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8-Day Kilimanjaro Adventure (6-Day Climbing)- Machame Route   Tour Code: 792-1014

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  • From USD$1527
  • Available:Daily
  • Depart from:Moshi, Tanzania
  • Highlights:Takes you to Kilimanjaro's true summit, Uhuru Peak and you can start your trek any day of the year! Kilimanjaro's longer, more scenic, "Whiskey Route." The Machame is a beautiful route up Kilimanjaro that allows you to experience the southwest and south sides of the mountain. You can add an extra day by breaking the trek from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp into two days.
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  Ticket Type
1-5 people $1577/person
6 or more $1527/person
Mount Kilimanjaro is located three degrees south of the equator in Northeastern Tanzania. It is the tallest mountain in Africa and is the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Of the famous highest seven peaks in the world, this is the easiest to get to and the easiest to climb. It requires no technical climbing experience, and any moderately fit person can summit the mountain.

Duration

6 days trekking from Moshi; 4 and a half days ascending, 1 and a half days descending. You can also add an extra acclimatization day and make it a 7-day trek.

Length

100 km/62 mi total; 62 km/38 mi to summit; 38 km/24 mi descent from summit

Elevation

4,405 m/14,450 ft net gain; 3,915 m/12,845 ft descent Machame Gate (1,490 m/4,890 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) and descent to Mweka Gate (1,980 m/6,500 ft)

Description

Machame Route is a beautiful route up Kilimanjaro that allows you to experience the southwest and south sides of the mountain, since you go up one way and down another. All your equipment and supplies are carried by porters and a cook prepares all your meals. Unlike the Marangu Route where you sleep in huts, on the Machame you sleep in tents (tents are included), and the porters will pitch your tent for you. Meals are served in a dinner tent or on a blanket outside. This makes the Machame, which is referred to as the "Whiskey Route," better suited to more adventurous hikers, and it also rewards you with better views than the Marangu Route. From late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo’s great Barranco Wall, the Machame Route offers the spunky hiker a continuous scenic slide show. The Machame Route is normally completed in 6 days, and this greatly helps your acclimatization. The Machame Route takes you high to Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) on day 3 then brings you down for an overnight at Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft). This intermediate ascent and descent is the secret to a successful acclimatization, and is the reason that this route has a high success rate.

You can add an extra day by breaking the trek from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp (Day 4) into two days. If you choose this option, you will hike from Barranco Camp over the Great Barranco Wall, and descend to a camp in the Karanga Valley on Day 4. There is water at this camp. Then, on Day 5 you will hike from the Karanga Valley Camp to the Barafu Camp, summit on Day 6, and finish your descent on Day 7.

If you arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha (airport transfer is not inclueded in the tour fare, $20/person/way from JRO). We recommend at least one rest day before starting your trek. If you are transferring from Nairobi, this can act as your rest day.

Your guide will provide a briefing the evening before your trek, and you must separate one bag for the trek from your other luggage. Rental equipment is available. Extra luggage can be stored in a locked storage room at your Moshi hotel at no charge.

The next morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast before last-minute trip preparations at the trekking office. Depending on the route you take, the drive to the trailhead can take up to one hour and can be very bumpy.

Once you reach the park gate, climbers are requested to make their final preparations for the climb and sign the national park registration book. Porters will be seen arranging their packs containing the food, water, and other equipment. Make sure that you have all your day pack items with you as the porters travel very quickly. Your guide will be pleased to assist with any additional information.

The average hiking day begins between 8-9am and is about 5 to 6 hours, walking very, very slowly. The distances you will hike each day are very moderate so as to acclimate a little at a time. Your guides will repeat over and over, "pole pole" (po-ly, po-ly), which means "go slowly" in Swahili.

The terrain lower down is absolutely gorgeous and fascinating. Higher up, the views are vast. There is little to do at the camps themselves, so take advantage of the slow pace to absorb the scenery and take every photo opportunity.

The hike to the summit starts around midnight depending on your route and speed of your group. You will go as high as you feel fit. Some people stop at the crater rim, and others continue to the very highest point on the mountain. Your guides will then take you down as quickly as possible to minimize any altitude problems. You will continue past your last campsite to the next one for overnight.

