Main Info
Machame route is our most popular and successful route leading to the summit of Kilimanjaro. The Machame Route is also regarded as the most beautiful route to the summit of Africa’s highest peak. However, due to the big difference in altitude, this route is physically more demanding. On a few occasions, the route can become quite steep and you will have to rely on your hands to hold on. But, do not worry your guide will always be there to assist you.
Another advantage of the Machame route is; during the day trekking at high altitude and at night you will sleep at low altitude (trek high –sleep low) from the second day to the summiting day so the acclimatization makes it easy for summit success Nights are spent in tents and in addition to a good quality sleeping bag you will also require all the appropriate clothing. This route can be completed in 6 days, though we recommend hiking the route in 7 days, allowing for more time to acclimatize. The key to the success of the Machame route is its topography, allowing hikers to climb high and sleep low, helping towards better acclimatization
What to Expect
A private climb is one organized with a specific party of individuals who wish to have their own customized experience vs joining a pre-arranged climbing group.
Kilimanjaro National Park charges three separate daily fees: An entrance fee, A camping Fee, and A Rescue Fee. All these costs amount to over $135 US dollars per person for each day on the trek. The rest of the cast includes incredible food, accommodation, additional fees, and most importantly, your hard-working crew.
The Cost Includes:
- Transport from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to your hotel at Moshi on the day of arrival.
- Accommodation the night before the climb on Bed and breakfast basis per person sharing on double and triple occupancy. Single room supplement at an additional $50.
- Transport from your hotel at Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate on the day you will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
- All the Kilimanjaro National Park fees.
- The hut fee. The huts are used for accommodation on the mountain if you are climbing via the Marangu route while tents are using for camping if you are using the other routes.
- All the food that will be used on the mountain. We provide quality and sufficient food for all our clients. We serve three meals in a day.
Sample Food Menu:
During our expedition, we normally provide enough, fresh and clean food. When it comes to cooking we cook different food at different elevations putting into consideration of the boiling point at different heights so that the food will be well cooked for easier digestion. We also have a food supply on the Mountain to make sure that there is enough and fresh food throughout the trek.
- BREAKFAST: Fruits, Cereal/Porridge, Eggs bread/French-toast/Plain-toast/Pancakes, Sausages, Margarine, Jam/Honey, Tea/Coffee/Drinking chocolate. Boiled egg, spinach omelette, or fried egg with sausages and bread.
- SNACKS: Peanuts/Popcorn/Cookies.
- LUNCH: Sliced Carrot and Cucumber stripes, Avocado slices, Boiled egg, Vegetable/Meat cutlets, Sandwiches (Egg/ Cheese/Tomato/Meat/Peanut butter), Fruit. Boiled egg, cheese, French toast, Macaroni, meat sauce, and bread.
- DINNER: Soup of the day, Bread, Salad, Rice/Pasta/Potatoes, Chicken/Meat, Mixed Vegetables (Carrot/French -Beans/Cabbage), Lentils, Fruit, Tea/Coffee/Milo/Drinking chocolate. Spaghetti with meat sauce or fish with rice, Fried beef with roast potatoes, rice, carrots, cabbage. Roast chicken with vegetables, fried rice, green pepper, carrots.
- ON WAY TO THE SUMMIT (midnight snack) Hot Chocolate, Tea or coffee, and biscuits, Glucose, Chocolate bar, orange squash, or soup.
- NOTE: We are flexible and willing to accept Tourist suggestions on the Food menu during our trek.
Additional Items:
- Fees for our well-trained, experienced, charming English-speaking guides who will not only make sure you enjoy your climb but also take care of your safety throughout the whole climb. Your safety is our priority, then enjoying every step of your climb and reaching Uhuru peak. The success rate of our climbs is more than 98% and our clients are always impressed by our services.
- Honest and hardworking porters who will help you to carry your bags, food, and other items that are needed on the mountain. We understand the good work they do to ensure you get a successful climb. For those who want a very high discount, you should know that this amount will result in low wages to the porters and the guides hence not improving the living standards of the people of Kilimanjaro. By having a tour with us you will be happy to know you are helping families meet their daily needs and assisting fathers to put their children through school.
- All the cooking utensils and other equipment used on the mountain. Transport from Kilimanjaro National Park gate to Babylon Lodge when you climb down from Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our driver will be at the Kilimanjaro National Park gate waiting for you. We will bring you cold coke too for those who are interested and cold Kilimanjaro Beer to celebrate your climb and mark the end of a successful climb.
- DINNER: Soup of the day, Bread, Salad, Rice/Pasta/Potatoes, Chicken/Meat, Mixed Vegetables (Carrot/French -Beans/Cabbage), Lentils, Fruit, Tea/Coffee/Milo/Drinking chocolate. Spaghetti with meat sauce or fish with rice, Fried beef with roast potatoes, rice, carrots, cabbage. Roast chicken with vegetables, fried rice, green pepper, carrots.
- Accommodation on Bed and breakfast at Babylon Lodge when you come down from the Mountain.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Personal mountain climbing gear and equipment. If you don’t have the equipment, you can rent everything from a vendor at an extra cost. (if you don’t have specific items we can send you the price list from the rental place).
