Machame route

The Machame Route — nicknamed the “Whiskey route” — is the most popular way up Kilimanjaro, and for good reason: it packs the mountain’s most dramatic and varied scenery into a rewarding six-day climb. Approaching from the south, it rises through rainforest and moorland onto the Shira Plateau, tackles the famous Barranco Wall, and uses a “climb high, sleep low” profile past Lava Tower to build acclimatisation before the summit push to Uhuru Peak at 5,895m. Scenic, challenging and hugely rewarding, Machame suits reasonably fit trekkers ready to camp and earn their summit.

Route at a Glance

Duration: 6 days on the mountain

Start gate: Machame Gate, southern Kilimanjaro

Finish gate: Mweka Gate, south

Summit: Uhuru Peak, 5,895m

Summit base: Barafu Camp

Accommodation: Full-service camping

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging — steeper and busier than Lemosho

Best for: Scenery, good value, fit trekkers wanting the classic climb

Scenery highlights: Shira Plateau · Lava Tower · Barranco Wall

Success rate: Approximately 60–73% (6-day)

Why Choose the Machame Route

The most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Machame is the classic, best-known climb — a well-trodden, well-supported trail that thousands choose every year for its balance of scenery, challenge and value.

Dramatic, varied scenery. In six days you pass through rainforest, moorland, the Shira Plateau, the surreal giant-plant world of the Barranco Valley, high alpine desert and the arctic summit zone — more landscape variety than almost any short route.

The Barranco Wall. The morning scramble up the Great Barranco Wall is the route’s signature moment — a steep but non-technical hands-and-feet climb rewarded with some of the finest views on the mountain.

Good acclimatisation for its length. The Lava Tower “climb high, sleep low” day helps your body adjust before summit night, giving well-prepared trekkers a genuine advantage over the shortest routes.

Itinerary Summary

A day-by-day overview of the six-day climb. (For the full detailed itinerary and to book, see our 6-Day Machame Route package.)

Day 1 — Machame Gate to Machame Camp. Drive to the southern gate, then a steady climb through misty montane rainforest; colobus monkeys and birdsong.

Day 2 — Machame Camp to Shira Camp. Steepening through heath and moorland onto the atmospheric Shira Plateau, with Kibo and Mount Meru in view.

Day 3 — Shira Camp to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower (~4,600m). Climb high, sleep low: lunch at Lava Tower, then down into the surreal Barranco Valley beneath its famous wall.

Day 4 — Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp via Karanga. The Barranco Wall scramble, then across ridges and valleys to the summit base camp.

Day 5 — Summit Night: Barafu to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), descend to Mweka. Midnight start via Stella Point to the roof of Africa at sunrise, then the long descent.

Day 6 — Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate. Gentle descent through rainforest, and your summit certificate.

➡️ See the full day-by-day itinerary and book the 6-Day Machame Route →

Difficulty & Success Rate

Machame is a moderate-to-challenging route — steeper in places than Lemosho, and with the Barranco Wall scramble, though that section is non-technical and straightforward with care. There’s no mountaineering; the real challenge is the altitude and summit night. The route’s “climb high, sleep low” profile past Lava Tower builds useful acclimatisation, but at six days it moves faster than the longer routes. Our 6-day Machame climb has an approximate 60–73% summit success rate. Because more time on the mountain is the single biggest factor in reaching the top, we also offer a 7-day Machame on request, which adds an acclimatisation day and raises the success rate significantly. Just ask us if you’d prefer to climb over seven days. As on every route, good fitness, steady pacing and respecting the altitude are what get climbers to the summit.

Best Time to Climb the Machame Route

Machame is best climbed in Kilimanjaro’s dry seasons — January to mid-March and June to October — for the clearest skies and best trail conditions. Being a southern route, it can be muddy in the wetter months (April–May and November), so the dry windows are strongly preferred.

Weather & Terrain

Machame passes through all of Kilimanjaro’s climate zones: humid montane rainforest at the gate, heath and moorland onto the Shira Plateau, high alpine desert around Lava Tower and Barafu, and the arctic zone at the summit. Temperatures swing from warm and often wet in the forest to well below freezing on summit night, so full layering and a sleeping bag rated to around -15°C are essential. The forest sections, in particular, can be muddy — good boots matter.

Accommodation on the Route

Machame is a full-service camping route. You sleep in quality tents pitched and struck each day by your crew, with a shared mess tent, hot meals from a mountain cook, and safe drinking water throughout. Your camps follow the classic southern progression: Machame, Shira, Barranco and Barafu base camp, before Mweka on descent. A full team of licensed guides, cook and porters supports you the whole way.

How Machame Compares to Other Routes

vs Lemosho — the two share the scenic Southern Circuit (Lava Tower, Barranco, Barafu), but Lemosho starts further west with an extra day, so it’s quieter early on and acclimatises better. Machame is more popular and often better value.

vs Marangu — Marangu is shorter and hut-based with a lower success rate; Machame is more scenic, camps throughout, and summits more reliably.

vs Rongai — Rongai is the quiet dry-season northern option; Machame is busier but more scenic and dramatic.

vs Northern Circuit — the Northern Circuit is far longer and quieter with the highest success rate; Machame is the shorter, more classic and affordable climb.

Explore all our routes: Lemosho · Marangu · Rongai · Northern Circuit · Umbwe

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days does the Machame Route take? Our Machame climb is a 6-day trek on the mountain. A 7-day version is also possible, adding an acclimatisation day for a higher chance of summiting.

How difficult is the Machame Route? It’s a moderate-to-challenging route with no technical climbing. The Barranco Wall is a non-technical scramble, and the real challenge is the altitude and summit night — but the “climb high, sleep low” profile helps you prepare.

Why is it called the “Whiskey route”? It’s a nickname contrasting it with Marangu, the “Coca-Cola route.” Marangu is seen as the easier, hut-based option; Machame — tougher, camping, more adventurous — earned the “Whiskey” name.

Is Machame good for beginners? Yes, for reasonably fit first-timers prepared to camp and manage some steeper sections. It’s one of the most popular routes for exactly this reason, though the longer routes offer easier acclimatisation.

What is the Barranco Wall? A steep rock face climbed on day four — a hands-and-feet scramble that looks daunting from below but is straightforward and non-technical, with superb views from the top.

When is the best time to climb Machame? The dry seasons — January to mid-March and June to October — for the clearest skies and firmest trails.

Ready to climb Kilimanjaro’s most popular route?

ur 6-Day Machame Route trek is a private climb with licensed guides, all park fees and full camping support.

➡️ View the full itinerary & book the 6-Day Machame Route →