High Point Holidays - Guided trekking Holiday Kilimanjaro Machame route Tanzania

Your Holiday at a Glance

Guided walking holiday	Kilimanjaro: the roof of Africa by the Machame route
Dates for 2011	This tour can be booked up for virtually any date during the dry seasons: between July and October, and December to February for a minimum party of 2.
Price	Price depends on number in group, please contact us for a quote Safari option is made to measure please contact us for a quote.
Grade	+
Profile	9 days: 7 days guided walking, camping with porters carrying all but your day-pack, plus services of guide and cook. Altitude maximum: 5895m.
Highlights	Ascent of Africa’s highest mountain by the less crowded and picturesque Machame trek A unique journey through 5 ecosystems from equatorial to Arctic conditions Amazing landscapes and unique vegetation Early morning sunrise across glaciated volcanic slopes with Africa’s plains far below The chance to combine your trek with an unforgettable safari
Accommodation and Meals	You will be staying in a modern hotel in Arusha, the first and last evening of your stay. An example is the comfortable Arusha Crown Hotel. 6 nights camping on trek. Tents are set up for you with mattresses and our team is available to provide the touches that make "roughing it" an enjoyable experience. At midday you’ll eat packed lunches whilst evening meals are cooked dinners providing wholesome and healthy meals.
What's included	Transfers from Kilimanjaro airport, transport to and from the start of the walk, 8 nights' accommodation. Full Board on trek. Support of porters and cook. 7 days guided walking (local mountain guide). All park, camping fees and local taxes.
What's not included	Travel between the UK and Kilimanjaro airport, lunches and evening meals in Arusha, tips for local guide and team

Locality & Walks

Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa, stands at 5,895 meters (19,340 ft) and rises over 4,000m above the surrounding plains making it the tallest free standing mountain in the world. An inactive volcano, it possesses three cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The highest point on Kilimanjaro is the glacier clad summit of Uhuru Peak, on the volcanic crater of Kibo.

As a result of its equatorial location, climbing mount Kilimanjaro is, above all, a journey through different climatic and wildlife zones as you progress from hot savannah and forests to alpine deserts and finally arctic conditions. It also represents a significant physical challenge for walkers where the effects of altitude are considerable. Although the trek is non-technical, it demands fitness, stamina and care.

On your guided trek you’ll be ascending by the Machame route, which is quieter than the ‘normal’ Marangu route and by far the most scenic route up the mountain. The trail passes through some of the mountain’s finest features, including the cloud forest of its southern slopes, the dry and dusty Shira Plateau and the delightful senecio-clad Barranco Campsite. Despite it being harder than its more popular alternative, it has a higher success rate, which is probably due to a lengthier acclimatisation time. You’ll return by the Mweka route providing new vistas as you descend through inhospitable dry mountain desert and lush lowland forests in a matter of a few hours.

Discover more about Kilimanjaro and Tanzania

The trek

CHALLENGING PLUS: Up to 11 hours walking a day and up to an altitude of 5895m. The walk is very challenging and rough underfoot; gravel paths, scree slopes and snow. It involves considerable extremes of both altitude and temperature. Some people who attempt Kilimanjaro fail to reach the summit due either to lack of physical preparation or because they cannot adapt quickly enough to the altitude. We have an added an extra day’s acclimatisation to our Machame route to seek reduce the effects of altitude. However, as on any high altitude trek, there can be no guarantee that you will not have acclimatization problems. The trek would suit those that have some high mountain walking experience.

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome, pick-up from Kilimanjaro airport and Transfer to hotel in Arusha

Day 2: Machame Gate (1800m) - Machame Camp (3000m)

After breakfast, pick up and transfer to Machame Gate for registration. Walk through the Shamba and forest before arriving at Machame Camp (3,000 m) in about 5-6hrs. Overnight at Machame Camp.

Day 3: Machame Camp (3000m)-Shira Camp (3850m)

After breakfast, you leave the glades of the rain forest behind and emerge onto a steep rock ridge. 5-7 hours to Shira Camp (3800 m). Overnight at Shira Camp.

Days 4: Acclimatization at Shira Camp (3850m

A day free to acclimatize with some limited walking to Zebra rocks. Overnight at Shira camp

Day 5: Shira Camp (3800m)- Barranco Camp(3950m)

After a good nights rest, you’ll continue to the East passing Junction towards the peak of Kibo and Lava Tower (4876 m). Then, you’ll walk through a barren sandy region to reach Barranco camp (3950 m). Overnight at Barranco Camp.

Day 6: Barranco Camp (3950m) - Barafu Camp (4600m)

From Barranco Hut, the climb becomes steeper as you progress up the rocky Barranco wall, before descending to the Karanga valley. Then you’ll climb through semi-glaciated areas to arrive at Barafu Camp (4600 m). 7-8 hrs of trekking. Overnight at Barafu Camp.

Day 7: Barafu (4600m)-Uhuru-Peak (5895m)-Mweka camp (3100m)

You’ll start for the Summit around midnight and climb steep scree and snow before reaching Stella Point (5795 m) on the edge of the crater rim. Then we circle round the crater before the final ascent to the Summit at Uhuru Peak (5,895m). This stage takes you 4-5 hrs. After enjoying the highest point in Africa you’ll descend to Mweka Camp (3100 m) in about 6hrs. The route is steep but picturesque. Overnight at Mweka camp.

Day 8: Mweka camp - Mweka Gate (1500m) - Arusha

After breakfast, trek from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate in about 3hrs, here. You say bye to porters, get in a private vehicle and transfer to Arusha.

Day 9: Departure or transfer for Safari

Pick up and drive to Kilimanjaro airport and transfer home

Or transfer to start of a 4-6 day safari tour taking in such amazing places as Lake Manyara National Park, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater for an unforgettable end to your holiday.

Also the possibility to relax for a couple of days on the beautiful sandy beached of the East African coast.

Contact us about this guided walking holiday

Location guided trek Kilimanjaro Tanzania Africa

Summit Kilimanjaro Tanzania trekking Africa

Lush forest Kilimanjaro Tanzania Africa

Senecio Kilimanjaro Tanzania Africa guided trekking

Notes:

Accommodation & Meals

On this guided walking holiday, you'll be staying in a modern hotel in Arusha, the first and last evening of your stay. An example is the comfortable Arusha Crown Hotel. 6 nights camping on trek. Tents are set up for you with mattresses and our team is available to provide the touches that make "roughing it" an enjoyable experience. At midday you’ll eat packed lunches whilst evening meals are cooked dinners providing wholesome and healthy meals.

Name	Type	Details	Rating
Arusha Crown Hotel	Hotel	Modern comfortable hotel in Arusha close to the start of your trek with ensuite facilities. Views of Mount Meru

Travel Options

Flights

Tanzania has three major international airports: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro. The latter, as you may expect, is the most convenient for Kilimanjaro, being only 48km away from Arusha.
Unfortunately, the lack of airlines flying into Kilimanjaro airport results in airfares from Europe being rather inflated. The main companies using Kilimanjaro airport are KLM, Ethiopian, Air Tanzania and Air Kenya. In addition with many people opting for a beach holiday at the start or end of their holiday, many visitors choose to fly to one of the other two airports.
A cheap flight to Kilimanjaro from London with, for example, KLM via Amsterdam will set you back a minimum of £500 - £600.