Phsically the machame route differs form the marangu route reffering to th main force of kibo’s volcanic activity which occured out towards the west of the machame route and so machame is steeper especially on the first day and a half of the climb and more rugged compared to the marangu route.
The route starts of from the machame village to the first camp the is 3000m which meets the forest which continues across moorlands to the shira camp site which offers excellent views on to the shira plateau. Towards the summit you shall follow a usual track of the shira route to get to the lava tower which then rejions with umbwe route and then ascend to the much steeper route via arrow glacier which then continues on to the trail to the ascent of the summit and then descends through the mweka route.
BREIF ITINERARY : 6DAYS & 5 NIGHTS
DAY
1: Machame Gate 1800m -Machame Camp 3000m
2: Machame Camp 2000m -Shira Camp 3840m
3: Shira Camp 3840m – Barranco Camp 3950m
4: Barranco Camp- 3950- Barafu Camp 4600m
5: Barafu Camp 4600m – Uhuru Peak 5895m – Mweka Camp 3100m
6: Mweka Camp 3100m – Mweka Gate 1800m
