Trip:
Kilimanjaro Machame
Location:
Africa
Arriving to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha, Tanzania on the pre-scheduled arrival and departure dates and times. Alternatively, travel to Nairobi, Kenya where you can either transfer by shuttle bus to Arusha or you can fly from Nairobi to Arusha on Precision Air or other carriers.
“Private camp” Elevation: 6,500 feet / 1981 meters
Transport from Kilimanjaro International Airport to a Private Tented Camp nestled in beautiful Arusha National Park. This region is incredibly scenic with views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru dominating a panorama of grasslands and high tropical landscapes. You will enjoy an evening of relaxation while you begin your journey to the top of Africa.
Elevation: 6,500 feet / 1981 meters
1 day is spent relaxing and recovering from your travels. It is a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with the guides and fellow members of the group. Trip briefing and review your equipment. There may be time for a walk or game drive, which will be taken out into the grasslands. Giraffe, buffalo and antelope are usually seen in the area.
Elevation: 9,000 feet / 2743 meters
Drive from the private camp to the Machame Park Gate. We begin our climb by hiking about 7 hours through the Montane Forest to camp on the forest edge.
Elevation: 11,800 feet / 3597 meters
Another five hours of hiking takes us above the old Shira Hut to our camp in Kilimanjaro's Upper Heath Zone.
Elevation: 14,300 feet / 4359 meters
Today we will hike approximately 4 hours to the camp just under Lava Tower. This will be our first introduction to the alpine zone. We will have a spectacular view of our final ascent route up the Western Breach.
Elevation: 16,000 feet / 4877 meters
With the Western Breach ascent route in full view we will spend 2 hours climbing to the base of the route where we will camp near the Arrow Glacier. An afternoon hike further up the route before relaxing in camp will help our acclimatization and improve our performance the following day.
Elevation: 10,500 feet / 3200 meters; Hiking time 9-12 hours
Leaving at midnight we will follow our way up the Western Breach, non-technical climbing route, about six hours to the crater rim. Moving around the massive Furtwrangler Glacier as the skies lighten we will see the shape of Mt. Meru to the west. Having crossed the crater plateau we begin the final 800 ft climb to the summit (19,340 feet/5894 meters) hopefully arriving shortly after dawn. Having enjoyed the view we begin the long descent to Barafu Hut and down to Mweka Camp for the night.
It takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours to make the 4,500 foot descent to the gate and pick-up. Here we will have our lunch and say goodbye to our mountain staff. We will return to Kia lodge for a shower, dinner and then will transfer to the airport for flights home.
EQUIPMENT
Proper equipment is extremely important to the success, enjoyment, comfort and safety of your trip. Porters will carry up to 22 lbs (10K) of your personal gear, no more! If you pack by this list, you will meet the weight limit. If you wish to have full porter support, we are happy to accommodate you.
Lightweight and Functional. Functional equipment determines how warm, dry, and safe you will be, so always choose equipment that is of good quality, dependable, and adaptable to a variety of extreme conditions.
Clothing impacts not only your comfort but also your safety. Always be critical of the quality and the proper fit of your clothing. Cotton clothing must be avoided because it dries very slowly and is a poor insulator when wet. Instead, choose wool or synthetic fabrics that "wick" the sweat and moisture away from your skin.
Base Layer: manages moisture and wicks perspiration away from your skin (Polypro, capilene, driclime).
Softshell: should be a durable, comfortable, insulating and wind/water resistant layer that breathes well. The main Softshell fabrics are Polartec Wind Pro, Gore Windstopper N2S, Schoeller; each clothing manufacturer has their own. A 200 weight fleece can be substituted for our Softshell recommendations but is not as versatile with how it may be used when layering.
Hardshell: windproof, waterproof and breathable (e.g. Gore-Tex, or similar).
Insulating Layer: should be down-fill or synthetic-fill and fit over all layers. (e.g. down, primaloft or polarguard)
These four layers are usually sufficient for most people, but if you tend to be colder bring one extra medium-layer that would be ideal for extra warmth around camp, such as a vest. When deciding what to pack, remember to bring enough clothes and accessories to ensure your safety and comfort, while not over-burdening yourself with items you probably won’t use.
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