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- +255, Moshi Tanzania
Marangu trail is the oldest and most well established trekking route on Mount Kilimanjaro. It remains extremely popular mainly because it is the only route on the mountain that has hut accommodation for trekkers.
Day 1 – Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport,
Day 2 – Machame Gate (1,640 meters) to Machame Camp (2,835 meters)
Day 3 – Machame Camp (2,835 meters) to Shira Cave (3,850 meters)
Day 4 – Shira Cave (3,850 meters) via Lava Tower (4,600 meters) to Baranco Camp (3,900 meters)
Day 5 – Baranco Camp (3,900 meters) via Karanga Camp (3,960 meters) to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters)
Day 6 – Barafu Camp (4,680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)
Day 7 – Mweka Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
Day 8 – Moshi/Arusha/Departure
Day 1 – Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport,
Day 2 – Machame Gate (1,640 meters) to Machame Camp (2,835 meters)
Day 3 – Machame Camp (2,835 meters) to Shira Cave (3,850 meters)
Day 4 – Shira Cave (3,850 meters) via Lava Tower (4,600 meters) to Baranco Camp (3,900 meters)
Day 5 – Baranco Camp (3,900 meters) via Karanga Camp (4,034 meters)
Day 6- Karanga Camp (4,034 meters) to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters)
Day 7 – Barafu Camp (4,680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)
Day 8 – Mweka Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
Day 9 – Moshi/Arusha/Departure
Day 1 – Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport,
Met our driver upon Arrival and transfer to hotel in Moshi,
Activities: Transfer
Accommodation & Meals: Salsanero, B, B.
Day 2 – Machame Gate (1,640 meters) to Machame Camp (2,835 meters)
The first day trekking begins at Machame Gate (1,640 meters). Typically you will drive from the town of Moshi or Arusha to the gate, which takes approximately an hour for the former and two hours for the latter. On the way you will get to see subsistence farming and the town of Machame. At the Gate you will meet your trekking crew – your guide, porters and cook. There will be a flurry of activity as porters assemble gear for the trek; weighing packs to ensure they don’t exceed 20 kilograms. You, your guide and climbing team will in the meantime begin the ascent through the stunning rainforest that covers the South-West of the mountain. The first day trek on the Machame Route is a long one (~11km / 7miles) and takes approximately 5-7 hours to complete. Most tour operators will provide a packed lunch on route and 2-3 liters of bottled water. This is the only bottled water you will receive. From here on porters will collect water from mountain streams. 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 you arrive your porters will have already setup your camp and tents, and dinner will be served.
Estimated Trekking distance: 11km / 7 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Machame Camp (2,835 meters). B, L, D.
Day 3 – Machame Camp (2,835 meters) to Shira Cave (3,850 meters)
On day two you will rise early, pack your gear and prepare for the trek from Machame Camp to Shira Camp 2 (3,850 meters). 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 two takes approximately 4-6 hours and covers a distance of 5km / 3miles.
Estimated Trekking distance: 5.5km / 3 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 4-6 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone/ Low Moorland Zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Shira Cave (3,850 meters). B, L, D.
Day 4 – Shira Cave (3,850 meters) via Lava Tower (4,600 meters) to Baranco Camp (3,900 meters)
Day four 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 Baranco Camp (3,900 meters). The route is approximately 11km / 7 miles in length and takes 5-7 hours to complete. 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.
Estimated Trekking distance: 11km / 7 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Baranco Camp (3,900 meters). B, L, D.
Day 5 – Baranco Camp (3,900 meters) via Karanga Camp (3,960 meters) to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters)
Today the trek begins with a steep traverse up the Baranco 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). If you are on a six day trek you will stop for lunch at Karanga Camp and then continue on along the Southern Circuit until it joins the Mweka Trail up to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). For six day trekkers, day 4 takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete and covers 9.5km / 6 miles. When you arrive at Barafu around mid-afternoon you will be served an early dinner and encouraged to get some shut-eye as the summit trek commences around 24:00 that night. Note: Trekkers on the seven day route spend the night at Karanga Camp before continuing on to Barafu. This additional day is beneficial in terms of acclimatization.
Estimated Trekking distance: 9.5km / 6 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 8-10 hours
Zone: High alpine zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). B, L, D.
Day 6 – Barafu Camp (4,680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)
Day six is summit night (and day)! You will be awoken around 23:30 with hot tea and biscuits. Hopefully you have managed to get a few hours’ sleep; don’t worry if you haven’t as most people struggle to sleep before summit night. Do however make sure that all your 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 your momentum moving forward, one step at a time. It takes about 6-8 hours to reach the top of the crater rim where you will see the sign for Stella Point (5,739 meters). This is not the summit of Kilimanjaro. You still have another 156 meters of altitude to walk around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters). We recommend resting briefly at Stella Point and potentially having some hot tea or hot chocolate. Dawn should be approaching. Take a moment to savor where you have got to and then dig deep for the energy to push for the summit. Over 60% of climbers stop at Stella Point but most can make it to the summit if they muster the metal strength to push through. Obviously if you are experiencing severe AMS symptoms you should descend immediately. After reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, a 4.5km / 3 mile ascent, you still have an 11km / 7 mile descent to Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)! The descent can be very grueling on your joints. It is recommend you use trekking poles and potentially wear gaiters to avoid fine glacial scree getting into your boots. 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.
