| Machame route to the summit of Kilimanjaro is very | | | | descend 50 feet then start to trek westwards, a |
| special; it gives you a chance to really get to know | | | | gradual ascent to Shira Cathedral and your camp at |
| this extraordinary mountain. The huts for this route | | | | approx 3800m, on a plateau, with views of Mt.Meru |
| are in a very poor state of repair and are used by | | | | and the Kenya plains. |
| the porters; tents are used on this route. All supplies | | | | Day 3: Walking time of 8 hours and the climbing is a |
| and camping equipment are portered; with a baggage | | | | fairly strenuous day, the altitude will begin to takes |
| limit of 12 kg. The night before your climb is best | | | | its toll, it is essential to take your climb slowly. From |
| spent in the Machame village from where your climb | | | | the Shira Cave climb slowly for about 5 km, through |
| will begin. This allows your body to begin to adjust to | | | | the ever increasingly bleak terrain. Head towards the |
| the altitude affording a better chance of reaching the | | | | cone of Kibo. Overnight camping at Barranco |
| summit. | | | | (3900m). |
| Many, overseas travel agents will use hotels in Moshi | | | | Day 4: Today starts with a steep hike up to |
| Town, which is at a lower altitude and at least an | | | | Barranco Wall. There are some scree slopes and |
| hours drive from the Kilimanjaro park gate. The usual | | | | ridges to Karanga at an altitude of 4100m. There are |
| reason for this is many hotels also double up as a | | | | breathtaking views here of the West Breach and the |
| mountaineering company. These hotels will give the | | | | southern glacier. After the exerting start to the day |
| pre-climb overnight and post-climb overnight as | | | | arrive at the Karanga Valley for lunch and spend the |
| complimentary in order to secure the business of the | | | | rest of the day at this level. The time spent here |
| Kilimanjaro climb; thereby reducing costs to the travel | | | | affords more time for the body to adjust to the |
| agents; this discount is not always passed onto the | | | | altitude and also reduces the distance of the next |
| climbers. It is always preferable overnight in one of | | | | day's hike and the slower pace will considerably |
| the small but good hotels in Machame. I must add | | | | increases your chance of reaching the summit. |
| that Moshi town, for me, is hot dusty and most | | | | Day 5: To Continue the trek to Barafu ridge at 4600 |
| uninteresting, with Machame or Marangu [depending | | | | meters above sea level [Barafu in Swahili means ice]. |
| on which route you use] offering a more colorful first | | | | Again this is an acclimatization day having a relatively |
| night. | | | | short distance to hike before the big final ascent |
| The Machame itinerary is one of the most scenic | | | | starting at midnight. |
| routes by which to climb to the highest point in | | | | Day 6: Starting around midnight in preparation for the |
| Africa; it is less used than the Marangu route and it | | | | final ascent. It is imperative to dress warmly as |
| may be said, all the better for it. This route will | | | | temperatures often plummet to minus 20°C The |
| ascend from the western side of Kilimanjaro passing | | | | final days assault begins by torch light up the path to |
| through tropical rainforest to the snows of | | | | the crater's edge at Stella Point - this takes at least 7 |
| Kilimanjaro, with views of the western face and the | | | | hours - walking slowly with frequent rests; continue |
| southern ice-fields and descend down the south face. | | | | along the edge of the Crater after a short rest, to |
| A typical itinerary would be to spend the first night in | | | | the highest point in Africa - Uhuru Peak at 5895m - |
| the Machame village set on the mountain and close | | | | with incredible views of glaciers and the plains of |
| to the park gate. The foothills of Kilimanjaro are | | | | Africa stretched out below. Then the descent to |
| cultivated; where subsistence farmers grow coffee | | | | Mweka, stopping for a short rest at Barafu, and |
| and bananas. There are many pleasant walks around | | | | arriving late afternoon at Mweka; which is on the |
| the village and time can be spent getting to know | | | | edge of the rainforest. If anyone in party is showing |
| the local Chagga people. | | | | any signs of altitude sickness you guide will descend |
| Day 1: This is a 5 hour walk through dramatic forest | | | | fairly quickly to this camp. [See my article on altitude |
| up to Machame Hut at 3000m. Wildlife may be seen | | | | sickness.] |
| at these lower altitudes, including many species of | | | | Day 7: Descend to Mweka Village about 4 hours |
| forest birds. | | | | steady downhill walk to meet the transport to the |
| Day 2: To Shira Cave, a walking time of 6 hours. The | | | | hotel for a hot shower and to celebrate your |
| hike today starts off quite steeply to the top of the | | | | achievement. |
| forest, then a couple of hours at a more gentle | | | | Day 8: I would now recommend a visit to one of the |
| incline through the lower moorlands brings you to the | | | | spiced islands of the Zanzibar Archipelago - see the |
| top of a rocky bluff by about lunch time. From here | | | | article 'The Spiced islands of Zanzibar'. |