Day 3 of the Kilimanjaro expedition

Kili summit

Key variables

Start : Machame gate (1800m)
Finish : Camp Machame (3000m)
Difference in height : + 1200m
Duration : 3h30
Distance : 10km

Getting ready!

Early morning breakfast at Keys hotel Moshi with a breathtaking view on the Kilimandjaro. But one hour later the summit was already covered in clouds until the end of the day!
Anyway it's time to leave to Machame gate. It takes less than an hour to drive to Machame village then the entrance gate. An hour during which most of us remained silent, gazing at the mountain top, realizing that now is our time.

While the porters discuss to know who will carry what, we register at the gate and our guide buys the trekking permit. Agitation is everywhere, tourists getting ready, porters bustling about, walking-poles sellers accosting new arrivals, 4x4 dropping trekkers...
Finally this is it, we go through the fence and start walking on the path to our goal: Kilimandjaro climbing.

The wide trail winds in lush forest where tree ferns rub elbows with moss and lichen. After 45 minutes, the trail narrows, the forest becomes interfering, slippery roots oblige to watch each step, the real trek begins. But it's already time for lunch. And as we stop, the rain starts to fall down, a 2 hours tropical shower which shorten our lunch break and shower our excitement.

The trail gets steeper and muddy, the forest is not so much dense as we climb. We are now walking on a dorsal between two valleys, leaving the clouds below us. The forest gave way to heath enabling us to gaze at the area around us which we were unable to do in the dense forest.
The vegetation change is radical, no more trees, no more ferns, though still dense we only see wild grass. Some 45 minutes later we reach Machame camp surrounded by small dead trees, all parasited by lichen. Our porters set the tents and prepare some tea. The sun light is already fading out, the temperature is dropping it's time to wear warm clothes and pick up our headlights.

While the sun is setting, the landscape changes colour making it gorgeous. Orange-pink clouds semm to slide on the slope, lichen-trees seem to be reborn as they dance under light wind. Then the light has gone for good giving way to a bleak and cold landscape. It's time for dinner.