Kilimanjaro Trek Through Machame Route

Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be transferred to the Springlands Hotel in Moshi for the night.

Accommodation: Springlands Hotel

We will bet trekking 5-7 hours through forest. Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 50-minute drive from Moshi to the Machame Village (1,490 m/4,890 ft) where your guides and porters prepare and pack your equipment and supplies. You will receive a lunch pack, and you can also buy mineral water in the village. If the road is very muddy, it may be impossible to drive from the village to the Machame Gate, and in this case, it will take you an hour to complete the muddy 3 km walk to the gate. After registering at the park office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest immediately. Heavy rains on this side of the mountain often transform the trail into a soggy, slippery experience, so good footgear, trekking poles, and gaiters are useful. You will enjoy a welcome lunch stop halfway up and will reach the Machame camping area, late afternoon. Your porters will arrive at the camp before you and tents will be pitched before your arrival. In the evening, the porters boil drinking and washing water while the cook prepares your dinner. Night temperatures can drop to freezing levels at the Machame Camp.

Accommodation: Standard Lodge/Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will be trekking 4-6 hours through moorland.
You rise early at Machame camp, and after breakfast, climb for an hour to the top of the forest, then for 2 hours through a gentle moorland. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira Plateau where you will be able to see Kilimanjaro’s great Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. Sometimes, the walls of the Western Breach are draped with extensive ice curtains. You are now west of Kibo on the opposite side of the mountain from the Marangu Route. After a short hike west, you reach the Shira campsite.

The porters will boil drinking and washing water before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will be colder, with temperatures dropping below freezing.

Accommodation: Standard Lodge/Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will be trekking for 7 hours approximately in a semi-desert. After breakfast, you will hike east up a steep path above the highest vegetation towards Kilimanjaro’s looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called LavaTower at 4,630 m/15,190ft. This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the sure-footed can scramble to the top of the tower. After a lunch stop near Lava Tower, descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950m/12,960 ft.

There are numerous photo opportunities on this hike, especially if the walls are festooned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On this day, be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness.
 
Accommodation: Standard Lodge/Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will be trekking approximately 8 hours in an Alpine desert. After spending a night under the imposing Great Barranco Wall, you climb this awesome obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley and goes over intervening ridges and valleys to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent route. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. For now, all eyes are still on the summit, so turn left and hike up the ridge for another hour to the Barafu Hut. The last water on the route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice.” The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain.

Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb. This should include replacing your headlamp and camera batteries, and to prevent freezing, consider carrying your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed by 7 PM, and try to get a few hours of precious sleep.

Accommodation: Standard Lodge/Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will be trekking 8 hours up and 7-8 hours down (beware seasonal snow!). You will rise around 11:30 PM, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. Your 6-hour climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) you stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella Point you join the top part of the Marangu Route, but do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Depending on the season and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating a memorable day that you will remember for the rest of your life. After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). This camp is in the upper forest, so you can expect mist or rain in the late afternoon. Dinner, and washing water will be prepared, and the camp office sells drinking water, soft drinks, chocolates, and beer.

Accommodation: Standard Lodge/Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin hike back to Moshi through the beautiful rain forests.

Accommodation: Standard Lodge/Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will be trekking approximately 3 hours. After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hour hike back to the park gate. Don’t give your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1 hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles. In the Mweka Village you will be served a delicious hot lunch after which you are driven back to Moshi for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night in our Springlands Hotel or similar hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania or Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good way to recuperate.

• Passport
• Yellow fever certificate
•  Visa
• Medical insurance
• Address book
• Vaccination records
• Airline tickets
• Cash, travellers cheques, credit cards
• Maps, guidebooks
• Make copies of passport, TZ visa, airline tickets/schedule, and traveller’s cheques numbers. Leave a copy with someone at home and put a copy in a separate place in your luggage.

Very fit.

• Ibuprofin, Aceteminophen, or Aspirin

• Throat losenges

• Bandaids

• Moleskin

• Sunscreen (SPF 15+)

• Lip balm with sunscreen

• Insect repellent

• Disinfectant, Antiseptic cream

• Bandages and tape

• Diarrhea medicine

• Antihistemines

• Ace bandage

• Melatonin (1-3mg) or other sleep aid

• Malaria pills (talk to your doctor)

• Antibiotics (talk to your doctor)

• Prescription drugs (talk to your doctor)

• Diamox (talk to your doctor)

• The pack that the porters carry is limited to 15 kg i.e. 35 pounds (Overweight or extra luggage will require an extra porter at $5/day)
• Store electronics in sealed water-proof bags (double sealed if possible)
• Wrap clothing in plastic bags
• In the day pack, take along water, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, rain pants, and jacket at a minimum.
Add any other items you might need during the day, since you may not see your porters until the end of the day.
• Zara Tours is interested in purchasing second-hand gear for rentals.
• You may want to bring some older items of warm clothing as gifts for your guides and porters or donations to the Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society.
• You can leave extra luggage in a locked storage room at the Springlands Hotel for no charge.
• You can leave valuables in a safe deposit box at the Springlands Hotel for $1/day.

Baggage

• Day pack, for you to carry
• Large duffel bag or backpack, for porters to carry
• Plastic bags

 
Clothing

You want your inner layer to be wicking – no cotton.
Your next layer should be insulating and warm, and your top layer should be water proof but breathable.
You will need clothes for hiking during the day, lounging in the evening, and for sleeping.
Layers are important as temperatures vary greatly.


