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Kilimanjaro Machame Route

The Machame route is the busiest of the seven Kilimanjaro routes, with about 50% of Kilimanjaro climbers using it each year. It’s also one of the most scenic Kilimanjaro routes. It offers breathtaking views and a rich variety of terrain throughout. The route approaches from south and has a high success rate, especially for climbers who choose the seven-day option
We really like the Machame route because of its beauty, variety of scenery, and great acclimatisation profile. The main downside of this route for us is that it can get quite crowded. Whilst it’s undeniably a very beautiful Kilimanjaro climb, we usually recommend the Lemosho route over the Machame route. This is because the Lemosho is just as beautiful, yet less crowded.
These two Kilimanjaro routes do, however, join together on the morning of Day 3, so it’s actually only the first couple of days that are different. You can climb Kilimanjaro via the Machame route in six days, though we don’t recommend this for first-time trekkers as itdiminishes your acclimatisation period. Rather climb it over seven days.

Highlights

Good acclimatization, High success rates, Beautiful scenery, Varying landscapes , Variety of terrain

What is the scenery like on the Machame route?

The Machame route is one of the most beautiful of the seven Kilimanjaro routes in Tanzania. You pass through extremely varied terrain the whole way up to the summit. In fact, you pass through five different climate zones: rainforest, grassland, moorland, alpine desert, and the arctic summit. The trek also takes you past stunning natural features such as the volcanic plug known as Lava Tower. The Machame also route stops over at locations that offer some of the best sunrises and sunsets on Kilimanjaro.

How hard is the Machame route?

How hard is the Machame route?
No Kilimanjaro climb is easy, so let’s get that out of the way straight off the bat! But you’re doubtless wanting to know how hard the Machame route is comparative to the other six routes. Well, it isn’t easy to state how hard a route is, especially as the things that might make a Kilimanjaro climb ‘hard’ can vary from person to person. Generally speaking, the Machame route is considered a more challenging climb than others. For starters, it covers more ground, having more ups and downs than other routes. This means it requires more energy per day than other trails. That said, the route is not technically difficult.
It’s also important to note that while it’s more physically demanding than other Kilimanjaro routes, the seven-day Machame route has a very good acclimatisation profile. This is because it includes opportunities to climb high and then sleep low, which are important in helping the body to adjust to the increased elevation. Proper acclimatisation increases your chances of summiting.
Put simply, with the right Kilimanjaro preparation, anyone should be able to climb Kilimanjaro via the Machame route. Note that you should be physically fit to temp the climb. But with the right support in the form of a qualified and supportive mountain crew, you can achieve the summit whether you have previous hiking experience or are a first-time trekker. Note too that we would not recommend the six-day Machame route for first-time trekkers. We really feel that the seven-day climb is the better option given its superior acclimatisation profile.

What is the Machame route summit success rate?

The Machame route provides ideal opportunities to climb high and then sleep low, which means it has an excellent acclimatisation profile. Whilst there are no official statistics, the average success rate across all Kilimanjaro operators is 85% for the seven-day Machame route. It drops to 73% for the six-day option. Follow Alice retains a success rate of 95% for the seven-day Machame route!

How long does it take to hike the Machame route?

The Machame route can be completed in a minimum of six days, but we always recommend the seven-day Machame route itinerary. The extra day gives you more time to acclimatise. Further, climbing Kilimanjaro isn’t a race. The Machame route is very beautiful, so it would be a shame to rush it. In our experience, most people who have completed the right Kilimanjaro preparation complete the seven-day Machame route with no real problems.

How busy is the Machame route?

The Machame route is the most frequented of the Kilimanjaro routes. It’s a very beautiful and scenic route, and also boasts an amazing acclimatisation profile, which attracts a lot of climbers each year. Also, the fact that you can climb it in six days means that a lot of budget Kilimanjaro operators use the Machame route.

What is accommodation like on the Machame route?

The Machame route only offers camping accommodation. All of your camping equipment is provided for you as part of your package fee if you climb Kilimanjaro. This equipment includes your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and pillow. Also, all tents are pitched and then taken down by our dedicated mountain crew throughout the trek.

What does the Machame route cost?

