6 DAYS KILIMANJARO CLIMB – MACHAME ROUTE

Day 1: Machame Campsite

6 hour ascent. We take you from Moshi to the Machame Park gate with porters and guides where we start our climb with a picnic lunch and camp at the Machame Campsite 1 (9,840ft / 3000m). Machame Hut is on the edge of the forest and at the beginning of the moorland. There are good views of the mountain from here. The water supply is down a steep valley side.

Day 2: Shira Hut
6-8 hour ascent After breakfast climb we start the ascent towards the Shira plateau. The walk starts with quite steep inclines, and you soon get some of the best approach views of Kibo. Dinner and overnight at the site at an altitude of 12,500ft/3,500m. Here you will begin to feel the effects of altitude so drink water and keep a slow, steady pace.

Day 3: Barranco camp

7 hr walk (ascent & descent) Another day without much height gain (you will only gain 300m of height), but many ups and downs, to Barranco Hut at 12,800 feet. However during the day's walk you will ascend to almost 15,000 feet and then drop back down at Barranco camp. The walk offers splendid views of Kibo ahead of you and down the valleys to the plateau and rainforest below. The camping spot at Barranco is perhaps the most spectacular on the Machame route.

Day 4: Barafu Hut

7 hr ascent We depart in the early morning in order to reach Barafu in good time for an early supper and sleep so that you can build up your reserves for the arduous next day. The first part of this day's climb is spectacular and you start the day with a climb of what appears to be an incredibly steep face. Lunch will be at Karanga Valley which is also the last water point.

Day 5: Uhuru Peak then Mweka camp

7-8 hr ascent, 4-7 hr descent An early morning start towards Stella Point on the Crater Rim. It is crucial at this point to walk slowly. Reaching the rim at sunrise, you may opt to continue towards the highest point of Uhuru at an altitude of 5,896m/19,340ft.

At Uhuru peak you will have reached the highest point in Africa and if the weather is good you will certainly want to celebrate your triumph and take in the breathtaking views.

From the summit, follow the path eastwards around the rim to reach Stella point after about an hour, and then continue down to Barafu hut and lastly down to Mweka Hut. There are places to camp and water is available from a nearby stream.

Day 6: Moshi

4-5 hr descent After breakfast, you begin the descent to Mweka Park Gate. The steep descent continues through the forest following a broad ridge. This path can be slippery so trekking poles are useful here. The path improves and after about four hours you reach Mweka gate to board your vehicle for Moshi. We drop you off at your hotel.

7 DAYS KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Lemosho is one of four routes which approach from the west side of the mountain. These routes converge at a junction on the Shira plateau and continue on the summit. Approaches the junction across the remote of Shira Plateau which providing almost three full days of remote walking, away from the traffic of the Machame route.

Day 1:Moshi- Lemosho forest camp 2650m

Day 2:Forest camp 2650m-Shira 1 camp 3550

Day 3:Shira 1 camp 3550m-Barranco camp 3900m

Day 4: Barranco camp 3900m-Karanga Valley 4000m

Day 5: Karanga Valley 4000m-Barafu camp 4600m

Day 6: Barafu camp 4600m-Uhuru Peack 5895m-Mweka camp 3100

Day 7: Mweka camp 3100m-Mweka gate 1800m- Moshi