment full of lava rock. The route is a steady gentle climb toward Lava Tower. It is not uncommon to start feeling the effects of altitude on Machame Route or any other route with shortness of breath around 4200m. At Lava Tower you break for lunch before descending almost 680m in altitude to Barranco Camp at the base of Barranco Wall. Today you follow the principle of climb high, sleep low.
24 December 2020: Barranco Huts (3985m) to Barafu Huts (4680m)
- Elevation: 3985 metres - 4680metres
- Distance: 13 km
- Hiking Time: 7-9 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
This morning you start the slow climb up the well known Barranco Wall, bringing you out below Heim Glacier. After taking in incredible views you trek along the route to Karanga Valley which takes you through three ridges and valleys, before coming out at Karanga Camp. This however is not your camp, and you climb another 2-3 hours to a rocky narrow camp, at Barafu. Today is a very long day, but above you, 1345m up is the summit of Kilimanjaro.
25 December 2020: Barafu (4550m)- Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
- Elevation: 4600metres to 5895 metres to 3100 metres
- Highest: 5895 metres (Summit)
- Distance: 30kilometres (7kilometres ascent, 13 kilometres descent)
- Trek: 13-16 hours (6 to 8 hours ascent, 7-8 hours descent)
- Environment: Stone scree / ice-capped summit
Rising before midnight, you start your climb in a North westerly direction. The route will take you to Stella Point (5685) on Kibo crater rim. It can take anything from 5 - 6 hours and is physically challenging. After a short rest at Stella before trekking to Kilimanjaro summit, another altitude gain of 200m, taking anywhere from 1-2 hours. After basket in a moment of glory at the summit of Kilimanjaro, you hike down to Barafu and then down towards Mweka hut (3100m).
26 December 2020: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka (1980m)
- Elevation: 3100 metres to 1800 metres
- Distance: 8 kilometres
- Trek time: 3 to 4 hours
- Environment: Montane forest
This morning is a short 3-hour scenic hike to Mweka. Those climbers who made Stella (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates for your Machame Route climb on Kilimanjaro.
27 December 2020: Contingency
Contingency day for covid testing
28 December 2021: Depart
Today you are transferred to Kilimanjaro airport for your flight home.
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