Follow Alice offers the Machame route as a six- or seven-day group or private climb. The package costs $2,285 per person for a six-day climb and $2,585 per person for a seven-day climb (both based on double occupancy). This fee includes six or seven days on the mountain as well as one day either side at our beautiful partner lodge in Moshi. This brings the entire trip to nine or 10 days in total.

Machame route overview

The Machame route can be completed in six or seven days. The extra day on the seven-day route allows for an extra day of acclimatisation, which is always a good thing. Have a look at the two itineraries below before deciding which option suits you.

6-day Machame route overview

You start the trek at Machame Gate. You head to the summit, then descend to exit the park at Mweka Gate. This means you don’t have to retrace your steps on the Machame route.

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The 7 Kilimanjaro routes

Here’s a summary of the different routes up Kilimanjaro:

• Lemosho

The Lemosho is the most beautiful Kilimanjaro route.
• Machame

The Machame is the most popular Kilimanjaro route.
• Marangu

The Marangu route offers hut accommodation.
• Rongai

The Rongai is the only route to approach the mountain from the north.
• Shira

The Shira approaches the summit from the west.
• Northern Circuit The Northern Circuit is the newest and longest Kilimanjaro route.
• Umbwe

The Umbwe is the shortest, steepest and hardest Kilimanjaro route.

Keen to explore more of Tanzania?

If you want to add a little adventure onto the end of your Kilimanjaro climb, we recommend going on a Tanzania safari – you won’t find a better African safari! Or hop over the border into Uganda to trek with mountain gorillas. Alternatively, if you’ve limited time and budget, why not do one or two extra activities in the Kilimanjaro region like visit a Maasai village or a coffee farm?

Machame route

The second most popular option among the climbers is the Machame route, also known as “the Whiskey Route”. This route offers a wide variety of views, landscapes and experiences. The starting point of the route, Machame Gate, is only a 20-minute drive from Aishi Machame Hotel. Located on the southern slope of Mt Kilimanjaro, Machame Gate will lead you to the top of Kilimanjaro along the exciting footpath which starts at thetropical forest, then runs through all the climate zones and finishes with the Arctic desert in the summit area. Camps along the trek are favorably located for a smooth and gradual acclimatization transition process. On the 3rd day Machame Route converges with Lemosho and Umbwe at Barranco camp.

The Machame Route

According to local accounts, the Italian Balletto discovered the Machame Route with the help of his dog. When trying to surpass complicated obstacles through the rain forest Balletto is said to have thrown a piece of meat for his dog who found the most efficient route to it. Balletto then forged his route by watching where his dog walked.
Probably just a myth, but a nice story anyway. We do know that the Park named a large glacier just to the east of the Diamond Glacier after Balletto as a gesture of thanks for making this very successful route. And it is a very successful route. The Machame Route begins in the south west of the mountain and proceeds steeply north over two days until attaining the edge of the Shira Plateau at 3900m. From here it drops 50 metres to Shira Camp where it joins the Lemosho and Shira Routes onwards to the summit. From Shira Camp the view west over the jagged peaks forming the southern edge of the Shira Plateau is phenomenal at sunset. We usually take acclimatisation excursions from here a couple of hundred metres upwards to ensure a better night’s sleep and improved acclimatisation.
Access to the Machame Route is relatively straightforward and this is reflected in its costing slightly less to climb than all the other routes. There are imminent plans to tar the road all the way to the gate. We expect this to happen within the next year, if the government is able to meet its funding targets.
The Machame Route tends to be our most popular choice because the topography of the route is very conducive to good acclimatisation and the likelihood of summitting on this route is relatively high.
Machame is said to have two significant drawbacks. Firstly, there is the issue of the two obstacles on the route. Guidebooks make a point of telling readers how difficult the scrambling is on two particular features: just before reaching the Shira Plateau, and just after beginning the ascent of the steep Breach Wall after Barranco. These are not as frightening or difficult as is often claimed however. These two features are pictured at right and above at right. The picture at right looks precarious but there is just one stride that must be taken around this outcropping rock and if the climber is nervous of this move we send a member of staff to stand on the ledge underneath this rock and guide the climber’s feet if necessary. Thousands of people pass this way every year and we have never heard of any accidents here.
The second issue is the high numbers. It is true that in the peak of the northern hemisphere summer the Machame Route has many climbers on it. Team Kilimanjaro however has a means of minimizing the impact of this by leaving camp each morning much earlier than other groups, thereby also ensuring better weather. During bad weather the clouds typically roll in around lunch time. Though that said, it is actually possible to enjoy rain all day long!