- Transport from Babylon Lodge to Kilimanjaro International Airport after the climb. This can be arranged at a discounted rate. We will be glad to organize for you a wonderful safari in Tanzania if you are interested through our partner company. We work with different companies to make sure you get the best of Tanzania at an affordable rate.
- Tips for the guides and porter. It is customary for satisfied clients to tip their guides and porter but this is not compulsory. The amount is at the client’s discretion.
- Accommodation and meals on an optional day.
Itinerary
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where you will meet your Everyday Safaris Tour Liaison for the duration of your trip. You will then be transferred to your hotel which will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay:
Your Tour Liaison will lead an evening brief with your guide to go through the pre-climb checklist and make sure you are ready to begin the climb the next day. You will have received an email with the necessary details when you completed your payment and prior to the start of your trip.
If you arrive late at night there is no problem as the briefing will be done in the morning before departure.
Note: Check-in starts at Midday. We recommend travelers settle and get some rest ahead of the expedition.
- Altitude: Machame Gate (1,800 m)
- Machame Camp (3,010 m)
- Distance: 5 km
- Time: 5–6 hrs.
You will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park’s entrance: Machame Gate (1,800 m). After registration at the Kilimanjaro National Park Machame Gate, will start trekking up to Machame Camp (3,010 m), which includes passage through the rainforest where tropical showers are highly probable. Trekkers are advised to carry a raincoat along with their spare clothes.
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude. Please alert your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
- Altitude: Machame Camp (3,010 m)
- Shira Camp (3,845 m)
- Distance: 5 km
- Time: 4–5hrs.
Acclimatization hike:
- Altitude: Shira Camp (3,845 m)
- Destination point en route to Lava
- Tower (4,120 m)
- Distance: 2 km
- Time: 1–2 hrs.
After breakfast you will start trekking up to the second camp, Shira Camp (3,845 m), emerging from the rainforest to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you. While the trek isn’t difficult, you may feel the changes in altitude, so pay attention to your body, remembering to choose the proper pace for good trekking. Lunch will be served at Shira camp then rest, followed by an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp – a 300-meter gain in altitude – to make things easier the following day. Hikers return to Shira Camp for a hot dinner and rest.
NB: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. The acclimatization hikes help increase your chances of successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro up the Machame Route and mitigate the effects of altitude sickness.
- Altitude: Shira Camp (3,845 m) — Lava Tower (4,630 m) — Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
- Distance: 11 km
- Time: 6–8 hrs.
After breakfast, the group will head towards Lava Tower ascending from 3,845 to 4,630 m. The rise-and-fall nature of this trek may present some difficulties but the altitude at the Lava Tower is crucial for proper acclimatization. Lunch is served here to give hikers some extra high-altitude time before descending approximately 650 m to the next overnight stop, Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Upon descent, hikers can see the famous Barranco Wall, though impressive in both its massive size and steepness.
NB: The route may be changed to bypass the Lava tower in case some members express discomfort climbing it.
- Distance covered: 8.5km / 5.3mi
- Approx. time: 8 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
After breakfast you will depart Barranco Camp and climb the Great Barranco Wall and passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we’ll head towards the Karanga valley, our last stop for freshwater before the summit. Walking on scree slopes, we’ll get to Barafu camp.
- Altitude: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Mweka Camp (3,100 m)
- Distance: 16.4 km
- Time: 13–15 hrs.
Starting early, we will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours to get to the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) by sunrise. Another hike of an hour takes us to Uhuru Peak (5895m) to see incredible views. Thereafter, we’ll descend to Barafu Camp for breakfast and get down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.
NB: Descent is deceptively easy & treacherous footing results in 90% of accidents. Everyday Safaris advises all hikers to mind their steps as a reckless step leading to a fall may be fatal.
- Change in Elevation: Mweka Camp (3,100 m) — Mweka Gate (1,630 m)
- Hiking distance: 9.1 km
- Hiking time: 3–4 hours
You will wake up early and after breakfast, we will traverse the rainforest, we’ll get back to Mweka Gate, where you’ll receive your certificates. It will be time to have a short celebration with your guides and porters after a successful climb. Everyday Safaris provides cold Kilimanjaro beer for those who drink and cold coca-cola for those who don’t drink to celebrate your achievement. We promise you this will be the best beer you would have taken in a very long time!
After the celebrations at the park gate, you will be transferred to your base hotel for the evening. A representative from Everyday Safaris will come to the hotel to see you and talk to you regarding the climb. It will be time to share with our office on areas you enjoyed and what you think could be improved. Everyday Safaris is always keen to ensure all our clients enjoy their climbs with us and we are always striving to improve our services from suggestions from our clients. You will also have a chance to share your opinions on the climb in the guestbook.
Rest & breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport.
After you have rested well for the night and the enjoyed the luxuries of our accommodation facilities and services, our staff will transfer you to the airport. The checkout time for the hotel is around 10:00 am. You can choose to extend your stay at the hotel at an extra cost.
For those who will have chosen to further their exploration with us in our fun-filled safaris, this will be the ideal time to move to the next destinations.