Kilimanjaro - Climb along Machame trek and relax on safari

Best travel season:

January to March / June to September

Trip duration:

11 days

From/To:

Kilimanjaro Airport / Moshi (JRO)

Trek duration:

7 days

Accommodation:

Tent / Hotel / Safari Lodge

Difficulty:

Moderate - Demanding

Group size:

8 - 12 travellers

Tour leader:

Local English-speaking mountaing guide

Tour leader

Local English-speaking mountaing guide

And additional assistant-guides according to group size. This allows us to split the group in case of differing walking speeds or altitude sickness on summit days...

Price:

€ 960,-

7 days trekking on Kilimanjaro and 2 days on safari

Climb Kilimanjaro along the beautiful and varied Machame route.

Good altitude acclimatization in 7 days on the Southern Circuit, increasing your chances for summiting.

Receive better acclimatization and shorten the pre-summit stage by choosing this extended tour (that is one additional day as compared to regular Machame treks).

Hike through all climatic and vegetation zones of equatorial Africa: from tropical rainforest through heather, stone and lava deserts to the eternal ice of the summit.

Summit Uhuru peak and stand atop Africa's highest mountain.

After summiting Kilimanjaro, go on a relaxing safari trip at Lake Manyara and in the unique Ngorongoro Crater followed by a night in an exclusive safari lodge.

Enjoy half board in our comfortable hotel in Moshi before and after the climb and safari.

TRAVEL TO MOUNTAINS is "partner for responsible travel" of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) and the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). This partnership guarantees fair wages, good working conditions, proper equipment for local teams and provides training classes (www.kiliporters.org).

Detailed Itinerary

DAY

1

Individual arrival in Tanzania

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Moshi. Transfer to our comfortable hotel in Moshi. In the evening, you’ll be welcomed by our local mountain guide and given a briefing about the days ahead on the trek.

Accommodation:	Hotel, Moshi
Meals:	D

DAY

2

Start climbing Kilimanjaro to Machame Camp (3050 m)

After breakfast, transfer to Machame Gate, where the last formalities prior to the first stage of your trekking are completed. After our equipment has been packed and weighed by the team, you will start the first stage of the trek. Machame route is the most beautiful and above all the most varied route up Kilimanjaro. On the first day you’ll be hiking on a good trail that takes you through tropical rainforest to the tree line at about 3000 m.
During the first few days, it is important to walk slowly to receive as much acclimatisation as possible while ascending. After 5 to 6 hours of easy walking, you‘ll reach the first camp at Machame Hut in the afternoon (3050 m). Far above, Kibo, the main summit of Kilimanjaro, is waiting for us.

Ascent:	1200 m
Walking Time:	5 - 6 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Machame (3050 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

3

Trek to the Shira Caves (3840 m)

Quickly, we‘ll leave the tree line behind us. The trail becomes a little steeper, giving you better views of the landscape. We’ll climb along a long ridge, through heather and moorland. Again and again, you‘ll have fantastic views of the vast volcanic massif. Again "pole pole", "slowly slowly", is the motto of the day and our local porters and dedicated guides remind us again and again to walk slowly. Walking too fast on the first few days will take its revenge, at the latest when trying to reach the summit. In the afternoon, we‘ll reach the next camp near Shira Caves (3840 m) at the edge of the barren volcanic landscape on the vast Shira Plateau.

Ascent:	900 m
Walking Time:	5 - 6 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Shira (3840 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

4

Into beautiful Barranco Valley (3900 m)

Today is not only a mountain day in a class of its own, it also gives us optimum acclimatisation to the altitude. After a few steps, we‘ll leave the last traces of vegetation behind and hike through lava ashes to barren Shira Plateau. A detour climb to the "Lava-Tower" takes us up to an altitude of 4500 m, an ideal sidetrip to acclimatise for the next days. Near the basalt tower, we‘ll have a comfortable lunch break and enjoy the panorama that has just opened up around us: Our view sweeps over the southern and western slopes of Kilimanjaro, down to the plain far below us and the 4500 m high Mt Meru, the neighbouring volcano. After lunch, our trek leads us down wild Barranco Valley. Rushing mountain streams accompany us through senecia and lobelia forests. We‘ll set up camp in the immediate vicinity of Barranco wall, which we will climb the next day (3900 m).