Advantages of Machame

The principal advantage of the Machame Route over the standard Rongai, Umbwe and Marangu Routes is that day 3 ascends from 3847m to only 3984m, yet via 4642m at the base of a volcanic rocky outcrop known as the Lava Tower. The 600m height differential ensures that Machame exploits the ‘climb high, sleep low’ principle to maximum effect. This and the fact that the summit assault on the Machame Route is via a ridge rather than a loose scree slope and is therefore considerably less difficult than the assault on Marangu and the standard Rongai Route, is responsible for the fact that Machame boasts the best summit success rates of all the routes after the TK Rongai Route.
Most climbers opt for the 7-day route in order to err on the side of caution with respect to being well rested and adequately acclimatised prior to their assault, however timings on the 6 day route are still safe and most people with active lifestyles and who are younger than around 45 years of age, and not carrying significant excess body mass, will usually manage very well on the 6 day Machame Route.
The climb begins at Machame Gate, at an altitude of 1800 metres, with an approach to the south west of the mountain. It passes through majestic rainforest on the first day, before continuing up the mountain to reach Shira Camp, where the Lemosho route joins from the west. From here you traverse the southern side of the mountain to Barranco via Lava Tower, and climb the Great Barranco Wall on your way to Barafu Camp. After reaching the summit, you will descend by the Mweka trail, rather than retracing your steps along the ascent route.
The Machame route is nicknamed the ‘Whiskey Route’ as it is considered more difficult than the ‘Coca Cola Route’, the nickname for the Marangu route. In reality, it is not more technically difficult, but is longer and in places steeper. The longer distance and the opportunity to ‘walk high, sleep low’ offer much better acclimatisation and as a result a very high success rate. The Machame route is a good seven-day hike for those who have not trekked much at high altitudes, with an effective extra day’s acclimatisation, giving a better success rate. Experienced and already acclimatised mountaineers may opt for the more difficult 6-day ascent along the Machame route.
The Machame route is considered relatively tough. Depending on your level of fitness, you will be trekking for 6-7 hours nearly every day, at increasingly higher altitude. For the summit ascent, you will need to be prepared for a whopping 12-15 hours on your feet! Climbing up for 6-8 hours and descending back down for 6-7 hours. Arriving in great physical condition and with a tough mental "Kandoo" attitude will be your key to success!
Novice climbers are sometimes nervous about how they will cope with the Great Barranco Wall, but this is just a short scramble that is really not that tricky - you will be helped by your guide every step of the way. One stride around a rock outcrop is the most precarious part you will experience. Thousands of climbers safely travel this route each year, let alone the Kilimanjaro porters carrying heavy loads.
Mount Kilimanjaro: Machame Route is a 57.0 kilometer heavily trafficked point-to-point trail located near Kibosho Magharibi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, camping, and backpacking.

How difficult is the Machame route?

The Machame route, commonly referred to by many as the Whiskey route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. The major drawcard is its scenic beauty – but that doesn’t mean it's an easy trek to embark on.
The trail itself is considered to be difficult and steep, which is mostly attributed to its shorter itinerary length. If you classify yourself as a more ‘experienced’ hiker; meaning you have some experience with higher altitudes and enjoy long, steep walks, then this might be the right trail for you. Previous trekking experience is highly recommended, as the days will feature 6-8 hours hiking with daily ascents of 900m to 1,000m, perhaps with the odd day ascending around 1,100m to 1,200m. Depending on the route, you may be trekking at an altitude of over3,500m.
You need complete confidence in your ability to trek for many days over difficult terrain. Extremes of altitude and weather may be encountered, as may the use of ice axes and crampons. A degree of physical and mental stamina will be essential to complete the hike as the days will be tiring.

