Machame, often called the “Whiskey Route”, is the most popular way up Kilimanjaro. It climbs from the southwest through rainforest and moorland to the Shira Plateau, then traverses the southern slopes beneath the glaciers to Barafu Camp and the summit. It covers about 62 km over six or seven days.
Machame at a glance
| Length | 6–7 days, about 62 km |
|---|---|
| Start | Machame Gate, about 1,800 m |
| Descent | Mweka Route |
| Sleeping | Tents |
| Difficulty | Moderate to challenging |
| Crowds | Busy in peak months |
The seven-day itinerary
| Day | Stage | Sleep at |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Machame Gate to Machame Camp through rainforest | About 2,850 m |
| 2 | Into the heath to Shira Cave Camp | About 3,750 m |
| 3 | Up to Lava Tower (4,630 m), down to Barranco Camp | About 3,960 m |
| 4 | Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp | About 4,035 m |
| 5 | Karanga to Barafu Camp | About 4,670 m |
| 6 | Summit via Stella Point to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), down to Mweka Camp | About 3,100 m |
| 7 | Down through forest to Mweka Gate | Moshi |
Highlights
- Rainforest on day one, with colobus and blue monkeys.
- The Shira Plateau and views of Mount Meru.
- Lava Tower, a volcanic plug and a key acclimatisation point.
- The Barranco Wall, a short scramble with big views. It looks steep, but there is no exposure on the path.
Six days or seven?
The six-day version skips the Karanga stop and goes straight from Barranco to Barafu, which is hard on acclimatisation. We recommend seven days. Read how long it takes to climb Kilimanjaro.
Who Machame suits
First-time climbers who want variety and good acclimatisation at a fair price. If you want quieter camps, consider Lemosho, which joins Machame on day three. Compare all routes in which Kilimanjaro route to choose.
See our Machame Route, which adds a day at Materuni Waterfall before the climb.
Frequently asked questions
About 62 km over six or seven days. Seven days is recommended.
It is moderate to challenging. The Barranco Wall involves some easy scrambling, and summit night is long and cold.
It was seen as tougher than the Marangu Route, which was nicknamed the Coca-Cola Route.