Estimated Trekking distance: 5km / 3 miles ascent and then 10km / 7 mile descent
Estimated Trekking time: 6-8 hours to the summit and then 4-5 hours to Mweka
Zone: Glacial zone and the all preceding zones
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Mweka Camp (2,820 meters). B, L, D.
Day 7 – Mweka Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
Day six is the final day of trekking on the Machame Route. By now you will be exhausted and probably only thinking about a hot shower. The trek is a pleasant one through the lower rain-forested slopes and down to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). Although you cover 9km / 5.5 miles, the trek only takes 3-4 hours. Assuming you successfully reach Stella Point or Uhuru Peak you will be presented with official certificates a green certificate for the former and a gold certificate for the latter. It is customary to tip your trekking crew before being transported back to your hotel in Moshi.
Estimated Trekking distance: 10km / 5.5 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 3-5 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Salsanero Hotel, B, L.
Day 8 – Moshi/Arusha/Departure
Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your return flight, B. or Proceed with safari with us.
Activities: Transfer
Accommodation & Meals: B.
Day 1 Arrival in Moshi Kilimanjaro
You will be picked up from the airport by Ellbark Tours representative and conveyed to your accommodation in Moshi where you will overnight, relax, and prepare in anticipation of the adventures to come.
Activities: Transfer
Accommodation & Meals: Salsanero Hotel.
Day 2 – Machame Gate (1,640 meters) to Machame Camp (2,835 meters)
The first day trekking begins at Machame Gate (1,640 meters). Typically you will drive from the town of Moshi or Arusha to the gate, which takes approximately an hour for the former and two hours for the latter. On the way you will get to see subsistence farming and the town of Machame. At the Gate you will meet your trekking crew – your guide, porters and cook. There will be a flurry of activity as porters assemble gear for the trek; weighing packs to ensure they don’t exceed 20 kilograms. You, your guide and climbing team will in the meantime begin the ascent through the stunning rainforest that covers the South-West of the mountain. The first day trek on the Machame Route is a long one (~11km / 7miles) and takes approximately 5-7 hours to complete. Most tour operators will provide a packed lunch on route and 2-3 liters of bottled water. This is the only bottled water you will receive. From here on porters will collect water from mountain streams. 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 you arrive your porters will have already setup your camp and tents, and dinner will be served.
Estimated Trekking distance: 11km / 7 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Machame Camp (2,835 meters). B, L, D.
Day 3 – Machame Camp (2,835 meters) to Shira Cave (3,850 meters)
On day two you will rise early, pack your gear and prepare for the trek from Machame Camp to Shira Cave (3,850 meters). The trek is relatively steep as you enter the low alpine zone which is characterized by moorlands and grasslands. Shira Cave sits on a plateau which provides you with the first views of Kibo in the North-West and Mount Meru in the East. Day two takes approximately 4-6 hours and covers a distance of 5km / 3miles.
Estimated Trekking distance: 5.5km / 3 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 4-6 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone/ Low Alpine Zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Shira Cave (3,850 meters). B, L, D.
Day 4 – Shira Cave (3,850 meters) via Lava Tower (4,600 meters) to Baranco Camp (3,965 meters)
Day four 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 Baranco Camp (3,900 meters). The route is approximately 11km / 7 miles in length and takes 5-7 hours to complete. 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.
Estimated Trekking distance: 11km / 7 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Baranco Camp (3,965 meters). B, L, D.
Day 5 – Baranco Camp (3,965 meters) to Karanga Camp (4,034 meters)
Today the trek begins with a steep traverse up the Baranco 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). If you are on a six day trek you will stop for lunch at Karanga Camp and then continue on along the Southern Circuit until it joins the Mweka Trail up to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). For six day trekkers, day 4 takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete and covers 9.5km / 6 miles. When you arrive at Barafu around mid-afternoon you will be served an early dinner and encouraged to get some shut-eye as the summit trek commences around 24:00 that night. Note: Trekkers on the seven day route spend the night at Karanga Camp before continuing on to Barafu. This additional day is beneficial in terms of acclimatization.
Estimated Trekking distance: 9.5km / 6 miles
Estimated Trekking time: 8-10 hours
Zone: High alpine zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). B, L, D.
Day 6 – Karanga Camp (4,034 meters) to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters)
Today the trek begins with a steep traverse up the Barafu Camp. The path then follows a series of inclines and declines to Barafu Camp (4,600 meters). If you are on a seven day trek you will stop for lunch at Karanga Camp to complete and covers 4km. When you arrive at Barafu around mid-afternoon you will be served an early dinner and encouraged to get some shut-eye as the summit trek commences around 24:00 that night.