• Difficulty rating: Challenging
• Height: The Machame route reaches the summit of Kilimanjaro at the Uhuru peak, reaching a height of 5,895 metres (19,341 feet)
• Trail conditions: During your journey to the summit, you will travel through dense vegetation, rocky zones, and loose gravel trails in some parts. The route is incredibly scenic and provides hikers with panoramic views and varying landscapes
• Climbing requirements: There are no technical climbing requirements on this route

What is the success rate of the Machame route?

The Machame route has a fairly good success rate, thanks to many ups and downs allowing better acclimatisation. To ensure a higher success rate it is best to take your time. The 7-day itinerary has an average summit success rate of 85%. For the 6-day itinerary success rate drops to 75% on average.

Route tips

• Be sure to wear your hiking boots before your adventure to Kilimanjaro to avoid blisters.
• Stay hydrated and carry a reusable water bottle to reduce the impact of altitude sickness.
• Before your trek, try to embark on a few practice camping trips to get familiar with your surroundings.
• Make a packing list and triple check you have everything you need before you go.
• Don’t forget to stop and take it the view along the way to the summit. After all, the journey is the best part.

Facts about Kilimanjaro

Oldest person to ever summit

87 year-old Frenchman Valtee Daniel
Youngest person to ever summit
7 year-old Keats Boyd
Name and height of summit
Uhuru Peak is 5,895 m or 19,341 feet high
Amount of climbers annually
Approximately 25,000 people attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro annually

Read also

• Best trekking companies for Kilimanjaro
• Best time to climb Kilimanjaro
• Permits, visas and vaccinations
• How to prepare for Kilimanjaro
• Kilimanjaro packing list

Typical 7-day Machame route itinerary

1. Duration: The journey to the Uhuru peak via the Machame route can take anywhere between 6-7 days to complete. Travellers looking to shorten the journey can skip the night spent in the Karanga Valley. Barafu Camp is also part of the itinerary
2. Location: The Machame route starts in the southern region of Mount Kilimanjaro, and can be accessed via a 45-minute drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate, where the trek starts.

Travelling from the south of Mount Kilimanjaro, the journey will see you wandering past impressive, verdant forests on the way to the Shira Plateau. Then, hikers will find themselves surrounded by the Southern Ice Field before eventually reaching the summit.
The journey will involve many ups and downs along the trail, but on the plus side, this allows for much greater acclimatisation which can mean a higher success rate in reaching the summit. Finally, the descent is made via the Mweka route.

• How do I prepare for the Machame route?

Any physical activity you can do beforehand will help make your ascent more enjoyable. As for how hard you train, this will depend on whether you're aiming for the Uhuru Peakor embarking on a shorter journey and will be different for everyone.

• When should I climb the Machame route?

You can climb the Machame route year-round, but it may be wet and cold which means you should be equipped with the right waterproof gear. Consider climbing between January–March and June–October. Note that April, May and November are the wettest months.

• What should I pack and what equipment do I need?

While trekking tour operators may supply some of the gear you’ll need, there are a few non-negotiables you will need that includes waterproof clothing, a headlamp, sunglasses, appropriate hiking boots, personal medication, a non-disposable water bottle and a cap or a beanie for example.

• How to get to the Machame route?

Before you start your hiking escapade to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, you will need to establish how to get there, and the best mode of transport to suit your itinerary or tour. Travellers flying from the UK, the US, Australia or Canada and other parts of the world have a few options to explore.

• What are the climbing requirements for the Machame route?

Mount Kilimanjaro welcomes hikers of all levels of fitness and ability, but if you’re planning to reach the summit, careful planning and vigorous training is vital. Consider adding extra time to your itinerary to avoid altitude sickness and to enjoy your time climbing Kilimanjaro.

• What permits do I need?

Each visitor will be required to pay a fee per person, per day for the conservation fee to help manage the national park, however, most tours will cover the permits and entry fees are included in the price.

