6 Days Mount Kirimanjaro Hiking
6 Days mount Kilimajaro hiking safari taking you climbing highest peak Uhuru at 5,895 meters above sea level, you will pass through five vegetation zones which are very picturesque. From woodlands, tropical forests, bamboo, heath and moorlands to afro alpine and snow. Expect cold nights while on the mountain since temperatures to drop below freezing points hence cold weather clothing is important for you. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa commonly referred to as the roof of Africa. This is the only extinct volcanic mountain standing alone not attached to any other mountain.
You will use Machame route which gives access to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro within 6 days of round trip. Although quite shorter than other routes, it requires physical fitness and strength. There are camping tents/huts where you shall be sleeping. All food and drinks are provided by the porters who walk and arrive at the camps ahead of you so as to prepare meals in time.
The day before hiking on Mt. kilimajaro, you will be welcomed on arrival at Kilimanjaro international airport. Your guide will transfer you to Moshi town for dinner and overnight at Nile Springs your lodge.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Moshi to Machame Gate/ Machame Camp
Early morning after breakfast, with your guide drive for 50 minutes arriving at Machame gate, the route to Mt. Kilimanjaro summit for registration. You will also hire porters, hiking gears and get guide maps/compass. Proceed from Machame gate on foot through rainforests to Machame camp at 2,980 meters above sea level for dinner and overnight. The walk from the gate to the camp takes 7 hours with en route lunch along the trail.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
You will wake up early for breakfast in order to start hiking at exactly 07:00am. Led by your guide, leave Machame camp and climb for 2-3 hours through the rain forest to the moorland vegetation zone where you will first rest and have lunch. Later, continue hiking through steep rocks to Shira Camp at 3,840 meters above sea level for dinner and overnight. Porters will boil water in case you cannot bath cold water. The whole trail takes 7 hours covering 9 km.
Day 3: Shira Camp to Barranco Camp/ Lava Tower
Today, this trail will take us 7 hours of hiking to cover a distance of 15 km including resting hours with lunch en route. You need to have a lot of drinking water since we are in a semi alpine desert zone. The first 5 hours of hiking will get you to the top of lava tower at 4,630 meters above sea level having taken lunch before reaching the tower. Then descend in the valley to Barranco Camp at 3,950 meters above sea level for dinner and overnight. You will enjoy views of the breach wall and amazing sunset.
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp (7 hours)
After breakfast, you will hike through interlocked ridges and glacial valleys presenting good landscape photographs. Past these those beautiful ridges, you descend into the Karanga valley where porters will fetch water to be used during your night stay at Barafu camp since there is no water. This trail joins the Mweka route which is also another route giving access to the summit. Arrive at Barafu camp for dinner and overnight. This camp is set on the steep ridges hence you must be careful during night hours to avoid falling off a rock. You will sleep early before 20:00 hours GMT in order to rest and wake up at midnight to start the final climb to the summit.
Day 5: Barafu Camp to Mweka camp (Uhuru peak) 5,895 meters above sea level
You will wake up at mid night in order to reach the summit when it’s still early morning to so you can enjoy an African sunrise. There are ice and arctic conditions on the summit. All necessary equipments such as head lamps, trekking poles, ropes, crampons, ice axes, water proof and a first aid kit including acute mountain sickness medication will be readily available.
It will take about 6-8 hours to reach Uhuru peak at 5,895 meters above sea level. To avoid acute mountain sickness, your guide will always make stops to allow you take a breath and gain momentum. One stopover will be at Stella point 5,752 meters above sea level (1 hour to the summit) that’s when the sun will be rising. Perhaps if the sky /weather are clear you will be rewarded with views of the whole African continent. After relaxing ascend to the summit for one hour walking on snow and bare rocks. After reaching on top, you will spend few hours and later return back to Barafu camp for lunch taking you 4-5 hours. Relax shortly and make your way down to Mweka camp for overnight and dinner. This is your last night on Mt. Kilimanjaro perhaps very excited to have safely made it to the roof of Africa.
Day 6: transfer from Mweka camp to Mweka Gate
After breakfast early morning on the mountain side, descend to Mweka gate where you started this tour. Here you will be rewarded with trekking certificates as you also thank your guides and porters having successfully ascended and descended back. From there transfer to Moshi town/ Kilimanjaro airport for departure depending on your interests via Mweka village for en route lunch.
End of tour