  • Itinerary

DAY1 Moshi(915 m)

Arrive at the Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam International Airport. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Springlands Hotel in Moshi for your overnight.
Standard Hotel: Springlands Hotel

DAY2 Moshi (915 m) - Machame Gate (1,490 m) - Machame Camp (2,980 m) 18 km, 5-7 hrs, Montane Forest

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 50-minute drive from Moshi to the Machame Village (1,490 m/4,890 ft) where your guides and porters prepare and pack your equipment and supplies. You will receive a lunch pack, and you can also buy mineral water in the village. If the road is very muddy, it may be impossible to drive from the village to the Machame Gate, and in this case, it will take you an hour to complete the muddy 3 km walk to the gate. After registering at the park office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest immediately. Heavy rains on this side of the mountain often transform the trail into a soggy, slippery experience, so good footgear, trekking poles, and gaiters are useful. You will enjoy a welcome lunch stop halfway up and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Your porters will arrive at camp before you and will erect your tent before you arrive. In the evening, the porters boil drinking and washing water while the cook prepares your dinner. Night temperatures can drop to freezing at the Machame Camp.

DAY3 Machame Camp (2,980 m) - Shira Camp (3,840 m) 9 km, 4-6 hrs, Moorland

You rise early at Machame camp, and after breakfast, climb for an hour to the top of the forest, then for 2 hours through a gentle moorland. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira Plateau where you will be able to see Kilimanjaro's great Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. Sometimes, the walls of the Western Breach are draped with extensive ice curtains. You are now west of Kibo on the opposite side of the mountain from the Marangu Route. After a short hike west, you reach the Shira campsite. The porters will boil drinking and washing water before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will be colder, with temperatures dropping below freezing.

DAY4 Shira Camp (3,840 m) - Lava Tower (4,630 m) - Barranco Camp (3,950 m) 15 km, 7 hrs, Semi-Desert

After breakfast, you will hike east up a steepening path above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro's looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the sure-footed can scramble to the top of the tower. After a lunch stop near Lava Tower, descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950 m/12,960 ft. There are numerous photo opportunities on this hike, especially if the walls are festooned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On this day, be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness.

Optional: Extra Day

You can add an extra day to your trek by staying at Barranco Camp for two nights. Then, you will hike to the Karanga Valley Camp on Day 5, the Barafu Camp on Day 6, summit on Day 7, and finish your descent on Day 8. Adding this day will ease your effort, and amplify your acclimatization.

DAY5 Barranco Camp (3,950 m) - Barafu Camp (4,550 m) 13 km, 8 hrs, Alpine Desert

After spending a night under the imposing Great Barranco Wall, you climb this awesome obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley and goes over intervening ridges and valleys to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent route. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. For now, all eyes are still on the summit, so turn left and hike up the ridge for another hour to the Barafu Hut. The last water on the route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice." The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb. This should include replacing your headlamp and camera batteries, and to prevent freezing, consider carrying your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed by 7 PM, and try to get a few hours of precious sleep.

DAY6 Barafu Camp (4,550 m) - Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) - Mweka Camp (3,100 m) 7 km up, 23 km down 8 hrs up, 7-8 hrs, down Scree and seasonal snow

You will rise around 11:30 PM, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. Your 6-hour climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) you stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella Point you join the top part of the Marangu Route, but do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Depending on the season and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). This camp is in the upper forest, so you can expect mist or rain in the late afternoon. Dinner, and washing water will be prepared, and the camp office sells drinking water, soft drinks, chocolates, and beer!

DAY7 Mweka Camp (3,100 m) - Mweka Gate (1,980 m) - Moshi (890 m) 15 km, 3 hrs, Forest

After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hour hike back to the park gate. Don't give your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1 hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles. In the Mweka Village you will be served a delicious hot lunch after which you are driven back to Moshi for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night in our Springlands Hotel.
Standard Hotel: Springlands Hotel

DAY8 Moshi

Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania or Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good way to recuperate. We can arrange many reasonably priced trips and safaris around Moshi and the Kilimanjaro region.

  • Departure and Return Details
  • Airport transfer is available at an extra cost.
  • Inclusions
  • 7 nights accommodations
  • Ground transportation
  • Tour guide service (English/Spanish/French/German speaking guide avaiable)
  • Porters
  • Exclusions
  • Prices do not include air travel, country entry or departure fees, airport porter fees, visas, phones, valet, all items of a personal nature and beverages and food unless otherwise stated.
  • Tips to the Tour Guide and Porters (Please refer to addtional note for more information)
  • Transfer from and to Kilimanjaro Airport($20/person/one way)
  • Transfer from Arusha to Moshi per private car hire $80 one way.
  • Lunch and dinner at Springlands Hotel.
  • Additional Note
  • Airport Transfer

    Airport transfers available at an extra cost. From JRO to Springlands hotel we charge US $20 per person per one way.

  • Food

    The staple foods in Tanzania are meats, starches, and fruits. Some western foods are difficult to find locally (herbal tea, soy products, specialty items). You may want to bring some of the items with you as well as comfort foods (like chocolate), and high-energy foods (Power bars, Gatorade, etc.). Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea are provided on the trek. All meals will have some sort of fruit like bananas, oranges, papayas, and watermelon. Most meals will also have a selection of hot drinks like instant coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

    Vegetarian and other special diets can be accommodated. Please let us know ahead of time and remind your guide during your trek briefing. Protein options may be minimal on a vegetarian diet, so you may want to bring protein supplements.

