Kilimanjaro Expedition via THE MACHAME ROUTE
You will be hiking the Machame Route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. The Route, while considered more difficult than the shorter Marengo Route, is also less crowded. And with the extra day hiking you will have a greater chance of success reaching the top of the mountain. The Machame Route lies between the Umbwe and Shira routes. It joins the Shira Route at Shira Hut (where you will camp on your second night). The Machame Route is considered the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro with a lovely gradual ascent through the rain forest on Day 1. Other days will provide you with varied terrain including an opportunity or two to scramble over boulders. Along the trek you will be able to see wide views of the moorlands of Shira Plateau, Kibo, and the Western breach. Clear nights will treat you with views of the summit glaciers glowing blue in the moonlight.

26 JAN 2008
Drive from Arusha to the Keys Annex Hotel, a climber’s hangout, or the more high-end property, the Arusha Coffee Lodge for overnight. We can book either of these properties and the hotel transfer for you.

27 JAN - Day 1: Machame Park Gate to Machame Hut (TOUR START)
Have a good breakfast at your lodging before being picked up for your drive to the Machame Gate on Kilimanjaro. After a short ride up the base of the mountain on an unpaved road, you’ll land in the chaos of porters and packs at the Machame Gate. While you sign into the registration log before beginning the climb, your guide will be organizing the porters and all the luggage and supplies for your trek. You’ll need your passport so keep it convenient. There’s also a sign here that you may want to have your photo taken at, so keep your camera handy.

You will begin trekking through the rain forest, starting at 1920 meters, and continuing through plantations and natural forest for 2 hours up to the ridge between the Weru Weru Stream (east) and the Makoa stream (west). Occasionally, you will find yourself walking through the streambed. The track then follows a narrow path for another 5 hours up into the heather to Machame Hut at 3000M. You will stop here for the night. The porters will have your tents set up and the meal prepared. Food will be hearty and healthy. This trek is very tough and will take about 7-8 hours. The height gain will be approximately 1200M, and there is no guarantee of dry weather (after all, you are going through a rain forest!) The conditions may well be very wet and muddy so your hiking wear should be waterproof and all gear should be sealed within waterproof plastic bags. The track may be slippery with mud (part of it goes through a stream bed) so you will want to be wearing good – waterproof -- boots (well broken in), and gaiters (or similar). Please note that at no time should you feel rushed. Your guide will set a moderate hiking pace punctuated with the reminder “pole, pole” (pronounced poe-lay poe-lay) which means “slowly, slowly.” If you feel the need to rest, please speak up immediately. Our guides care for your health first and foremost and will set a pace to ensure you the best chance of getting to the summit in a healthy state.

28 JAN - Day 2: Machame Hut to Shira Hut (3840 M)
Leaving the forest behind, you will continue on a path that follows a steep ridge, passing through heather and open moorland and crossing a large gorge up to Shira Hut at 3840 M. This walk starts with quite steep inclines and soon affords some of the best approach views of Kibo on the southern circuit. The views here are spectacular and the day’s climb will be shorter to give you a bit of time for relaxing, day hikes, or journal writing. Once you reach the Shira Plateau it is noticeably colder and you will need to start layering your clothes. You may encounter rain or mist, so keep your rain gear handy today! Additionally, due to stripping of the forest, the Park banned open wood fires in 2000. If you get anything wet you will have to figure out how to get it dry before you need it again. Be sure to tell your guide immediately should your boots get quite wet and need drying – he will help you out.

9 JAN: Day 3: Shira Hut to Barranco Hut (3900 M)
Today’s trek will take approximately 7 hours. You will depart Shira Hut after breakfast, but will have an option to take two different routes after the lunch stop, depending on how you are feeling. From Shira Hut one can go directly on to Barranco Hut via the lower track, or take a side trip up to the Lava Towers (at approximately 4600 M). For those on the higher track, you will hike below the Western Buttress / Arrow Glacier Route and onto the Southern flank (reaching heights in excess of 4200 M), before passing down into the Barranco Valley to the camp at Barranco Wall. Again today, keep those waterproof shells handy! It is a strenuous day no matter which route you take, and there probably won’t be much energy for singing around the campfire tonight. But, when the clouds blow away for the night, you will have a glorious view of the summit!

30 JAN Day 4: Barranco Hut to Koranga Valley (4000 M)
You will start the day with an exhilarating hike out of the valley along the Barranco Wall. With steep drop offs on one side you will truly appreciate the agility of your porters as they zoom past you on the outside. Today you will also appreciate the massive size of this mountain (volcano) as you continue to hike eastward, steadily circumnavigating the Kibo Dome below the Barranco Wall with its ice sheets and glaciers which spread down from the peak. The day’s hike will take approximately 4 – 5 hours and will be a welcome break after yesterday’s long trek. For those feeling up for it, a day hike up above 15,000’ may be taken again today after lunch (those who hiked up to the Lava Towers will have made their first pass above 15,000’ yesterday) and is the best plan for success on summit night. Be sure to have a good hearty meal and lots of water before the day hike as you will also be going up through a scree field that is similar to “heartbreak hill” on summit night; it can really exhaust those not prepared. This will be your last night at the “lower” altitudes… although you will still be at roughly 12,000 feet. After a hearty and healthy dinner, fill your water bottle and plan to tuck in for a good night’s rest.

