This is the route that Bro Chris is taking on his journey to the top of Kilimanjaro it’s called the Machame route and is very scenic, providing hikers with incredible views and varying landscapes.
The Machame route is relatively difficult as climbers need to be able to ascend the Barranco Wall on day four and contend with a steep incline up Kibo on summit night. That being said, there are no parts on the route that require any technical climbing skills.
The total Machame route distance is approximately 62 kilometers from gate to gate.
Day 1 – Machame Gate (1,640 meters) to Machame Camp (2,835 meters)
Distance: 11km / 7 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
The first day trekking begins at Machame Gate (1,640 meters). The day’s trekking ends at Machame Camp (2,835 meters) which sits near the border of the rainforest zone and the low alpine zone. By the time Chris arrived, porters will have already setup camp and tents, and dinner will be served.
Day 2 – Machame Camp (2,835 meters) to Shira Camp 2 (3,850 meters)
Distance: 5km / 3 miles
Trekking time: 4-6 hours
On day two an early rise, gear packed for the trek from Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3,850 meters). The trek is relatively steep as he enters the low alpine zone which is characterised by moorlands and grasslands.
Shira Camp sits on a plateau which provides the first views of Kibo in the North-West and Mount Meru in the East.
Day 3 – Shira Camp 2 (3,850 meters) to Lava Tower (4,600 meters) and then Barranco Camp (3,900 meters)
Distance: 11km / 7 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Day three is a long and tough trek East off the Shira Plateau through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’, up to Lava Tower and the Shark’s Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters and then back down via the Southern Circuit (see map above) to Barranco Camp (3,900 meters).
Although the end of the day at a very similar elevation to the start from Shira Camp, it is arguably one of the most important days on the trek as it gives a chance to climb high and sleep low which is important for proper acclimatisation.
Day 4 – Barranco Camp (3,900 meters) to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters)
Trekking time: 7 hour
Day four on the Machame Route begins with a steep traverse up the Barranco Wall; a 257 meter rock face that requires basic scrambling skills to the top of the Karanga Valley. The path then follows a series of inclines and declines to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters).
Day 5 – Karanga Camp (3,960 meters) to Barafu Camp (4,680m)
Distance: 6km / 4 miles
Trekking time: 3 hours
Day five is a short and easy day. The trail starts at Karanga Camp and joins the Mweka trail up to base camp, Barafu at 4,680m.
Day 6 – Barafu Camp (4,680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)
4.5km / 3 miles ascent and then 11km / 7 mile descent
6-8 hours to the summit and then 5-8 hours to Mweka
Day six is summit night (and day)! A 23:30 wake up with hot tea and biscuits after a few hours’ sleep. All kit, including warm clothes, headlamp, insulated water reserves and snacks are ready for a sharp departure at 24:00. The trek up Kibo is steep and slow. The trick is to keep momentum moving forward, one step at a time. It takes about 6-8 hours to reach the top of the crater rim where he’ll see the sign for Stella Point (5,739 meters)
This is not the summit of Kilimanjaro. There is still another 156 meters of altitude to walk around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters). A brief rest at Stella Point and with dawn approaching Chris will need to dig deep for the energy to push for the summit. Over 60% of climbers stop at Stella Point but some can make it to the summit if they muster the mental strength to push through.
After reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, a 4.5km / 3 mile ascent, there is still an 11km / 7 mile descent to Millennium Camp (3,100 meters)!
The descent can be very gruelling on joints. Mweka is situated in the upper part of the rainforest zone. The richness of oxygen and moisture in the air will be a very welcome surprise.
Day 7 – Millennium Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
Trekking time: 3-5 hours
Day seven is the final day of trekking on the Machame Route. The trek is a pleasant one through the lower rain-forested slopes and down to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters), although Bro Chris will most likely be exhausted and ready for a shower. Let’s hope he gets a gold certificate for reaching the peak.