Ascent:	800 m
Descent:	700 m
Walking Time:	6 - 7 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Barranco (3900 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

5

Halfday hike to Karanga Camp (4030 m)

Negotiating the 300 m high Barranco wall is today’s main feat on our trek. It rises east of Barranco camp and looks almost insurmountable as seen from our campsite. A well laid out and enjoyable trail, however, will help us traverse the wall and it’s even surprisingly easy. After Barranco wall, we‘ll first descend a few meters and then follow the trail up to Karanga Camp (4030 m), where we‘ll spend a night for better acclimatization.

Ascent:	400 m
Descent:	300 m
Walking Time:	3 - 5 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Karanga (4030 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

6

Climb to Barafu Huts (4600 m)

Today’s stage is short but strenuous. From Karanga Camp, we’ll continue to ascend to Barafu Huts, our last camp before summit day, that we should reach around noon. This early arrival leaves us ample time to relax and rest before tomorrows very long and strenuous summit day.
At 4600 meters, the air is getting really thin now and the acclimatisation of the last few days pays off. After an early dinner, we’ll retire to our sleeping bags soon since the night will be a short one and tomorrow will be a tough one.

Ascent:	600 m
Walking Time:	3 - 4 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Barafu (4600 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

7

Summiting Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa

At midnight we will be woken up and after a quick breakfast, we‘ll finally start climbing towards the summit, headtorches lighting the way. Over scree and lava, the well-trodden path winds its way up to the crater rim in short hairpin bends. After 5 exhausting hours and 1200 m of ascent in increasingly thin air, we’ll finally reach the crater rim. You made it to Stella Point and are at 5800 m! You’ll have a rest here, drink some warm tea and enjoy the first warming rays of sunshine that also bring the panorama to life. But still there are another 100 m of altitude difference that separate us from Uhuru Peak, at 5895 m the highest point of Africa. We’ll slowly follow the trail along the crater rim, passing nearby huge and impressive glacier fields, until we reach the summit of Kibo after about an hour. The incomparable panorama lets us forget how exhausted we are and the joy about a successful summit ascent takes over!

The descent back to camp is along one but it goes by surprisingly fast if you skip and slide down scree fields. It’s with relief that we’ll breathe the thicker air again. Reaching our camp at Barafu, we'll be welcomed by our kitchen crew with a strengthening lunch. But today’s efforts are not yet completely over: In the afternoon the trail takes us all the way down to Mweka Hut, our last camp at 3100 m.

Ascent:	1500 m
Descent:	2800 m
Walking Time:	10 - 12 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Mweka (3100 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

8

Descent to Mweka Gate and end of trek

The final descent to Mweka Gate takes us into the tropical jungle again. After hiking for 3 hours, we’ll reach Mweka Gate. Here we end our trek on Kilimanjaro and leave the national park. Our minibus is already waiting for us. After a short drive back to our hotel, we’ll enjoy a warm lunch and the comforts of civilisation.

Descent:	1400 m
Walking Time:	approx. 3 h
Accommodation:	Hotel, Moshi
Meals:	B L D

DAY

9

Safari in Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, we’ll set off for the safari trip. Your English-speaking driver is also a certified and experienced wildlife guide and will be proud to show you all the animals. From Moshi, you‘ll drive east to Lake Manyara National Park, which is famous for its many bird species. Hippos, elephants and lions (including the famous tree lions) also call the watery landscape their home. After an exciting safari drive and a stop for a picnic lunch in the park, you‘ll stay overnight in a beautifully situated lodge (****) in Karatu in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The lodge has a large garden and a swimming pool.

Drive:	3 - 4 h
Accommodation:	Lodge****, Karatu
Meals:	B L D

DAY

10

Safari in Ngorongoro Crater

In the morning, you‘ll take a drive on the crater floor and watch the many different species of animals that have evolved in this unique protected environment. The Ngorongoro Crater is a small microcosm and almost all animals of Africa can be observed, including rhinos and leopards. In the afternoon, you’ll return to Moshi and stay another night in our hotel in Moshi.

Drive:	5 - 6 h
Accommodation:	Hotel, Moshi
Meals:	B L D

DAY

11

Flight home or onward travel

Airport transfers depending on flight times and flight home or onward travel.

