Mountain Climbing..................................................................................................
kilimanjaro Climbing
Machame
Route
This is the second most popular route, 26 km long, and it
is considered the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro of the
beaten track. With a gradual ascend through the forest you
emerge to see wide views of the moorland on Shira plateau,
Kibo and Western Breach. The different kinds of vegetation
found along the route make it the most sceneric route. We
are approaching the summit with an acclimatisation day by
walking in the same heights (Barafu Camp to Karranga Valley
Camp), and another day by stopping at Karranga Valley camp
(we are one of few tour operators offering this). There are
no mountain huts on this route; the accommodation is in mountain
tents. For a slightly more technical climb on Kilimanjaro,
one can conquer Uhuru peak from Arrow Glacier camp, but a
less challenging route can be taken from Barranco hut. The
route done in six days is physically challenging for most
people. The last two days (the trek from Barranco to Barafu
and then the overnight trek to the summit) require mental
and physical toughness, due to the high altitude and short
amount of time to rest before the overnight summit attempt.
Day 1:
At 7:30 a.m., you will transfer to the Machame Park Gate (5,950
ft.l1,815 mt.). After registering with the park authority,
we'll begin our climb through the lush forest. Trekkers will
likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above, and
many even see black & white colobus monkeys and sykes
monkeys as they hike along the knotted roots and mud on the
forest floor. We'll continue on to some heath land before
reaching our overnight camp at Machame Camp (9,850 feet, 6-7
hours of walking), just above the forest zone. The trek is
quite long, thus not steep. Dinner and Overnight at Machame
camp.
Day 2:
Today's segment of the ascent will continue across beautiful
heath land and alpine moorland with magnificent views of Kilimanjaro
Peak. We begin up the steep track through a savannah of tall
grasses, and trees of Giant Heather and Erica. Scramble around
large boulders as you enter the moorland zone, marked by lobelia
and senecio plants, and volcanic rocks draped with lichen
beards, which protect wild alpine flowers growing at their
bases. We'll overnight at Shira Camp (12,600 feet, 5-6 hours
of walk in g) .Dinner and Overnight at Shira camp.
Day 3:
Breakfast. You will draw nearer the peak as we get closer
to the Lava Tower. The trek becomes a bit more strenuous as
the trail steepens on the approach to the lava Tower, a 300
foot tall volcanic plug which marks an exposed pass at 15,000
feet. In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great
Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set on a col (flat area)
enclosed on three sides with steep valley walls and the Kibo
massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above,
amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels
(Senecio Kilimanjari), and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia.Then
we slowly ascent to our overnight stop at Barranco Camp (12,950
feet, 5-6 hours of walking). This day and the following day
will be your acclimatisation day. Dinner and Overnight at
Barancco Camp.
Day 4:
Breakfast. The day will begin with a descent into the Gorge,
before we climb its eastern wall where we will enjoy views
of Kilimanjaro's ice fields, an equatorial anomaly. We will
continue trekking until we reach our camp in Karanga Valley
(13,900 feet, 4-5 hours of walk in g). Dinner and Overnight
at Karanga valley camp.
Day 5:
Breakfast.You will trek up through the Karanga Valley, the trail turns steadily uphill, following the lava ridge to the Barafu camp. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting as a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. Barafu camp (15,200 feet, 6-7 hours of walking).Dinner and Overnight at Barafu camp.
Day 6:
Just after midnight we start of a challenging trek(12-17 hours of trekking). You begin trekking at 12:30 to 1am, passing between the Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers to the rim at Stella Point. The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight, to between 10 deg. F (-12 deg. C) to10 F. (-23 deg. C) just before dawn at the summit. As dawn nears, we'll summit a~Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 19,340 feet. Uhuru will be the culmination of - and the reward for - 67 hours of strenuous hiking. We'll then descend back to Barafu Camp, resting for a while before continuing our descent to Mweka Camp (9,840 feet, 3-4 hours of walking on the descent).Dinner and Overnight at Mweka camp.
Day 7:
Breakfast. You will make our final descent to the park gate, a walk of about 3 or 4 hours. After bidding our farewells to our guide and porters, we'll drive to Arusha for b/breakfast
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