This route is a bit more difficult then Marangu route. On the
other hand, as the climb takes one day longer, there is a
better acclimatization. Overnight : camping.
Day 1
Machame gate - Machame Hut : 3000m
Trek to Machame Hut, through the dense mountain forest along
a ridge, rising steadily with a small opening in the trees
known as Halfway Clearing, a good place for a rest.
The gradient relents as the forest merges into giant heather,
and the path leads more easy to Machame Hut. Cloud permitting,
the summit of Kibo is visible beyond the foothills.
Day 2
Machame Hut to Shira Hut : 3000m - 3840m (6kms, 5-7 hrs)
From Machame Hut, follow the clear path up the steep rocky
ridge, crossinig and re-crossing the crest a few times. You'll
rest at Picnic Rock, where you can view the Shira
Plateau and the pinnacles on its southern edge. You pass
through bus, clumps of grass and across patches of bane sand
and ash. Then you reach Shira Cave. Beyond the cave the path
climbs over a small ridge, then drops across a stream before
another small rise up to Shira Hut.
Day 3
Shira Hut to Barranco Hut : 3840m - 3950m (10kms, 7 hrs)
From Shira Hut, the path is clear as it climbs gradually in
an easterly direction towards the main peak of Kibo. The
northern path passes Moyr Hut, the start of the northern
circuit path dropping sleeply down the side of the ridge to
reach Barranco Hut.
Day 4
Barranco Hut to Barafu Hut : 3950m - 4600m (8 kms, 7-8 hrs)
Continue to Uhuru Peak (2.5 hrs)
Trek across the floor of the Great Barranco valley, crossing
several streams, up to a huge boulder at the base of the
Barranco wall. From the top of Barranco wall you will go down
into the Karangu valley after 2 hours, where you'll overnight
at Barafu Hut.
Day 5
Barafu Hut - Uhuru Peak (5 kms, 6-7 hrs)
Decent to Mweka Hut (12 kms, 4-7 hrs)
The trek involves between 10-15 hrs of walking, which is made
even more strenous by the effects of altitude and extreme
cold.
You start this day walking very early in the morning to see
the sunrise at the crater rim and try to avoid the mist.
Sunrise is at about 6.00 am and it takes 5-6 hours to get
from Barafu Hut to the rim of Stella Point (5700m) plus
another 1.5 hrs to Uhuru Peak.
The route from Barafu Hut joins the route from Gillman's Point,
continue westward round the Kibo rim to reach Uhuru Peak
(5896m).
Day 6
Mweka Hut to Mweka gate (10 kms, 3-4 hrs)
Descend steeply through forest on a narrow path along the
crest on a broad ridge between two river valleys down to
Mweka gate.
Note :
If you want acclimatize, you can add one more day and stay
at Barranco hut for 2 nights.
Practical Information
Contact us for more info.
