Kilimanjaro Machame Climb

Days 1-2: Depart from your homeport and travel to Arusha, Tanzania

Air Travel: All itineraries include travel days. Plan to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha, Tanzania on the pre-scheduled arrival and departure dates and times, unless you are planning additional travel within Africa. Mountain Madness representatives will then transfer you directly to your hotel or Private Camp. KLM/Northwest departs daily to Kilimanjaro International Airport via Amsterdam and the United States. Alternatively, travel to Nairobi, Kenya where you can either transfer by shuttle bus to Arusha or you can fly from Nairobi to Arusha on Precision Air or other carriers. We work with three different travel agents that can assist you with this.

Day 2: Private Camp, Arusha National Park

Elevation: 6,500 feet / 1981 meters

Mountain Madness service begins in the evening with airport pick-up. Mountain Madness Land Cruisers transport you from Kilimanjaro International Airport to a Private Tented Camp nestled in beautiful Arusha National Park. This region is incredibly scenic with views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru dominating a panorama of grasslands and high tropical landscapes. You will enjoy an evening of relaxation while you begin your journey to the top of Africa.

Day 3: Private Camp, Arusha National Park

Elevation: 6,500 feet / 1981 meters

Today is spent relaxing and recovering from your travels. You will have an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the guides and fellow members of your group. Today your guide will have a trip briefing and review your equipment. There may be time for a walk or game drive, which will be taken out into the grasslands for views of African game and Mount Kilimanjaro, as giraffe, buffalo and antelope are usually seen in the area.

Day 4: Machame Camp

Elevation: 9,000 feet / 2743 meters

Drive from the private camp to the Machame Park Gate, we begin our climb by hiking about 7 hours through the Montane Forest to camp on the forest edge.

Day 5: Above East Shira Plateau

Elevation: 11,800 feet / 3597 meters

Another five hours of hiking takes us above the old Shira Hut to our camp in Kilimanjaro's Upper Heath Zone.

Day 6: Lava Tower

Elevation: 14,300 feet / 4359 meters

Today we will hike approximately 4 hours to camp just under Lava Tower, a 300 foot high volcanic lava plug that juts out of the side of the mountain. This will be our first introduction to the alpine zone, with the only plant life being the hardiest of grasses and lichens. We will have a spectacular view of our final ascent route up the Western Breach.

Day 7: Arrow Glacier

Elevation: 16,000 feet / 4877 meters

With the Western Breach ascent route in full view we will spend 2 hours climbing to the base of the route where we will camp near Arrow Glacier. An afternoon hike further up the route before relaxing in camp will help our acclimatization and improve our performance the following day.

Day 8: Arrow Glacier to Summit, Descent to Mweka Camp

Elevation: 10,500 feet / 3200 meters; Hiking time 9-12 hours

Leaving at midnight we will wind our way up the Western Breach non-technical climbing route, about six hours to the crater rim. Moving around the massive Furtwrangler Glacier as the skies lighten we will see the shape of Mt. Meru to the west. Having crossed the crater plateau we begin the final 800 ft climb to the summit (19,340 feet/5894 meters) hopefully arriving shortly after dawn. Having enjoyed the view we begin the long descent to Barafu Hut and down to Mweka Camp for the night.

Day 9: Arusha: Leave Africa

It takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours to make the 4,500 foot descent to the gate and pick-up. Here we will have our lunch and say goodbye to our mountain staff. We will return to Kia lodge for a shower, dinner and then will transfer to the airport for flights home.

Day 10: Home