22/07/2023
DAY 1: MACHAME GATE (1790METERS) TO MACHAME CAMP (3010METERS) The first day trekking begins at Machame Gate normally one hour’s drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route.
DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP (3010METERS) TO SHIRA CAMP (3845METERS) The trek is relatively steep as you enter the low alpine zone which is characterized by moorlands and grasslands. Shira Camp 2 sits on a plateau which provides you with the first views of Kibo in the North-West and Mount Meru in the East.
DAY 3: SHIRA CAVE (3845METERS) TO BARRANCO CAMP (3960METERS) Day three, walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), Although you end the day at a very similar elevation to when you started from Shira Camp, it is arguably one of the most important days on your trek as it gives you a chance to climb high and sleep low which is important for proper acclimatization.
DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP (3960METERS) TO KARANGA CAMP (3963METERS) Day four starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m.
DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP (3960METERS) TO BARAFU CAMP (4640METERS) Day five is summit night (and day)! We start off at around midnight. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP (4640METERS) TO UHURU PEAK (5895METERS) & DOWN TO MWEKA CAMP (3100METERS) Day six is summit night. We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. Before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest. DAY 7: TREK MWEKA CAMP (3100METERS) TO MWEKA GATE (1630METERS) Final day of trekking on the Machame Route.