31 JAN - Day 5: Koranga Valley to High Camp (4600+ M)
This morning you will filter water into every vessel you have before continuing on toward the summit. The Koranga Valley is the last place where you will be able to get water, so in addition to filling your containers for today’s hike, you’ll have to purify enough water for the next day and a half. The staff will take care of this, but you do need to get your water bottles to them! After filling your water bottles and reorganizing your packs you will set out for high camp. It is approximately a six-hour hike today, in high altitude and comprising many ridges to be crossed. You can expect high winds, cloud cover, rain, or even snow at high camp – or, it may be beautiful. You will stop along the way for a packed lunch to refuel. Be sure to eat everything put in front of you; you will need this energy for later. The porters will, as usual, have your tents prepared for your arrival. You will be settling in for a late afternoon nap, followed by dinner, then an early night’s sleep as summit hour is not far off now…..

01 FEB - Day 6: High Camp to Summit, Descent to Mweka Hut
An early start (midnight or 1 AM.) is required to reach the summit ridge for sunrise, and you will need to be wearing your gaiters. The night’s hike will consist of darkness, quiet, and scree – lots of scree. Scree is basically loose gravel, making progress slow. After 5 or 6 hours of strenuous and frustrating walking up through steep scree and rock, culminating at a particularly steep area we call Heartbreak Hill, you will reach Stella Point at 5745 M – hopefully just before sunrise. Stella is the official “top” of Kilimanjaro because it is a cone with an entire ring that can be considered the “top.” For those who are too exhausted to continue, or should weather be an issue, you can rest assured that you will get a green certificate noting that you reached the top. From here it is another hour’s walk around the summit ridge to Uhuru Peak at 5895 M. Here you’ve made it to the highest point in Africa! The views along this stretch are stunning, (“breathtaking” an unintentional pun at this height!) with fascinating blue ice formations and snowfields. Time to take out your camera and celebrate!! All climbers who reach Uhuru will receive a gold certificate noting that they have reached the summit of Kilimanjaro. When elation gives way to cold, it is time to head back. The walk down the scree is similar to descending a giant sand dune, except that it is made of little rocks. Here’s when the gaiters will come in quite handy. Those with strong knees might be able to almost ‘run’ down, but remember that you will still need those knees the next day! Back at High Camp you will have a quick meal and maybe a short nap, then continue another 3 - 4 hours down the Mweka Trail to the edge of the rainforest, and to Mweka Camp for your last night on the mountain. The porters will have basins of hot water for “bathing” and washing your hair. You will have food, merriment (for a minute or two before you pass out), and more oxygen than you’ve had in days! Although you are still at approximately 12,000 feet, you will have acclimatized to the point where your lungs will be quite comfortable. The view of the summit is unbelievable from here – were you really just up there a few hours ago! Before setting out from High Camp, we suggest that you dig out your mole skin, band aids, and other blister armament as your feet will take a pounding unlike that which you had going up.

02 FEB - Day 7: Mweka Hut to Mweka Gate
Amazingly, you are at the end of the expedition. The hike down is, again, mainly through a river basin so it may be muddy and slick. On this three-hour hike you may see beautiful colobus monkeys with their tails of long black and white fur high in the tree canopy, so keep your eyes skyward. Even without seeing the monkeys though, the sights are spectacular. It will be hard to believe you are in Africa! At the Gate you will be required to sign out. This is also a place where you can purchase a Kili t-shirt, maps, sodas or beer. There will be plenty of small children and porters around to relieve you of any unwanted candies, shirts, boots, pants, etc. but we do recommend against sharing too much… the unfortunate by-product of this good will is the creation of “welfare handout mentality.” You will also tip your guide and support staff at this point.

Please Note: You will make it down in time to catch the evening flight back to Europe (and onward to home from there), or any late afternoon regional flights. Throughout the expedition, you will have the full services of a qualified guide, assistant guide, porters, and camp chef and his assistant. You will need to carry a daypack for personal belongings, but otherwise all equipment will portered ahead for you to the next camp. The expedition is fully inclusive of all such services, as well as all meals, park fees, camping fees, transfers etc. You will be responsible for tipping (usually about $50 - $100 per traveler for the week, total, to be included in a pool from all members of the party and presented to the head guide) based on your perceptions of their services. The range is large because if you are part of a small group, the amount will be higher! Ultimately, though, it is based on your level of satisfaction. If at any time during the trek you are unhappy about the guiding or service, please speak up immediately and give them an opportunity to rectify the situation. Additionally, please remember that you are going to experience some level of discomfort while hiking the mountain that cannot be cured by getting angry with your support staff.

You are reminded that if you must leave the mountain early, it is your responsibility to pay for any transportation, accommodation, meals, beverages and other expenses that are incurred. You will be provided at least one porter for your descent, and they will arrange your ground transport to the hotel. All expenses incurred will be your own. You MUST be able to WALK yourself down to at least the Marangu High Camp where we can then arrange for a team of porters to run you down the rest of the mountain on a gurney. This is the only rescue system available on Kilimanjaro, and it still takes a full day.

This Climb works ideally as a Pre or Post tour option with our Hemingway’s East Africa Safari. It can also be done separately if desired.

LAND Cost for this 7 day (21-27 JAN) climbing package: TBA

20 JAN overnight (hotel and transfer):