    Because of the exercise and high altitude, you is recommended that you drink at least 3 liters of water a day. The porters will purify water for you at each camp. Altitude may diminish your appetitie, but it is very important to keep eating.

    At your Moshi or Arusha hotel, only breakfasts are included. Lunches and dinners are available at an extra charge.

  • Money

    The local currency is Tanzanian shillings. U.S. dollars, Euros, and credit cards may be accepted by larger stores and hotels, but the exchange rate is better with shillings. ATM's are only available in larger towns like Moshi and Arusha. Most people bring the bulk of their money in travellers cheques, but will also bring some cash including smaller bills. For travellers cheques, there is often a $1/cheque fee, and the exchange rate is better for $100 cheques. When you exchange money, be sure to get some smaller bills as change is not always available.

    A local guide is required to hike Kilimanjaro. We have guides that speak English, Spanish, French and German. Porters will also go on the trip to carry your luggage, food, and other equipment. You will only have to carry a day pack with your daily essentials.

    Tips for guides and porters on Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru:

    • You will want to hand out tips at camp the morning of the last day of the trek. You can use U.S. dollars, Euros, TZ shillings, or a combination of these. It helps if you have small bills to tip everyone individually.
    • The typical tip is $15/day for guides, $10/day for assistant guides and cooks, $7/porter/day for porters. This is from the whole group, not per hiker.
    • Expect 1 guide per 8 hikers, 1 assistant guide per 3 hikers, and 1 cook per 8 hikers. Porters as follows:
      • 2 porters per hiker on the 5-day Marangu Route (minimum of 4 porters)
      • 3 porters per hiker on a 6 or 7-day trek (minimum of 5 porters)
      • 4 porters per hiker on the 8-day Lemosho Route (minimum of 8 porters)
      • Sometimes extra porters are required based on the weight of the luggage.
    • Budget $200 per hiker for tips for a 6-day trek.
    • Gifts: Guides and porters also appreciate your warm clothing, shoes, and packs. You may want to bring some older clothing items just for this purpose.
    • Celebration: You are also welcome to invite your guides back to the Springlands Hotel for drinks and/or dinner (on you) as a thank-you in addition to their tip.

    Expectations Tips should not be dependent on whether you summit or not, but rather whether they were professional and had your best interests in mind.

Recommended Gear List
  • Kilimanjaro Climber's Packing List Notes
    • The pack that the porters carry is limited to 15 kg (35 pounds). Overweight or extra luggage will require an extra porter at $5/day
    • Store electronics in sealed water-proof bags (double sealed if possible)
    • Wrap clothing in plastic bags
    • In the day pack, take along water, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, rain pants, and jacket at a minimum. Add any other items you might need during the day, since you may not see your porters until the end of the day.
    • You may want to bring some older items of warm clothing as gifts for your guides and porters or donations to the Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society.
    • You can leave extra luggage in a locked storage room at the Springlands Hotel for no charge.
    • You can leave valuables in a safe deposit box at the Springlands Hotel for $1/day.

  • Baggage
    • Day pack, for you to carry
    • Large duffel bag or backpack, for porters to carry
    • Plastic bags

      Clothing You want your inner layer to be wicking - no cotton. Your next layer should be insulating and warm, and your top layer should be water proof but breathable. You will need clothes for hiking during the day, lounging in the evening, and for sleeping. Layers are important as temperatures vary greatly. Kilimanjaro may be near the equator, but it gets cold up there!

    • Shorts, for first and last day only
    • Pants, for hiking and for lounging in the evenings
    • Short-sleeved or t-shirts
    • Long-sleeved shirts, for hiking and for lounging in the evenings
    • Long underwear
    • Fleece jacket or wool sweater
    • Fleece pants
    • Down jacket or ski parka (for temperatures well below freezing plus wind)
    • Rain jacket, needed in hot rainforest and cold snow
    • Rain pants, needed in hot rainforest and cold snow
    • Underwear
    • Sport bras, for women

  • Cold Weather Accessories
    • Mittens and/or gloves (waterproof, one thin pair, one thick pair that can be layered)
    • Wool or pile hat
    • Balaclava or neck gaitor
    • Hand and foot warmers (chemical activated)

  • Footwear
    • Be sure to break in your shoes before the hike!
    • Trekking shoes for hiking during the day, preferrably warm, waterproof, and with ankle-support - not too light and not too heavy
    • Tennis shoes or sandals for lounging in the evening
    • Gaiters
    • Hiking socks for warmer conditions
    • Wool socks for colder conditions
    • Sock liners to wick away moisture