MACHAME ROUTE SUMMARY FOR YOUR CLIMB WITH UHURU TRAILS BY AFRICANMECCA

The Machame Route has become the most common, albeit, the highest traffic route, due to its greater success rate than Marangu, overtaking it in recent times but also a preferred choice with fitter climbers who have a good chance of reaching the summit given an extra day of acclimatization. It is an affordable trail, delightfully and unforgettable wilderness expanses disturbed only by a narrow track dotted by trekkers, winding into the misty hills. Overnight camps are in sturdy four season tents carried by Uhuru Trails porters.
The Machame Route now vies with – and indeed over the last few years has overtaken – the Marangu Route as the most popular trail. Machame is also the regarded by many guides as the most enjoyable, though it is longer and, according to most, more arduous. Despite this, the success rate on the Machame Route is higher than on the Marangu Route, possibly because the Machame is a day longer at six days and five nights (assuming you take the Barafu Route to the summit) which gives trekkers more time to acclimatize. An extra acclimatization day can – and usually is – taken in the Karanga Valley. The Machame Route also gives you the option of taking the Western Breach / Arrow Glacier Route to the summit.
Where does the Machame Route go?
It is not difficult to see why the Machame Route is so popular with everyone: beginning on the south-western side of the mountain, this 40.16km trail (36.7km if trekking via the Western Breach) passes through some of the mountain’s finest features, including the cloud forest of Kili’s southern slopes, the dry and dusty Shira Plateau and the delightful senecio-clad Barranco Campsite. To reach the actual summit you have a choice of two paths: most people head for the lengthy, long-winded climb up the Barafu trail, with the Rebmann Glacier edging into your field of vision on your left as dawn breaks behind Mawenzi behind you. Alternatively, the more adventurous can go on the Western Breach Route, departing from the regular trail at Lava Tower on the western side of Kibo before heading up to chilly Arrow Glacier Campsite, then pressing on from there to the crater floor, gaining access to the crater at a point near the Furtwangler Glacier. Many people will spend a night here at the Crater Campsite, before pushing on up the crater’s southern rim to Uhuru Peak.
Unlike the Marangu Route, on the Machame Route you don’t use the same path to descend as you took to climb up the mountain, but instead you come down via the Mweka Route, a steep but very pretty descent encompassing inhospitably dry mountain desert and lush lowland forest in a matter of a few hours.
Curiously, though the Machame Route is widely reckoned to be harder than the Marangu Route (and is thus nicknamed the Whiskey Route, in opposition to Marangu’s softer soubriquet of the ‘Coca Cola trail’), the proportion of trekkers who reach the top using this route is marginally but significantly higher. Whether this is evidence that the Machame Route allows people to acclimatize better because it’s longer, particularly if you opt to take the Barafu Route to the summit, or whether this higher success rate is merely an indication that more experienced, hardened trekkers – ie the very people who are most likely to reach the summit – are more inclined to choose this route, is anyone’s guess.
How long does the Machame Route take?
The Machame Route via Barafu traditionally lasts for six days and five nights, though it is becoming more common for trekkers to opt for an extra night during the ascent, usually above the Karanga Valley. Not only does the extra day aid acclimatization but this also reduces from almost six to three the number of hours walked on the day that precedes the exhausting midnight ascent to the summit, thereby allowing trekkers more time to recover their faculties, relax and prepare themselves for the final push to the top. The book has a thorough day-by-day description of the Machame Route.
est Routes UKilimar
Best Routes Up Kilimanjaro
Deciding which trekking route to take to the summit of Kilimanjaro is best for you is very much a personal decision. But in this section we try to give you as much information as possible to help you make the best decision. Ascending Kilimanjaro
As we mention in the introduction, the park authorities have designated six official paths leading up the slopes of Kili to Uhuru Peak In addition to these trails there are a few ‘unofficial’ routes up Kilimanjaro, such as the Alternative Lemosho (aka Northern Circuit Route) and the Full Circuit Umbwe. These have ben constructed by the more creative agencies by combining segments of the above trails make a new route. These can be some of the best hiking trails around, with high success rates and fewer crowds.
Eventually, each of these six official Kilimanjaro routes reach the foot of the main Kibo summit. This is the snowy peak that you see in all the photos. From the foot of Kibo, three paths then take you up to Kibo’s crater rim. They are:

