Machame Route Trek
Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climbing
Quick Highlight
Machame route is more commonly known as the Whiskey Route and is also one of the most famous up to Kilimanjaro. It is really popular among climbers. With Maranje Adventure, you have numerous expeditions on this trail that start in the lush tropical forests of this magnificent mountain. This route has 6- and 7-day options, but the latter is more common due to better acclimatization and high summit success rates. Machame 7 gives the best option for beginners, with views and a traverse through all five climatic zones of Kilimanjaro. It ranges from the scrambling up of the famous Barranco Wall to the unique Dendrosenecio Kilimanjaro plants, found nowhere else on Earth.
Care must be taken when selecting the 6- and 7-day options for the Machame route. The 6-day option drastically reduces summit success rates and is only recommended for experienced trekkers or those who have been previously acclimatized. It would not go to Karanga Camp, which is the most important stay in terms of high altitude adjustment, thus making the process more difficult and therefore lowering the probability of reaching the summit. While this is an option, and a few of the “budget” tour operators market this option, it is not recommended for beginners by Maranje Adventures.
Machame Route 7- Days Detailed Itinerary
Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 11 km | 7 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
The day starts by driving 50 minutes from Moshi to Machame Gate, going through the village of Machame, which is on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. From the park gate, we will start by following a winding trial that takes us into the lush rain forest before we start ascending along a ridge until we reach Machame Camp.
Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 5 km | 3 miles
Habitat: Heathland
We leave the rainforest glades on a steadily climbing track up a steep, rocky ridge. The landscape turns into heather and open moorlands as we approach the Shira Plateau. Then, we cross a wide river gorge to reach Shira 2 Camp.
Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower
Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 7 km | 4 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation gain: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Distance: 3 km | 2 miles Habitat: Alpine Desert
Our trek continues east through a ridge and then southeast towards the giant Lava Tower, a very impressive 300-foot volcanic rock formation. From there, we make our way down to Barranco Camp through the unique and enchanting Senecio Forest, arriving at an altitude of 13,000 ft. The day starts and ends at almost the same altitude. The time spent at higher altitudes greatly aids in acclimatization.
Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5km | 3 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Today we make a ravine descent, down to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. From here, we go up on the steep, non-technical 900-foot cliff. Coming from Barranco Wall, at the top, we continue across a series of hills and valleys before making a very sharp descent into Karanga Valley. Our final section is the steep climbing up to Karanga Camp. This day is meant to be shorter in order to help acclimatize.
Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 4 km | 2 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Leaving Karanga, we now head to a junction where the path joins the Mweka route. From here, we trek up and along a rocky trail to Barafu Hut. You have now completed the Southern Circuit, which affords spectacular views of the summit from various angles. We camp out, rest, and have dinner early in anticipation of the summit attempt. The vistas from this point include both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks.
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
Altitude: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Distance: 5 km | 3 miles
Habitat: Arctic
Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Altitude: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 12 km | 7 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
We start at mid-night the final ascending to the Summit, this is the most mentally and physical demanding part of the entire trek. The cold and wind at this elevation and hour can be extreme. We are climbing in darkness, taking small frequent breaks as we make a steady ascent to the summit. Shortly before Stella Point at 18,900 ft, we are treated to an incredible sunrise over Mawenzi Peak. A short time later we reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
After celebrations at the summit, we start our descent directly to Mweka Hut. We stop for a well-deserved lunch at Barafu before making our way down the rocky trail, which may be bad for the knees. Trekking poles are an advantage. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and we should expect mist or rain in the late evening. Late evening we relish our last dinner on the mountain and take a well-deserved rest.
Elevation gain: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 10 km | 6 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
On our final day, we make the descent to Mweka Gate, from which we collect our summit certificates. The trail is lower in elevation and can be wet and muddy, and thus care must be exercised. From the gate, we hike an hour to Mweka Village, where we have a vehicle waiting to drive us back to our hotel in Moshi.
Price For Machame Route
Climbing cost Include
- Accommodation provided for the nights before and after the climb
- Transfers to and from Kilimanjaro (JRO) Airport
- Transportation from the hotel to the park gate
- Park fees and taxes
- High-quality 4-season mountain tents
- Provision of a dining tent Sleeping mattresses
- A certificate confirming your successful summit ascent
- Meals provided throughout your mountain journey
- Purified drinking water available during the trek
- Emergency oxygen cylinders for safety
- An English-speaking guide (with options for other languages upon request)
- A mountain chef and all necessary cooking and eating utensils
Climbing Cost Exclude
- Tips for your Guides and Crew
- Meals other than breakfast at Moshi hotel
- Single supplement (if applicable)
- Private toilet with privacy tent (available at additional cost)
- Flights & Tourist Visa
- Medical Insurance (required for all participants)
- Your personal trekking gear
- Your personal medicines or prescriptions
Kilimanjaro Climber’s Packing Guide
Porter Load Limits
- Porters’ loads are limited to 15 kg (35 pounds).
- Additional weight will require a second porter at a rate of $5 per day.
Packing Tips
Packing Tips
- Place electronics in waterproof bags (preferably double-sealed).
- Wrap clothing in plastic bags for extra protection.
- Your day pack should include essentials: water, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, rain pants, and a jacket. Add any items you’ll need throughout the day, as you might not see porters until camp.
- Maranje Adventures may buy second-hand gear for rentals, and you may also consider bringing warm clothing as gifts for guides or donations to the Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society.
Luggage
- Day pack: For items used daily
Large duffel bag or back pack: Carried by porters - Plastic bags: For additional waterproofing
Clothing Layers
Clothing Layers
- Base layer: Moisture-wicking, non-cotton materialÂ
- Middle layer: Insulating layer for warmth
- Outer layer: Waterproof, breathable shell
- Pack separate outfits for hiking, lounging in the evening, and sleeping. Layers are a must, since temperatures fluctuate greatly.