Note: Trekkers on the seven day route spend the night at Karanga Camp before continuing on to Barafu. This additional day is beneficial in terms of acclimatization.
Estimated Trekking distance: 4km
Estimated Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Desert zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). B, L, D.
Day 7 – Barafu Camp (4,680 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)
Day six is summit night (and day)! You will be awoken around 23:30 with hot tea and biscuits. Hopefully you have managed to get a few hours’ sleep; don’t worry if you haven’t as most people struggle to sleep before summit night. Do however make sure that all your 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 your momentum moving forward, one step at a time. It takes about 6-8 hours to reach the top of the crater rim where you will see the sign for Stella Point (5,739 meters). This is not the summit of Kilimanjaro. You still have another 156 meters of altitude to walk around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters). We recommend resting briefly at Stella Point and potentially having some hot tea or hot chocolate. Dawn should be approaching. Take a moment to savor where you have got to and then dig deep for the energy to push for the summit. Over 60% of climbers stop at Stella Point but most can make it to the summit if they muster the metal strength to push through. Obviously if you are experiencing severe AMS symptoms you should descend immediately. After reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, a 4.5km / 3 mile ascent, you still have an 11km / 7 mile descent to Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)! The descent can be very grueling on your joints. It is recommend you use trekking poles and potentially wear gaiters to avoid fine glacial scree getting into your boots. 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.
Estimated Trekking distance: 5km ascent and then 11km / 7 mile descent
Estimated Trekking time: 6-8 hours to the summit and then 4-5 hours to Mweka
Zone: Glacial zone and the all preceding zones
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Barafu Camp (4,600 meters). B, L, D.
Day 8 – Mweka Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
Day 8 is the final day of trekking on the Machame Route. By now you will be exhausted and probably only thinking about a hot shower. The trek is a pleasant one through the lower rain-forested slopes and down to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). Although you cover 10km, the trek only takes 3-4 hours. Assuming you successfully reach Stella Point or Uhuru Peak you will be presented with official certificates a green certificate for the former and a gold certificate for the latter. It is customary to tip your trekking crew before being transported back to your hotel in Moshi.
Estimated Trekking distance: 10km
Estimated Trekking time: 3-5 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone
Activities: Hiking/Trekking
Accommodation & Meals: Salsanero Hotel, B, L.
Day 9- Moshi/Arusha/Departure
Today Ellbark tour bring our adventures to a close with Breakfast at our hotel.
Transfer to the airport according to the time of your departure back home, brimful of enduring images of the African Wild and our memories of unforgettable experiences.
Accommodation:
Prices are quoted in $ per person | |||||
| Number of people in a group | Days | 1Pax | 2-5Pax | 5-10Pax | 10Pax+ |
| Validity: 01 Jan – 31 Dec, 2024 | 6 | 2,150 | 1,890 | 1,800 | 1,750 |
| Validity: 01 Jan – 31 Dec, 2024 | 7 | 2,200 | 2,000 | 1,920 | 1,810 |
| Optional: Add: Cost for Extra Night at any camp | 350 | 350 | 350 | 350 | |
Note:
You can leave extra luggage in Hotel in Arusha (if you leave any valuable items like cash, jewelry, etc) make sure you get a receipt for that.
*If you add that day, instead of just staying at the hotel, we can offer a day trip to the nearby Arusha National Park for game drives for $180pp inclusive of 1to 2 hours hiking on mount Meru. Starting from 4 pax in a group.
1. HOW DIFFICULT IS THE MACHAME ROUTE?
The Machame Route is designed to provide ample time for acclimatization, with a slower pace and lower daily altitude gain compared to some of the other routes. This gradual pace helps reduce the risk of altitude sickness, making it a popular choice. However it still includes the challenging ascent up the Barranco Wall and a steep climb to the summit on the final night.
2. HOW LONG IS THE MACHAME ROUTE?
The Machame Route on Kilimanjaro is approximately 63 kms (39 miles) in length from start to finish. It is usually done over 7 days, but a shorter 6-day itinerary is also possible. The average daily altitude gain is about 700m per day, with the summit day climb of 1200m.
3. WHAT IS MACHAME ROUTE’S SUMMIT SUCCESS RATE?
Due to it’s “climb high, sleep low” profile, summit success rates on the Machame route are very high. Whilst there are no official statistics, the average success rate across all operators is 85% for the 7 day trek and a 73% success rate for the 6 day trek. However, we have a 95% summit success rate for the Machame route.
4. HOW IS THE SCENERY ON THE MACHAME ROUTE?
The scenery is extremely varied and you will pass through 5 climatic zones on your way to the summit. The trek begins in rain forest on the lower slopes before continuing up into the low alpine zone of wild grasslands and moorlands.
From there you trek into the high alpine zone before reaching the glacial zone. You will encounter many incredible vistas and visit stunning places such as Shira Plateau, Barranco and Lava Tower.
The origin of the Name ellbark
E-Elephants
L-Lion
L-Leopard
Ba-Baffalo
R-Rhino
K-Kilimanjaro
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