luxury kilimanjaro via the machame route with luxury safari

LUXURYKILIMANJARO

VIA THE MACHAME ROUTE

WITH LUXURY SAFARI

An ascent with Adventure Consultants

Kilimanjaro, highest mountain in Africaan adventure of the highest order!

It’s a fun adventure, with challenge, and reward

The expedition is arranged and operated by Adventure Consultants

world leader in mountain adventures

The journey begins when you arrive into Kilimanjaro International airport, Tanzania, Africa

(Day 1)

Transfer into the nearby town of Arusha in Adventure Consultants Landcruisers

(Day 1)

Arrive into our Luxury lodge, the exquisite Legendary Coffee Lodgesituated on a working coffee plantation

(Day 1)

The Legendary Coffee Lodge features individual bungalows

(Day 1)

The rooms are set amongst beautiful gardens(Day 1)

The rooms are beautifully appointed(Day 1)

Featuring full bathrooms and fireplaces(Day 1)

Fine meals are served either inside or outside(Day 1)

When we are settled into the hotel we meet for an expedition briefing to discuss the upcoming adventure and preview the day to day itinerary, equipment requirements, safety and health etc.

(Day 1)

Our second day is spent sorting our equipment and preparing for the upcoming journey. You can elect to

relax in the atmosphere of the Legendary Coffee Lodge or take a look around the shopping centres in Arusha. If you are feeling like some excitement you may be up for

a visit to the snake farm!(Day 2)

TRANSPORT: LEGENDARY COFFEE LODGE TO MACHAME GATE 1 ¾ HOURS. 0800-1045TREK: MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP TIME: 6HR10MIN 1130-1750DISTANCE: 8.7 MILES, 14KM. ELEVATION GAIN: 5,900’-9,280’ = 3,380’

1800M-2829M = 1029M

TREK DETAILDay 3 (first day of trek)

Early in the morning our vehicles arrive to take us to the start of the trek

(Day 3)

The entrance to the National park, we begin the ascent from here. We meet our local staff and porters who will be

our companions on the journey ahead(Day 3)

Sign at park entrance showing hiking times(Day 3)

We meet our local guides and porter staff. All our staff are clothed in proper equipment. Adventure Consultants is a member of the Porter Protection

Society that ensures porters are treated with respect and fairly compensated

(Day 3)

The hike to Machame camp is through dense forest on well formed paths. It is a long way up hill though so you must be fit enough to walk 4-6 hours at a slow but steady pace

(Day 3)

Lunch is set up when we arrive. Food is mostly organic, lovingly prepared by our trained cooks.

(Day 3)

We are all ready to go after a relaxing break!(Day 4)

We arrive into Machame Camp and establish our camp site

(Day 3)

Luxury sleeping tents with solar lighting including a camp bed and mattress

(Day 3)

It’s dinner time! A home made soup followed by

delicious meals including fresh meat and vegetables

(Day 3)

Otherwise it’s a small mountain sleeping tent(Day 3)

Ok, when you have to go, this is where you go. We have our own private toilet facilities that is a portable toilet system

Trek: Machame Camp to Shira Caves CampTime: 7hrs15min. 0800-1515Distance: 5.6 miles, 9km. Elevation gain: 9,280’-12,600’ = 3320

2829m – 3837m = 1008m

TREK DETAILSDay 4 (second day of trek)

In the morning we pack up to begin the trek to Shera Cave Camp and the porters carry our loads

(Day 4)

The trail on day

4 leaves the

forest behind as we enter the

alpine heather

zone(Day 4)

We see Mt Meru in the distance, hovering over the the clouds and forest

(Day 4)

Trekking up the trail towards Shira Caves Camp(Day 4)

Shera Caves Camp is just over the skyline ridge to the left of the picture

(Day 4)

We stop for lunch in an open area with views across the plains of Africa(day 4)

The summit of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak, stands above, beckoning!

(day 4)

A short hike after lunch takes us through thinning brush towards Shera Caves Camp

(Day 4)

Alpine flowers en route to Shera Caves camp(Day 4)

Arrive into Shera Caves Camp(Day 4)

TREK: SHIRA CAVES CAMP TO BARRANCO CAMP TIME: 8HRS. 0800-1600DISTANCE: 8.7 MILES, 14KM. ELEVATION GAIN: 12,600’ – 15,213’- 13,045’= 2,610’UP,

2,168’DOWN3837M-4637M-3976M = 800M UP, 661M DOWN

TREK DETAILSDay 5 (third day of trek)

Dawn at Shera Caves Camp. It’s often frosty in the morning as we get up for breakfast in our heated dining tent.

