6 – 7 days Machame route

Day 1: Machame gate (1828masl) – Machame hut (3020masl);

Habitat: Montane forest,
Distance: Approximately 11km,
Hiking time: 7hrs.

You can begin your day one from a hotel at Machame village or any of the nearby town (either Moshi or Arusha).
You will travel to Machame gate through Machame village on a tarmac road cutting through the wachagga farms and
coffee plantations. Signing in at Machame gate may take some minutes depending on the number of hikers.
Get yourself prepared by ensuring you have your day pack ready with extra clothing, water, and lunch box.
The path to Machame hut is interestingly amazing with species of fern and moss dominating the lower canopy.
Different species of trees, shrubs and herbs have found a home in this zone creating an impressive scenic beauty
and on those trees are melodies of turacos and other birds that may escort you to Machame hut approximately
11km.

Machame hut is a camp site at the beginning of heather and moorlands zone. Here temperatures can get bellow zero
at nights. You will be at camp before down and have enough time to clean up, have dinner and retire to sleep
and prepare for the next day.

Day 2: Machame hut (3020masl) – Shira camp (3847masl);

Habitat: Heather and moorlands,
Distance: Approximately 5.2km,
Hiking time: 6hrs.

Today’s path is a little adventurous with a little steep gradient at the beginning.
The more you climb the more the beauty is exposed and you get close to Shira hut. Then
you shall be at places where the lower landscape is so vividly clear and the moorlands are giving a hint of
those volcanic features ahead. After walking a distant of approximately 5.2km, you shall finally be at Shira plateau.
A beautiful spot where shira and kibo peaks can be seen. Food and overnight at Shira camp.

Day 3: Shira camp (3847masl) – Barranco camp (3984masl);

Habitat: Semi-desert,
Distance: Approximately 10.7km,
Hiking time: 7hrs.

After breakfast, curry your day pack with lunch box and begin to Barranco via lava tower (4642masl).
Now the landscape is vividly clear and the lava cones can be seen at a distance. The path cuts through the
semi-desert exposing the beauty of the volcanic features. After hiking to the lava tower, the path descends
to Barranco where you will have dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Barranco camp (3984masl) – Karanga camp (4040masl);

Habitat: Alpine desert,
Distance:
Hiking time:

The path is short but adventurous. It ensures that you hike through a very steep gorge and ridges. The
wonderful land consist of rivers, huge rocks and stone scree, senacio species and heather among other beauties.
Lunch, dinner and overnight at Karanga camp.

Day 5: Karanga camp (4040masl) – Barafu camp (4681masl);

Habitat: Alpine desert,
Distance:
Hiking time:

A walk through this desert lands can give someone an impression of walking to some kind of other planets.
Those lava cones you were seeing from a distance are now very close and they look alive. The snow capped
Kibo on your left looks attractively dressed in white. You should be at Barafu at least afternoon where
you will have a lunch and spend the rest of the day resting and getting prepared for the summit.
Evening meal is also going to be served early at 5:30 or 6:00pm to give you more hours to rest and prepare.
At 11:30pm you shall be waked up for a cup of tea and some biscuits and have some time to do the final
preparation.

Day 6: Barafu camp (4681masl) – Uhuru peak (5895masl) – Mweka camp (3090masl);

Habitat: Rocks, stone scree and snow lands
Distance: Approximately 4.5km ascent and 10.8km descent
Hiking time: Approximately 8hrs to Uhuru and 6 – 8hrs to Mweka.

The journey to Uhuru should begin at midnight. The zigzag path cuts through a steep land of rocks and stone scree.
Now we are in the land of the cold and wind to a limit where everything is covered in snow. The ice lands
above Stella point has given a path to Uhuru and you will make it through here on your way. At Uhuru peak,
you will have some time taking pictures and feeling glad about yourself and your spirit. “I have finally
made it and I’am here.”That is what everyone will say and the journey back to Barafu camp begins soon. It should
take a short time to be at Barafu where you will rest for a while then start to Mweka camp a little lower.
Mweka camp is at the edge of the forest zone and the climate here is almost that of the lower lands
especially for someone from Barafu and Uhuru. Once at Mweka Camp, you will be offered a washing bowl with water
to clean yourself a little bit and dinner then retire to sleep.

Day 7: Mweka camp (3090masl) – Mweka gate (1641masl);

Habitat: Forest,
Distance: Approximately 8.5km,
Hiking time: At-least 6hrs.

The path pass through the forest on a gentle slope land. For plant lovers this zone should give you an impression
of a little paradise. Mammals here prefer a secret life without noise from intruders. If you are lucky enough
you may spot an antelope picking leaves or berries. Anyone from the desert should like it here with those
cheerful noise of birds welcoming you whether you made it or not. “Cheer up, it is good to be back home”.
You shall be given your certificate at the gate then shake hands with the rest of the crew for goodbye. The
journey ends at the hotel.

Environment Conservation Projects:

• Coffee and tree planting
• Bee keeping

Volunteering programs and activities

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Ifulong Agricultural Products