Suggested Clothing
- Shorts: Hot days (first and last day)
- Pants: Hiking and evening wear
- T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts: For night and day
- Long undergarments,
- fleece jacket, wool sweater
- Down jacket or ski parka: Extreme cold.
Rain gear: jacket and trousers for both rain and snow
Cold Weather Accessories
- Mittens/gloves: Waterproof, with layering options
- Wool or pile hat
- Balaclava or neck gaiter
- Hand and foot warmers
Footwear
- Trekking shoes: Sturdy, waterproof, with ankle support
- Evening footwear: Tennis shoes or sandals
- Gaiters
- Socks: Hiking socks for warmth, wool for cold, and moisture-wicking liners
Sleeping
- Sleeping bag: Rated -25°C/-10°F or colder
- Sleeping pad: Zara provides foam pads, though Thermarest pads are recommended.
Hydration
- Water bottles and Camelback: 2-3 total, aiming for 3 liters
- Guides will provide boiled water or steripens along the trail.
- To prevent water from freezing, keep bottles in your jacket and blow air back into Camelbacks after each sip.
Additional Essentials
- Sun protection: Hat and sunglasses
- Money: $400+ in cash and/or traveler’s checks, including small denominations of USD, Euros, or Tanzanian Shillings
- Trekking poles, headlamp, extra batteries
- Camera, binoculars
- Notebook, pencil, and pen
- Energy snacks: Bars, hard candy, etc.
- Small games or items: Cards, books, frisbee, for evening entertainment
Cancelation Policy
Cancellation of a booking or failure to join a tour will result in a retention of funds by Maranje Adventures as follows:
30+ Days Before Departure: Should written cancellation be received from any person named in this booking 30 days or more before departure, Maranje Adventures will retain 10% of the package price and refund the balance.
15-29 Days Before Departure: A cancellation received not less than 15 days and more than 29 days prior to the date of departure will result in a 30% retention of the package price, with a refund of the remaining amount.
Less than 15 Days Prior to Departure: The Company shall retain 70% of the package price for cancellations less than 15 days prior to departure.
Replacement Option: If a canceling party is able to find a replacement for themselves no less than 7 days prior to departure, and the replacement completes the booking form individually, no retention of funds will take place. If no replacement is provided, the above cancellation terms will apply.
Outstanding Balances: If cancellation is within 15 days of departure, outstanding balances are due immediately to cover costs for the tour. Right to Terminate Participation: Maranje Adventures and its agents shall be entitled, at their discretion and with immediate effect, to terminate the participation of any person on the tour who endangers the safety, well-being, or enjoyment of other participants or staff. Should such an event occur, Maranje Adventures will give a pro-rated refund of the unused portion of the tour, excluding non-refundable expenses.
Machame Route Frequently asked questions
The Machame route is a moderately difficult with varied topography, but the elevation gain while hiking is gradual and sustained. It is widely regarded as one of the harder trails on Kilimanjaro for its sharp, rocky passages and the Barranco Wall.
At the same time, if there is adequate physical preparation and support by experienced trek leaders, the Machame route can be mastered by any person who is sufficiently fit and determined to make it. The problem of altitude sickness becomes critical, and proper acclimatization as well as following your guide's recommendations is highly important.
Additionally, much of the physical demands put on trekkers can be greatly mitigated through the hiring of porters who hand-carry much of the gear and supplies. In summary, the Machame route offers a difficult yet rewarding experience for any person who is well-braced to handle its challenges. Visit our Kilimanjaro training program page for more information on how to prepare for the climb.
The Machame Route stretches for about 62 kilometers or 37 miles from the trailhead to the summit and down to Mweka Gate. Although the minimum time for taking the Machame Route is 6 days, when calculating the days for arrival and departure, the total becomes 10 days. Due to its longer approach, it is, however, recommended to take 7 or 8 days on the trekfor increased success rates on the summit.
Due to its "climb high, sleep low" strategy, the summit success rate on the Machame route is considerably high. Although this is not supported by any official statistics, the general success rate among operators is 85% for the 7-day trek and 73% for the 6-day trek. However, Marangu Adventure has an astonishing summit success rate of 95% on the Machame route. More on the ideal Kilimanjaro climb duration to understand why we recommend longer treks.
The scenery along the Machame Route is highly varied, ranging through five distinct climatic zones on its way to the summit. From the rainforest of the lower slopes, the trek goes through the low alpine zone, basically marked by expansive grasslands and moorlands.
From there, you continue through the high alpine zone and finally to the glacial zone of the summit. You get to see spectacular scenery and famous features such as the Shira Plateau, Barranco, and Lava Tower.
The best time to go up Kilimanjaro is between July and September. During this time, it is usually stable in terms of weather conditions and less probable that one will experience any rainfall. Along the equator, though, it is generally possible to climb all over the year, but April and May are the rainy months and not very good for trekking.
Client Review of Machame route
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Our experience with Maranje Adventures Tours was phenomenal! - Our experience with Maranje Adventures Tours was phenomenal! Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly and we were able to see all the big 5 and more during our trip. Would... read more 
Sunaina P
May 28, 2024Highly recommend this adventure with Maranje adventures tours. - Climbing Kilimanjaro via the 6 Days Machame Route was an incredible experience that I truly enjoyed. felt like a 5-star hotel on the mountain. Their support and expertise made... read more 
Hannatu M
June 2, 2024Amazing experience - It was an awesome 4-day safari in Tanzania with Maranje adventures tours! Witnessing the wildebeest migration in Serengeti and exploring the Ngorongoro Crater was a dream come true. The guide... read more 
Igburu P
June 3, 2024
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