  • Sleeping
    • Sleeping bag (Rated -25 degrees C/-10 degrees F or colder is recommended)
    • Sleeping pad and repair kit
    • Tents are supplied by us at no charge
    • Foam sleeping pads are provided by us at no charge (Thermarest is highly recommended, however)

  • Other
    • Water bottles and Camelback (2-3).
      • Get 3 liters of bottled water before the trip (available at the Springlands Hotel). Your guides will boil water for you along the route, or use steripens for water sanitization.
      • To prevent water from freezing on summit day, keep your water source inside your jacket. For Camelbacks, blow air back into the bladder after each sip and drink often.
      • Gatorade or other drink mix helps with taste and minerals.
    • Water filter or iodine purification tablets
    • Sun hat with brim
    • Sunglasses
    • Bandana
    • Money ($400 or more in cash and/or travellers cheques, including some small U.S., Euro, or Tanzanian bills)
    • Ski or trekking poles
    • Headlamp or flashlight
    • Camera, film, tripod; Video camera, tapes
    • Batteries. Bring extra sets for headlamp/flashlight and camera as cold weather shortens their life
    • Binoculars
    • Notebook, journal, pencil, and pen
    • Pocket knife
    • Electricity adapter
    • Energy bars, hard candy, snacks, and comfort foods
    • Playing cards, games, books, frisbee, football, kite
    • Chocolate or pens for village children, momentos for guides, porters, and other climbers
    • Umbrella, particularly useful in the rainy season, can be purchased in the market for around $2
    • Plastic bags and zip-lock bags for waterproofing
    • Sewing kit
    • Salt, pepper, and spices for bland food
    • Business cards
    • Alarm clock
    • Calculator (for currency conversion)
    • Swim suit for hotel swimming pool

  • Toiletries
    • Toilet paper (and baggie to carry used paper while on trail)
    • Small towel, soap
    • Toothbrush and toothpaste
    • Handi-wipes (moist towelettes for cleaning)
    • Hand sanitizer
    • Lotion
    • Glasses, contacts, solution (take contacts out each night to prevent blurred vision)
    • Comb, mirror

  • Documents
    • Passport
    • Yellow fever certificate
    • Tanzania Visa
    • Medical insurance
    • Address book
    • Vaccination records
    • Airline tickets
    • Cash, travellers cheques, credit cards
    • Maps, guidebooks
    • Make copies of passport, TZ visa, airline tickets/schedule, and travellers cheques numbers. Leave a copy with someone at home and put a copy in a separate place in your luggage.

  • First Aid
    • Ibuprofin, Aceteminophen, or Aspirin
    • Throat losenges
    • Bandaids
    • Moleskin
    • Sunscreen (SPF 15+)
    • Lip balm with sunscreen
    • Insect repellent
    • Disinfectant, Antiseptic cream
    • Bandages and tape
    • Diahrea medicine
    • Antihistemines
    • Ace bandage
    • Melatonin (1-3mg) or other sleep aid
    • Malaria pills (talk to your doctor)
    • Antibiotics (talk to your doctor)
    • Prescription drugs (talk to your doctor)
    • Diamox (talk to your doctor)

  • Gifts for Guides, Porters, Locals
    • Shoes
    • Any warm clothing
    • T-shirts
    • Hats
  Redemption
You will receive an email (e-ticket) after your order was received. Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your e-ticket. You must print the e-tickets and take them along on your trip; they are your proof of purchase.
  Terms & Condition

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The purchase of any travel services represents your acceptance Terms & Conditions set out herein. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand these Terms & Conditions prior to booking.

Cancellations and Cancellation Fees
Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed and pending bookings. Therefore, cancellation penalties and or fees will apply. Time of cancellation will be determined when notice is received and confirmed by our office. Notice of cancellation must be made directly to Gotobus by email or through web mail at Contact Us .

Cancellation penalties per person as follows:

  • Up to 30 days prior to departure - 20% of total purchase amount
  • 29-14 days prior to departure – 50% of total purchase amount.
  • Less than 14 days prior to departure - 100% of total purchase amount.
  • Should the canceling party be able to find a replacement for themselves no less than 14 days prior to departure and the replacement completes this booking form individually, no cancellation fee. However, should no replacement be found by 14 days prior to departure, a 100% cancellation penalty will apply to the canceling party.
  • There is 6% handling fee add-on to the above penalties.

Tour Cancellation:
We reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances beyond its control. If cancellation is made any time prior to departure* of the tour, Gotobus' only liability will be to refund to the passenger the amount it has received for the tour booking. We will try to re-book the same or similar tour. Please note that we are not liable for any cancellation penalties incurred on any other travel arrangements including air tickets purchased separately from customers.

We are not responsible for any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations.

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