Meru and Kilimanjaro  Machame

ITINERARY

10 December 2024: Kilimanjaro International Airport arrival and transfer to hotel.

11 December 2024: Drive to Arusha National Park and begin the trek to Miriakamba Hut

• Elevation: 1,500 m to 2,500m
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking Time: 4-6 hour
• Habitat: Rain Forest

We arrive after about a 2 hr drive, at the Momella Gate (1,500 m) where we meet up with our porters and game ranger, and head off through the lush forest, crossing the Ngare Nanyuki river. to reach Miriakamba Hut at 8337ft / 2541m for overnight taking 4 to 5 hours. En route up, we will get views of buffalo grazing in the lush fields below us, and in the far distance, Kilimanjaro. Over night Miriakamba Hut

12 December 2024- Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut

• Elevation: 2,500m to 3,570
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
• Habitat: Heath Zone

Today we ascend steeply for about 2 to 3 hours, through the lush forests full of bird song, toward Saddle Hut at 3570m. We may be fortunate to see a couple of buffalo grazing nearby as we start out. We take in an afternoon trek to Little Meru, at 3794 and return to Saddle Hut for overnight.

13 December 2024: Saddle to Summit to Miriakambu Hut

• Elevation: 3,570m to 4,565m to 2,500m
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time: 6 - 10
• Habitat: Alpine Desert to Forest

We start out around 02h00 to Rhino Point and then Cobra Point up very steep and slippery sections. The last hour of the trek is something of a scramble on a rocky ridge between the crater and inner cliffs of Meru to the summit of Meru, also known as Socialist Peak at 4565m, just in time to watch the sun rise behind Mount Kilimanjaro. We then descend all the way back to Miriakambu for our overnight.

14 December 2024:  Miriakambu to Momella

• Elevation:2,500m to 1,500m
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert to Forest

A fast descent from the huts will take you through open grassland and mixed forest, with good chances of seeing wildlife like giraffe. This trail has excellent views back towards the crater and over the plains of the National Park. Momella Gate is reached by late morning. It takes about 2 to 3 hours walking.

There are two ways down from here. You can descend the route you came up or walk down the jeep road, which descends to the lower crater floor. You pass through the well-known Fig Tree Arch and can visit an impressive waterfall hidden in a ravine not far from the road.

We then return to Moshi for our overnight

15 December 2024: Day at leisure 

16 December 2024:  Machame Gate (1830m) - Machame Camp (2835m) 

• Distance: 5.5km
• Trekking: 5 to 7 hours
• Environment: Montane forest

Today after a brief stop in Moshi we drive to Kilimanjaro park entrance at Machame, near the Machame village. Here we complete formalities for trekking permits and then start trekking through the forest. Rain is possible in Machame Forest.

17 December 2024: Machame Camp (2835m) to Shira Camp 2 (3840m) 

• Elevation: 2835 metres - 3850 metres
• Distance: 9km
• 5 to 6 hours
• Environment: Moorland

You leave Machame camp and climb quite steeply for about an hour. The route then follows a more gentle gradient toward the base Shira Plateau which is actually a the remains of a caldera, or collapsed volcanic crater. Then you traverse up the rocky outcrop before trekking in an easterly direction, to Shira Camp, Shira being one of the three volcanoes of the Kilimanjaro massif.

18 December 2024: Shira Camp 2 (3840m) to Lava Tower (4640m) - Barranco Huts (3985m) 

• Elevation: 3840 metres - 3985metres
• Distance: 12km
• Trek: 6 to 7 hours
• Environment: Moorland

Shira camp can be quite cold early morning as you hike away from views of Mt Meru into an arid desert type environment full of lava rock. The route is a steady gentle climb toward Lava Tower. It is not uncommon to start feeling the effects of altitude on Machame Route or any other route with shortness of breath around 4200m. At Lava Tower you break for lunch before descending almost 680m in altitude to Barranco Camp at the base of Barranco Wall. Today you follow the principle of climb high, sleep low.

19 December 2024:  Barranco Huts (3985m) to Karanga Camp  (4100m) 

• Elevation: 3985 metres - 4680metres
• Distance: 13 km
• Hiking Time: 7-9 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

This morning you start the slow climb up the well known Barranco Wall, bringing you out below Heim Glacier. After taking in incredible views you trek along the route to Karanga Valley which takes you through three ridges and valleys, before coming out at Karanga Camp. This is your camp and you will have a chance to rest for night here, watching a beautiful sunset over Moshi town below.

20 December 2024: Karanga Valley (4100m) to Barafu Camp (4550m)

• Distance: 5 km 
• Hiking Time: 3 hours 
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

This morning we continue through the valleys you will see the magnificent giant Senecio Kilimanjari plant. You will then join up with your later descent route where you will head left up the ridge for another hour, before reaching Barafu Hut. 

Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice" and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night, perched on a rocky ridge riddled with rocky outcrops. It is essential that you familiarise yourself with the terrain and location of toilets before dark to avoid any accidents.

21 December 2024: Barafu (4550m)- Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m) 

• Elevation: 4600metres to 5895 metres to 3100 metres
• Highest: 5895 metres
• Distance: 30kilometres (7kilometres ascent, 13 kilometres descent)
• Trek: 13-16 hours (6 to 8 hours ascent, 7-8 hours descent)
• Environment: Stone scree / ice-capped summit

Rising before midnight, you start your climb in a North westerly direction. The route will take you to Stella Point (5685) on Kibo crater rim. It can take anything from 5 - 6 hours and is physically challenging. After a short rest at Stella before trekking to Kilimanjaro summit, another altitude gain of 200m, taking anywhere from 1-2 hours. After basket in a moment of glory at the summit of Kilimanjaro, you hike down to Barafu and then down towards Mweka hut (3100m).

22 December 2024: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka (1980m) 

• Elevation: 3100 metres to 1800 metres
• Distance: 8 kilometres
• Trek time: 3 to 4 hours
• Environment: Montane forest

This morning is a short 3-hour scenic hike to Mweka. Those climbers who made Stella (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates for your Machame Route climb

23 December 2024:  Depart

Today you are transferred to Kilimanjaro airport for your flight home.

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