The most popular Kilimanjaro climb, with rainforest, moorland, the Barranco Wall and strong acclimatisation. Choose 6 or 7 days with local guides from Moshi.
Get a free quoteSee itinerariesAlso known as the Whisky Route, Machame is Kilimanjaro’s most popular route and is said to account for about half of all climbers. It runs roughly 62 km gate to gate and starts at Machame Gate at 1,640 m on the southern slopes.
Machame is a camping route, so you sleep in tents rather than huts. Its big strength is acclimatisation. You follow the “climb high, sleep low” principle, with a day up to Lava Tower and a night back down at Barranco, and the camps at Shira, Barranco and Karanga sit at similar altitudes. Together with the varied scenery, this makes it a favourite of experienced and first-time trekkers alike.
The route is physically tough. Days are long, the Barranco Wall needs some hands-on scrambling, and summit night starts around midnight, reaching the top at about sunrise. No technical skills are needed, and beginners can finish it with proper training and qualified guides.
| Stage (7 day plan) | Altitude | Distance | Walking time | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machame Gate to Machame Camp | 1,640 to 3,010 m | ~11 km | 5–7 hrs | Rainforest |
| Machame Camp to Shira Camp | 3,010 to 3,840 m | ~5 km | 4–6 hrs | Heath and moorland |
| Shira via Lava Tower to Barranco Camp | 3,840 to 4,630 to 3,950 m | ~10 km | 6–8 hrs | Semi-desert |
| Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp | 3,950 to 3,995 m | ~5 km | 4–5 hrs | Barranco Wall, alpine |
| Karanga to Barafu Camp | 3,995 to 4,673 m | ~4 km | 3–4 hrs | Alpine desert |
| Barafu to Uhuru Peak, down to Mweka Camp | 4,673 to 5,895 to 3,100 m | ~5 km up, ~12 km down | 10–15 hrs | Arctic summit |
| Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate | 3,100 to 1,640 m | ~10 km | 3–4 hrs | Rainforest |
Distances and times are approximate and vary with pace and conditions. The 6 day plan skips the separate night at Karanga.
A faster ascent for fit trekkers with limited time, with fewer nights for your body to adjust.
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp.
Day 2: Machame to Shira Camp.
Day 3: Shira via Lava Tower to Barranco Camp.
Day 4: Barranco over the Wall to Barafu Camp.
Day 5: Summit night to Uhuru Peak, descend to Mweka Camp.
Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate.
Our recommended option. An extra night at Karanga gives better acclimatisation and a shorter approach to the summit.
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp.
Day 2: Machame to Shira Camp.
Day 3: Shira via Lava Tower to Barranco Camp.
Day 4: Barranco to Karanga Camp.
Day 5: Karanga to Barafu Camp.
Day 6: Summit night to Uhuru Peak, descend to Mweka Camp.
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate.
Confirm the exact inclusions for your booking when you request a quote.
The driest and clearest months are January to March and June to October. The long rains fall from about March to May and short rains in November. Machame is very popular in the dry seasons, so camps are busy and you should book early. In the rains the rainforest section is muddy and slippery, so waterproofs and good boots matter.
Expect misty rainforest on day one, the Shira Plateau and views of Kibo, a day trip up to Lava Tower at 4,630 m, and the Barranco Wall, a steep scramble that most people remember as the most fun part. The final approach to Barafu Camp brings you onto the rocky southern face for the summit push.
You leave Barafu around midnight, climb slowly through scree to Stella Point on the crater rim, then continue to Uhuru Peak for sunrise. It is very cold, so wear layers. Walk “pole pole” (slowly), drink plenty and tell your guide about any headache or nausea. The 7 day plan gives you a better acclimatisation profile than 6 days.
Layered clothing, a warm summit jacket, waterproof shell, broken-in boots, gloves, hat, headlamp, trekking poles, a sleeping bag rated to about –10°C and a 2 to 3 litre water system. Tents and mats are provided, but bring your own sleeping bag.
It is a nickname for a tougher, more scenic camping route, in contrast to Marangu, the Coca-Cola Route with its huts. Machame is steeper and more varied.
We recommend 7 days. The extra night at Karanga gives more time to acclimatise and a shorter summit approach, which improves your chances.
It is physically demanding, with steep sections, the Barranco Wall scramble and a midnight summit start. No technical climbing is needed, but good fitness and training are important.
January to March and June to October are driest. It is very busy in those seasons, so book early.
Yes. Beginners can complete it with fitness training, a 7 day itinerary and qualified guides, though camping and long walking days are demanding.
It starts at Machame Gate at 1,640 m and descends by the Mweka Route to Mweka Gate.
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