Day 6: Ascend 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 KASEY BOST

Hello everyone,

Today we started our hike at the base of Kilimanjaro. We had the most amazing guides and porters. They took care of every thing we needed including taking all of our gear up to the first base and cooking us dinner. The first was lush with grasses, moss, and trees. We saw monkeys and unique birds on the way up the mountain. It was refreshing being in the midst of some of the beautiful nature that God created. We even had our first real views of the top of Kilimanjaro’s peak. At base, we all changed into warm clothes and huddled in the tent for hot chocolate and dinner. We ended the night be looking up at the sky and seeing the millions of stars that surrounded the mountain.