A guide to Kilimanjaro Treks - Machame Route
Machame route to the summit of Kilimanjaro is very special; it
gives you a chance to really get to know this extraordinary
mountain. The huts for this route are in a very poor state of
repair and are used by the porters; tents are used on this
route. All supplies and camping equipment are portered; with a
baggage limit of 12 kg. The night before your climb is best
spent in the Machame village from where your climb will begin.
This allows your body to begin to adjust to the altitude
affording a better chance of reaching the summit.
Many, overseas travel agents will use hotels in Moshi Town,
which is at a lower altitude and at least an hours drive from
the Kilimanjaro park gate. The usual reason for this is many
hotels also double up as a mountaineering company. These hotels
will give the pre-climb overnight and post-climb overnight as
complimentary in order to secure the business of the Kilimanjaro
climb; thereby reducing costs to the travel agents; this
discount is not always passed onto the climbers. It is always
preferable overnight in one of the small but good hotels in
Machame. I must add that Moshi town, for me, is hot dusty and
most uninteresting, with Machame or Marangu [depending on which
route you use] offering a more colorful first night.
The Machame itinerary is one of the most scenic routes by which
to climb to the highest point in Africa; it is less used than
the Marangu route and it may be said, all the better for it.
This route will ascend from the western side of Kilimanjaro
passing through tropical rainforest to the snows of Kilimanjaro,
with views of the western face and the southern ice-fields and
descend down the south face.
A typical itinerary would be to spend the first night in the
Machame village set on the mountain and close to the park gate.
The foothills of Kilimanjaro are cultivated; where subsistence
farmers grow coffee and bananas. There are many pleasant walks
around the village and time can be spent getting to know the
local Chagga people.
Day 1: This is a 5 hour walk through dramatic forest up to
Machame Hut at 3000m. Wildlife may be seen at these lower
altitudes, including many species of forest birds.
Day 2: To Shira Cave, a walking time of 6 hours. The hike today
starts off quite steeply to the top of the forest, then a couple
of hours at a more gentle incline through the lower moorlands
brings you to the top of a rocky bluff by about lunch time. From
here descend 50 feet then start to trek westwards, a gradual
ascent to Shira Cathedral and your camp at approx 3800m, on a
plateau, with views of Mt.Meru and the Kenya plains.
Day 3: Walking time of 8 hours and the climbing is a fairly
strenuous day, the altitude will begin to takes its toll, it is
essential to take your climb slowly. From the Shira Cave climb
slowly for about 5 km, through the ever increasingly bleak
terrain. Head towards the cone of Kibo. Overnight camping at
Barranco (3900m).
Day 4: Today starts with a steep hike up to Barranco Wall. There
are some scree slopes and ridges to Karanga at an altitude of
4100m. There are breathtaking views here of the West Breach and
the southern glacier. After the exerting start to the day arrive
at the Karanga Valley for lunch and spend the rest of the day at
this level. The time spent here affords more time for the body
to adjust to the altitude and also reduces the distance of the
next day's hike and the slower pace will considerably increases
your chance of reaching the summit.
Day 5: To Continue the trek to Barafu ridge at 4600 meters above
sea level [Barafu in Swahili means ice]. Again this is an
acclimatization day having a relatively short distance to hike
before the big final ascent starting at midnight.
Day 6: Starting around midnight in preparation for the final
ascent. It is imperative to dress warmly as temperatures often
plummet to minus 20