(Day 5)

Today our trail takes us through open country towards the alpine zone

(Day 5)

We weave between volcanic rocks on the trail. Today we are heading up to Lava Tower then down again to Baranco Camp

(Day 5)

Trekking makes you smile(Day 5)

Lunch is served in our dining tent to protect us from the elements

(Day 5)

There’s a lot to be happy about even with a little rain!(Day 5)

The team celebrate on reaching Lava Tower, our high altitude point for today. The trail takes us down to Barranco Camp for the night

(Day 5)

Descending from Lava Tower towards Barranco Camp(Day 5)

We leave Lava Tower behind as we drop down to Barranco Camp

(Day 5)

The giant Senecio Trees are a spectacular feature of Barranco Camp

(Day 5)

The summit of Kilimanjaro looms above. Our climbing route takes us around the back on easier ground.

(Day 5)

Our porter crew cheerfully celebrate our arrival into camp with some local songs signaling the end of a long but satisfying day

(Day 5)

TREK: BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP TIME: 4HRS15MIN 0815-1230DISTANCE: 3.1 MILES-5KM. ELEVATION GAIN: 13,045’- 13,800’=755’

3976M-4200M = 224M

TREK DETAILSDay 6 (fourth day of trek)

Dawn brings fine weather

providing views of Kilimanjaro’s

summit high above

(Day 6)

Todays hike takes us up the Barranco Wall over the mountainside behind the camp

(Day 6)

The trail weaves its way across the wall(Day 6)

The route is a little exposed, but is an easy scramble(Day 6)

A traverse around the mountain leads to our camp for the night, Karanga Camp

(Day 6)

The terrain is easy going with nice views of Uhuru Peak above

Soon we are at the Karanga river, now we just have to climb the hill above to reach camp

(Day 6)

Karanga Camp, place of rest, food and spectacular views of the sunset

(Day 6)

Here it is, the sunset(Day 6)

TREK: KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMPTIME: 0800 - 1200 = 4HRS DISTANCE: 4KM. ELEVATION GAIN: 13,800’- 15,810’ = 2,010’

4200M-4820M = 620M

TREK DETAILSDay 7 (fifth day of trek)

Departing Karanga Camp with the plains of Tanzania below

(Day 7)

It feels like the peak is

getting closer as we head to our high camp

(Day 7)

Barafu Camp has a permanent camp for the National Park Rangers

(Day 7)

Views from Barafu Camp(Day 7)

The afternoon rest is crucial at Barafu Camp as we are getting up around 11pm for breakfast!(Day 7)

TREK: BARAFU CAMP TO KILIMANJARO SUMMIT TIME: 8HRS15MIN 2315-0730DISTANCE: 5.03 MILES, 8.1KM. ELEVATION GAIN: 15,810’ – 19,340’= 3,530’

4820M-5895M =1075M

TREK DETAILSDay 8 (sixth day of trek)

It’s midnight, and we’re getting ready to depart for the summit

(Day 8)

It’s a little cold at this elevation at night but once we start walking we warm up

(Day 8)

The trail goes up and up (and up)(Day 8)

The group follows the person in front keeping a steady pace(Day 8)

Dawn breaks and the sun starts to rise(Day 8)

There are few more beautiful sights than the sun rising over Africa. It’s a veritable light show!

(Day 8)

Arriving at Stella point on the edge of the crater, almost there!(Day 8)

The light show is spectacular on the remnant glaciers(Day 8)

The trail eases for the 1 hour hike from Stella point to Uhuru Peak and the apex of Africa

(Day 8)

Sublime views(Day 8)

The last few feet to the top!(Day 8)

Here it is, the summit!!!

Its time to descend back to camp(Day 8)

Arriving back into Barafu camp. Time for lunch and a short rest, then it’s time to descend down the mountain to Mweka

camp in the afternoon(Day 8)

TREK: BARAFU CAMP TO MWEKA CAMPTIME: 3HRS15MIN 1300-1615DISTANCE: 7.04 MILES, 12KM. ELEVATION LOSS: 15,810’ – 9,842’= 5,968’

4600M-3000M =1600M

TREK DETAILSDay 8 (sixth day of trek)

Descending to Mweka camp. Barafu camp is on the ridge above the trekker and the route to the summit follows the right, skyline ridge

(Day 8)

DESCENT: MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATETIME: 4HRSMIN. 0800-1200DISTANCE: 11.18 MILES, 18KM. ELEVATION LOSS: 9,842’-5,905’ = 3,937’

3000M-1800M =1200M

TREK DETAILSDay 9 (seventh day of trek)

Mweka Camp is in the trees and only 4 hours from the end of the mountain adventure

(Day 9)

The trail takes us down through the rainforest to the end of the journey(Day 9)

We issue Summit certificates and it’s time to say goodbye to our local guides, cooks and porter staff with whom we have shared a

great experience.

There’s more singing and dancing as we hand out tips to all our hard working staff! Now it’s time to return to the hotel for a shower!

(Day 9)

TRANSPORT: MWEKA GATE TO LEGENDARY COFFEE LODGETIME: 2 HOURS

TREK DETAILDay 9 (return to hotel)