Meals:

B

B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner

Difficulty rating - altitude acclimatisation - preparation

Overall difficulty

Moderate to Demanding

Technical difficulty

Easy to Moderate

No alpine difficulties, but sure-footedness is required. Most of our trek follows good and well-kept trails without technical difficulties. You‘ll mostly walk on wide trails when climbing Kilimanjaro via Machame route. Ascending Barranco Wall requires good surefootedness and in some places, you’ll need to use your hands to grab a hold. Summit day will be started predawn, wearing headtorches, and you’ll walk in serpentines up steep scree. For the long days up and down the mountain, walking poles are recommended!
It is possible to skip down loose scree fields to take shortcuts. (Bring and wear gaiters to keep pebbles out of your boots.)

Fitness and stamina

Moderate to Demanding

Daily ascents of up to approx. 1200 m in altitude difference. Daily descents of up to approx. 700 m in altitude difference. Walking times can add up to a daily 6 to 8 hours. Summit day is very long (day 7): Walking times will add up to approx. 12 hours, there will be a 1400 m ascent plus a 2800 m descent. You do need a very good level of fitness - it’s truly a must.

Altitude acclimatisation

The high altitude of almost 6000 m is the biggest challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro and makes optimum altitude acclimatisation absolutely essential.
In order to minimize the risk of altitude sickness, it is necessary to ascend very slowly during the first few days. Our experienced guides will give you advice on how to acclimatise best.

Please make this process easy for your body by

• starting the journey in good health and well-rested,
• avoiding any unnecessary efforts during the first days of the trek,
• walking relatively slowly, especially when ascending,
• drinking lots of liquids (water),
• trusting and following the instructions and advice of your guide.

We advise against taking medication (e.g. Diamox) as a prophylaxis for altitude sickness. Due to the strongly dehydrating effect, such medication tends to be counterproductive rather than helpful.

Requirements and preparation

If you are mountain walker with a good level of fitness and follow a regular exercise regime of (endurance) sports, climbing Kilimanjaro without prior acclimatisation (e.g. on Mt. Meru) will be possible for you. You should be used to day hikes of 1000 m to 1200 m of ascent/descent in the Alps and should not shy away from longer tours of 1500 m of ascent/descent either.
For the summit stage, you’ll need - in addition to physical endurance - mental strength to manage the long and strenuous ascent. The final walk from Stella Point along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak is just under half an hour long but exhausting due to the altitude.
We recommend starting regular training about 3 to 4 months prior to your trip to Kilimanjaro, at least 2 to 3 times a week.
Endurance training is the best way to prepare yourself: Regular running (jogging), cycling, swimming and long mountain hikes carrying an average daypack (approx. 6 to 10 kg) are best for developing cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

08.08. - 19.08.2020

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PLEASE NOTE: Prices quoted are land only and do not include international flights. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until the departure is showing 'Guaranteed' or 'Almost full'.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What's included

Local, English speaking mountain guide
Local cook and porter team - approx. 15 kg luggage allowance per traveller
Experienced safari guide-cum-driver, trained in zoology, for the safari
3 nights in a beautiful hotel complex with pool - twin share and half board
Camping in spacious 2-person tents while trekking - 2 travellers share a three-person tent
7 days and 6 nights full board during the trekking tours - excellent catering by our experienced chefs: substantial breakfast - (mostly packed) lunch - filling dinner
Hot lunch in the hotel upon return from the mountain
1 night in a charming safari lodge in Karatu incl. full board
Packed lunch incl. 1 l of bottled water per person during the game drive
Game drive by 4WD safari vehicles
All transports and transfers according to the itinerary - including airport transfers from/to Kilimanjaro Airport
All necessary national park fees and climbing permits
All safari park fees according to the itinerary

What's not included

International flight to Tanzania
Visa (approx. USD 50,-) - the visa can be obtained upon arrivel at the airport.
Travel insurance - you can take travel insurance and/or trip cancellation/interruption insurance through Travel to Mountains.
Beverages
Personal expenses
Tipping
Costs incurred for programme changes due to clients actions/decisions
Surcharge for single room supplement: € 120,- - if available, a room can be shared with another solo traveller of the same sex.
Tent for single use on Kilimanjaro upon request (surcharge)
All other costs not listed under "What’s included"

Kilimanjaro Machame Route and Safari