Day 6: Climb to Machame Camp

MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

Our group will start climbing after registering in the National Park’s Climber Log and eating lunch. They’ll start hiking on a forest road through the rain forest – which is why it’s wet and humid climate where they start climbing. To the right and left of the road are Mount Kilimanjaro’s giant red germs and impatiens. The path will get narrower and steeper as it winds through the rainforest. After another hour of hiking, the landscape will start changing as they enter the moorland zone and approach their first camp. Upon arriving at camp, porters will welcome them with a tent that’s already pitched and hot tea with biscuits. After resting, they’ll debrief about the following day’s climb and eat dinner. If the weather is good, they’ll see a beautiful sunset and catch a glimpse of the first snow-capped peak of Kibo!!

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

Starting elevation 6,000 feet

Ending elevation 9,900 feet

Elevation gain 3,900 feet

Distance hiked 6 miles

Average hiking time 6 to 7 hours

JOURNAL ENTRY BY CLINTON BAKER

I’ve heard many of the guides on the mountain say “the first day is the hardest”, but I’ve kept a fortune cookie message for years that says “things always get harder near the summit”...I hope at one of them is wrong LOL

Our first day on the mountain was hard (incredibly hard for me), but Beyond and our guides gave us every advantage. We left the hotel on Arusha very early and got to the Machame Gate to start our hike before many other groups. Walking through the cloud forest was wet but they had made sure the night before during gear check that we had everything we needed.

Our lead guides (James, John, Robert and Kelvin) are fantastic. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. When they ladies needed a bio break on the side of the trail our guides stopped all the other groups to give them privacy. Even with that one of them discovered she is “pee-shy”!!! I have no doubt this is just the first of many lessons this week.