9-Day Kilimanjaro Trekking & Machame Route Safari ( Camping) – 9 Days

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge, Arusha / Similar

This Morning guest will be picked up Pick up from Kilimanjaro Airport, go for passport control desk for passport check, make sure your passport is stamped before you leave the desk. Is this going to be your first safari in Tanzania? Make sure you share with us what was your expectations about the country after safari. Arusha is a good spot to take a day or two off from the safari circuit as it features a temperate climate and lush surrounds. The following day the guest will drive to the National Park early in the next morning. Upon arrival guest will go on a City/Township Tour

Note: we advise you to obtain Online VISA one month before your safari. You can still get the VISA upon arrival, but the que will be long. Visit Tanzania Immigration Website for more information about online VISA.

Meals: Breakfast

Included Activities: City Tour

Overnight: Arusha Planet Lodge

Nestled in the heart of Arusha, Planet Lodge will captivate you with the natural beauty of the Tanzanian landscape… Each chalet is tastefully decorated with native African decor creating a peaceful immersion in the colors and culture of Africa. Distinctive guest rooms feature oversized panoramic windows to allow the Tanzanian sunshine to greet you each morning. We are delighted to provide each guest room with electricity, keyed entry, beautiful artisan bedding, mosquito net, desk and chair,***** alarm clock, free Wi-Fi, private bath with shower, and hot and cold running water. Our friendly housekeepers and room service staff keep your room tidy and stocked with fresh linens daily.

Accommodation: Machame Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro / Similar

Guest will have breakfast and drive to Machame village/gate. After registering at the gate, you will begin by entering the rain forest. Living up to its name, there is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome packed lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. The crew will set everything out at your campsite and all you must do is sit back, relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

Hiking Time: Approx Seven Hours

Distance: Approximately Eighteen Kilometers

Habitat: Mountain Forest

Machame Gate (1490m) To Machame Camp (2980m)

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Included Activities: Hiking

Overnight: Machame Camp

The Machame Camp is one of the first pitstops along the Machame Route of Mount Kilimanjaro. From the Machame Gate, climbers will hike for about 7 hours through the rainforest to get to Machame Camp. They would overnight at the camp before heading through the moorland towards Shira Camp.

Accommodation: Shira Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro / Similar

After an early breakfast you will climb for an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you will continue up a rocky ridge onto the stunning Shira plateau, due west of Kibo, from which you will be able to see the breathtaking glaciers. After a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 3,840m. The climbing crew will provide you with a tasty meal and you will then have plenty of time to sit back and relax.

Machame Camp (2980m) To Shira Camp (3840m)

Hiking Time: Approximately Six Hours

Distance: Approximately Nine Kilometers

Habitat: Moorland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Included Activities: Hiking

Overnight: Shira Camp

Shira Camp forms part of the second leg of the journey up Mount Kilimanjaro. There are 2 camps – Shira Camp 1 on west side and Shira Camp 2 on the east. The Shira Plateau landscape features a tropical rainforest and shrubland where a range of flora and fauna species are found. Climbers might also spot the White Naped Raven.

Accommodation: Barranco Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro / Similar

The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower. After lunch you will climb a rocky scree path to the Lava Tower (4630m). This five hour walk will probably be your hardest day so far and some climbers may begin to feel the altitude. However our experienced team will coach you through the symptoms and provide you with all the advice and support you need. After lunch you descend again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area, whilst it may seem illogical to be going down at this point, you will quickly appreciate its true acclimatisation benefit. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset.

Shira (At 3840m) To Lava Tower (At 4630m) To Barranco Camp (At 3950m)

Hiking Time: Approximately Seven Hours

Distance: Approximately Fifteen Kilometers

Habitat: Semi-Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Included Activities: Hiking

Overnight: Barranco Camp

Barranco Camp is the third pitstop along the Machame Route climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro. This area of the mountain is semi-desert and the camp is set in a valley close to the Great Barranco Wall.

Accommodation: Karanga Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro / Similar

Your day begins by tackling the awesome obstacle of the Great Barranco Wall. Whilst initially an imposing site, its climb is invariably easier than anticipated. You will quickly appreciate how beautiful the mighty Kilimanjaro is when you reach the bottom of the Heim Glacier. You will then head down to the Karanga Valley. This is a short walking day, but we recommend doing a short acclimatisation hike to the scree below the glaciers in the afternoon.

Barranco Camp (3950m) To Karanga Camp (4099m)

Hiking Time: Approximatly Seven Hours

Distance: Approximately Thirteen Kilometres

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Included Activities: Hiking

Overnight: Karanga Camp

On day 4 of the route up Mount Kilimajaro, climbers would reach the Karanga Camp. The journey would take about 5 hours and climbers get to experience the alpine desert landscape of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Accommodation: Barafu Camp, Mweka / Similar

This next day is similarly a short hike (approx. 3-4hrs). You will make your way over the ridges and valleys and join up with the Mweka route. After another hour or so, you reach Barafu (Swahili for Ice) Hut. This camp gives you a real experience of the icy elements. The camp is exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony ridge. You will appreciate your warm and cosy sleeping bags on this night! The summit is now only a further 1,345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. The team will help you to prepare your equipment and clothing for your summit attempt. You will go to bed at about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

Karanga Camp (4099m) To Barafu Camp (4550m)

Hiking Time: Approximately Seven Hours

Distance: Approximately Thirteen Kilometers

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Included Activities: Hiking

Overnight: Barafu Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro climbers would approach Barafu camp at about the 5th day of the journey. The word ‘barafu’ is the Swahili word for ‘ice’, which refers to the cold climate at this altitude.

Accommodation: Mweka Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro / Similar

At 23 you will be awoken with tea and biscuits and will make a move into the night. You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. At Stella Point (5,685m) your efforts will be rewarded with a short rest and the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa and achievement you will remember for the rest of your life.

The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have short rest before heading down to Mweka hut. The route is not difficult and will take you down into the moorland and into the forest.

Summit Attempt – Barafu Camp (4550m) To Uhuru Peak (5895m) To Mweka (3100m)

Hiking Time: Approximately 8 Hours To Reach Uhuru Peak And Another 7-8 Hours To Descend To Mweka

Distance: Approximately Seven Kilometers Ascent – And A Further Twenty Three Kilometers Descent

Habitat: Stone Scree And Ice-Capped Summit

Overnight: Mweka Camp

Mweka Camp is the final campsite on the journey up Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbers would arrive here after a 7 hour hike from Summit Uhuru Peak.

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge, Arusha / Similar

This Morning guest will After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate where you will receive your certificates; those climbers who reached Stella Point (5,685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates. You will be picked up and brought back to lodge for a warm welcome, a cold celebratory drink and a hearty meal

Mweka Camp (3100m) To Mweka Gate (1980m)

Hiking Time: Approximately Three Hours

Distance: Approximately Fifteen Kilometers

Habitat: Forest

Meals: Breakfast

Included Activities: Hiking trial

Overnight: Arusha Planet Lodge

Nestled in the heart of Arusha, Planet Lodge will captivate you with the natural beauty of the Tanzanian landscape… Each chalet is tastefully decorated with native African decor creating a peaceful immersion in the colors and culture of Africa. Distinctive guest rooms feature oversized panoramic windows to allow the Tanzanian sunshine to greet you each morning.

We are delighted to provide each guest room with electricity, keyed entry, beautiful artisan bedding, mosquito net, desk and chair,***** alarm clock, free Wi-Fi, private bath with shower, and hot and cold running water. Our friendly housekeepers and room service staff keep your room tidy and stocked with fresh linens daily.