• Shorts, for first and last day only
• Pants, for hiking and for lounging in the evenings
• Short-sleeved or t-shirts
• Long-sleeved shirts, for hiking and for lounging in the evenings
• Long underwear
• Fleece jacket or wool sweater
• Fleece pants
• Down jacket or ski parka (for temperatures well below freezing plus wind)
• Rain jacket and pants, needed in hot rainforest and cold snow
• Underwear
• Sport bras, for women

 
Cold Weather Accessories

• Mittens and/or gloves (waterproof, one thin pair, one thick pair that can be layered)
• Wool or pile hat
• Balaclava or neck gaitor
• Hand and foot warmers (chemical activated)
   

Footwear
 

• Be sure to break in your shoes before the hike!
• Trekking shoes for hiking during the day, preferrably warm, waterproof, and with ankle-support – not too light and not too heavy
• Tennis shoes or sandals for lounging in the evening
• Gaiters
• Hiking socks for warmer conditions
• Wool socks for colder conditions
• Sock liners to wick away moisture

 
Sleeping

• Sleeping bag (Rated -25 degrees C/-10 degrees F or colder is recommended)
• Sleeping pad and repair kit
• Tents are provided at no charge
• Foam sleeping pads are provided at no charge (Thermarest is highly recommended, however)

Other

• Water bottles and Camelback (2-3)

Get 3 liters of bottled water before the trip (available at the Springlands Hotel).

Your guides will boil water for you along the route, or use steripens for water sanitization.
To prevent water from freezing on summit day, keep your water source inside your jacket.
For Camelbacks, blow air back into the bladder after each sip and drink often.

• Water filter or iodine purification tablets
• Gatorade or other drink mix helps with taste and minerals
• Sun hat with brim
• Sunglasses
• Bandana
• Money ($400 or more in cash and/or travellers cheques, including some small U.S, Euro, or Tanzanian bills)
• Ski or trekking poles
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Camera, film, tripod
• Video camera, tapes
• Batteries
• Bring extra sets for headlamp/flashlight and camera as cold weather shortens their life
• Binoculars
• Notebook, journal, pencil, and pen
• Pocket knife
• Electricity adapter
• Energy bars, hard candy, snacks, and comfort foods
• Playing cards, games, books, frisbee, football, kite
• Chocolate or pens for village children, momentos for guides, porters, and other climbers
• Umbrella, particularly useful in the rainy season, can be purchased in the market for around $2
• Plastic bags and zip-lock bags for waterproofing
• Sewing kit
• Salt, pepper, and spices for bland food
• Business cards
• Alarm clock
• Calculator (for currency conversion)
• Swim suit for hotel swimming pool

 
Toiletries

• Toilet paper (and baggie to carry used paper while on trail)
• Small towel
• Soap
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Hand wipes (moist towelettes for cleaning)
• Hand sanitizer
• Lotion
• Glasses, contacts, solution (take contacts out each night to prevent blurred vision)
• Comb, mirror

 
Keep your critical climbing gear close (in case baggage is delayed).

Hearty breakfast and continental food. You can talk with your guide at the first brief in Moshi about menu modifications.

Money

The local currency is Tanzanian shillings. U.S. dollars, Euros, and credit cards are accepted by larger stores and hotels, but the exchange rate is better with shillings. ATM's are only available in larger towns like Moshi and Arusha.
 
Travel Companions

Groups are limited to 5-7 people. We will combine groups up to this limit if they are starting the same route on the same day. However, we can also arrange for private groups at no extra cost. We will try to add single travelers to a group if at all possible, but we cannot guarantee it. We can accommodate large groups of any size.
 
 
Guide(s)

A local guide is required to hike Kilimanjaro. We have guides that speak English, Spanish, French and German. Porters will also go on the trip to carry your luggage, food, and other equipment. You will only have to carry a day pack with your daily essentials.
 
Tips for guides and porters on Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru:
You will be given an envelope at the Springlands Hotel after your trek for your tip money. You can use U.S. dollars, Euros, TZ shillings, or a combination of these.  It helps if you have small bills to tip everyone individually. There is no need to take money on the mountain with you.

The typical tip is $15/day for guides, $10/day for assistant guides and cooks, $7/day for porters. This is from the whole group, not per hiker.

Expect 1 guide per 8 hikers, 1 assistant guide per 3 hikers, and 1 cook per 8 hikers:
Expect porters as follows:
- 2 porters per hiker on the 5-day Marangu Route (minimum of 4 porters)
- 3 porters per hiker on a 6 or 7-day trek (minimum of 5 porters)
- 4 porters per hiker on the 8-day Lemosho Route (minimum of 8 porters)
- Sometimes extra porters are required based on the weight of your luggage.

Budget $200 per hiker for tips for a 6-day trek.

Gifts

Guides and porters also appreciate your warm clothing, shoes, and packs. You may want to bring some older clothing items for this purpose.

Celebration

You are also welcome to invite your guides back to the Springlands Hotel for drinks and/or dinner (on you) as a thank-you in addition to their tip.

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This charismatic lady-founder and her team have been organizing safari tours and Kilimanjaro ascents since 1987 (over 4,000 satisfied climbers to Kilimanjaro and over 2,500 safari trips, and still going strong like its their first day on the job). This is their homeland and their heritage, and showing it off to you is what they do best. With 80-plus registered Kilimanjaro guides (fluent in English, Spanish and German) and a massive fleet of 4 X 4s that will take you through the thick of Tanzania?s majestic wildlife, it is no surprise that they are the country?s number one operators, for their consistently superb eye-for-detail service.