• the Western Breach Route (also known as the Arrow Glacier Route) which begins near the Lava Tower and heads up the western slopes of Kibo
• The Barafu Route, which heads up the south-eastern side of Kibo from Barafu Camp, reaching the Crater rim at a point called Stella Point
• A nameless third path which runs up from Kibo Huts to Gillman’s Point. We shall call this the Kibo Huts Route.
Which of these routes you will take to the summit depends upon which of the six paths you took to get this far.
The Shira, Lemosho, Machame and Umbwe routes can use either the difficult Arrow Glacier Route or the easier (but longer) Barafu Route.
The Marangu and Rongai trails use the Kibo Huts Route.
Descending Kilimanjaro
The rules regarding which path you take to descend are as follows:
Those on the Machame, Umbwe, Lemosho or Shira routes must take as their descent trail the Mweka Route
Those who ascended on the Marangu or Rongai/Loitokitok trails must descend by the Marangu Route.
I keep on hearing about the Northern and Southern Circuits – where are these routes?
Encircling the Kibo cone is a path known as either the Northern Circuit or the Southern Circuit depending on which side of the mountain you are. You can walk right around Kibo on this path. However, few climbers ever do. But all the paths either meet this circular path at some point and many follow it for a while. The ‘unofficial’ routes such as the Alternative Lemosho Trail also utilise large sections of these paths.
Which route is the best?
Well, in one sense it’s very difficult to answer this question. Because everybody wants something different from their trek.
For many people, the sole purpose of climbing Kilimanjaro is to get to the summit. Fail to do that and the whole trip has been wasted. If this is you then Lemosho, Machame and Rongai (the one with the Mawenzi diversion) are, statistically, the best bets. (The Alternative Lemosho Route that we offer actually has the best success rate of all.)
On the other hand, those looking to avoid the crowds (again, ignoring alternative routes) should look at Lemosho and Umbwe. For a no-nonsense, cheap-ish Kilimanjaro climb then Machame, Marangu and Umbwe are good.
While if you don’t want to stay in tents then Marangu is the only option.
The route with the best views and scenery? Well they’re all brilliant in this respect. I love the forest on the Lemosho and Umbwe Routes. I love the beautiful view of Kibo from across the Saddle on the Rongai and Marangu Routes, and across the Shira Plateau on the Lemosho Route. So what is my personal favourite of all the Kilimanjaro trails?
Well, the part of the mountain I enjoy the most is the forest on the lower slopes. I also love taking photographs and so appreciates great views and scenery. Furthermore, I like to avoid the crowds on the mountain. If you’re going to spend a week on one of the planet’s most unique wildernesses, it’s good to spend it without hundreds of other trekkers. A few others is nice, but not hundreds. And yes, I do also like to acclimatise well: life’s always so much better when you don’t have a splitting headache. And I do like to reach the summit too! – so any route that aids this is good.For this reason, my favourite of the ‘official’ routes is Lemosho, which ticks all of the above boxes: the forest is the best in my opinion, the views and scenery once you leave the forest and gaze at Kibo across the Shira Plateau are jaw-dropping, and the chances of getting to the summit are high, particularly as it’s also the longest ascent route on the mountain. It’s also a fairly quite route, at least for the first 3-4 days before it joins the Machame Route and you march alongside the hordes on this route all the way to Barranco Camp and onto Barafu Camp.
Of all the routes – official and otherwise – the Alternative Lemosho is my favourite path of all. It’s both even quieter than the official Lemosho and seems to improve one’s chances of acclimatising still further. Note that not every tour operator will offer this route – indeed, many don’t.
But I should reiterate my statement that I made at the start of this piece. Whatever route you’re on, you’re going to be on Kilimanjaro. So it’s inconceivable you’ll be disappointed.
A description of each of the six main trails up Kilimanjaro can be found on this website. Please note that in the guidebook we provide comprehensive, day-by-day descriptions of each of the Kilimanjaro routes up the mountain, including detailed sketch maps covering every stage of every path. Note, too, that while at the start of each route description we give you an idea of how long a trek should take on that trail, it’s always a good idea to add an acclimatisation day if possible to increase your chances of getting to the summit. Want to know more about the Kilimanjaro Routes?
The following pages take each of the routes, individually, and go through a day-by-day description of them. And unlike other websites, they are written by somebody who has climbed everyone of them. At least twice. And often many more times. And as such, they aren’t written by someone who hasn’t climbed them at all. But who still feels entitled to call himself or herself an expert, because they can read and copy our work.