Machame Route Kilimanjaro(Mountain) National Park
Machame Route, also dubbed “the Whiskey route” is the most prominent route to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. A 6 or 7 day camping trek Kilimanjaro trek along the Machame route features scenic, a sensible challenge, and more time to acclimatize, making it an excellent choice for those who can easily adjust climbing schedule.
Records show that about 35% of Kilimanjaro climbing adventure enthusiasts use the Machame route because it is more difficult than Marangu (Coca Cola) route.
Machame route , unlike Marangu, allows for trekkers to camp enroute to the summit. Apart from camps, the route also traverses through several landmarks of Kilimanjaro such as the renowned Lava Tower and Shira Plateau.
While the Machame route is considered the most beautiful route because of unique & breathtaking views of different landscapes, climbing through is more difficult because of the up and down strolls of many valleys and ridges.
From the southern side of Mount Kilimanjaro, the trail navigates down the southern Ice Field to approach the summit from Barafu Camp.
Machame route is highly a recommended option, for flexible trekkers who have additional days for acclimatization so as to increase the success rate chances of reaching up to the peak.
Most trekkers who have used this route have conquered Mount Kilimanjaro up to Uhuru peak, despite the fact that this is a more difficult than Marangu ()Coca-Cola route.
One of the most challenging obstacles is the Baranco wall, a sharp cliff that’s intimidating and scary at first approach, but in actual sense, it isn’t what it looks like, though it may require some technical skills while climbing over some sections
The climb is always approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours finish, yet the beautiful scenery at the top is worth the effort, whereas the drawback beneath Machame Route is sometimes highly populated, and offers additional acclimatization days, hence most popular for Kilimanjaro trekkers during the peak climbing season.
Still, if you’re looking for the quintessential Kilimanjaro experience, it’s difficult to beat Machame route.
Machame route is offered as a 7 or 6 day hike for Mount Kilimanjaro trekking. The 6 day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame route trek incorporates the 4th and the 5th day, going from Barranco to to Barafu, without Karanga Camp

7 Days Machame route of Climbing Kilimanjaro
7 days Kilimanjaro trek via Machame route begins from Machame gate through Uhuru Gate to Mweka gate.
Day-by-day itinerary for the Machame Route
Follow 7 days/6 nights of climbing Kilimanjaro via Machame route. The 6 days Machame route skips Karanga Valley, for a full hike from Baranco to Barafy huts
Duration: 6 nights /7 days Climb
Day 1: Machame Hut Camp
Following a short drive to Machame trailhead (5380m), you will, along with the crew, ascend up through the montane forests, strolling up the mossy jungle, to reach Machame Hut camp.
Hiking: 5-7 hours
Overnight Altitude: 9,350m
Day 2: Shira Plateau
Get up early for breakfast, then set off for your hike through the forest. You will spend time admiring the breathtaking scenery on your way through the moorlands. You will enjoy the impressive views of Kibo peak.
Hiking: 4-6 hours
Overnight Altitude: 12,500m
Day 3: Barranco Camp
Day 3 is quite a long day coupled with acclimatization as you climb high and low. After breakfast, engage in an acclimatization climb to Lava Tower (at 15,190m) for lunch, then slope down to the Barranco valley. Those who are physical strong, can scramble up the Lava Tower, but only if time and weather permits. You will soak yourself into the magnificent scenery of the day, traversing through several zones of the mountain.
Hiking: 6-8 hours
Overnight Altitude: 13,044m
Day 4: Karanga Camp
Today you’ll continue to acclimatize and let your body adjust to these higher altitudes, in preparation for your upcoming summit push. Climb the steep Barranco Wall and then go up and down several ridges and valleys before arriving at Karanga camp. There will likely be time for an acclimatization hike in the afternoon.
Hiking: 4-5 hours
Overnight Altitude: 13,106m
Day 5: Barafu Camp
Proceed with the circuit to arrive Barafu Camp, before the summit. Ascend up descend down the rims and valleys
Some ups and downs along ridges and valleys on your way. You will have dinner, followed by an early send off to sleep, for the sake of rising up early to begin summiting to Uhuru peak.
Hiking: 3-4 hours
Overnight Altitude: 15,331m
Day 6: Summit and Mweka Camp
Along with your headlamps and warm gear, set off for the summit. You will trek at your pace to stella point, then to the summit. Thereafter, you will celebrate your success alongside taking beautiful photo shoot and descend down to Mweka camp
Hiking: 6-7 hours ascent to the summit, then 6-9 hours of descent
Summit:19,341m
Overnight Altitude: ~10,500′
Day 7: Mweka Park Gate (~5,000’) to Arusha
Be up for breakfast very early in the morning, then make the final descent to Mweka gate, where you will have lunch, and bid farewell to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park for Arusha. You will be dropped at your post 7 days Machame route accommodation
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the Machame Route?
Despite the steep Baranco Wall climb on the summit nit to Uhuru peak, Kilimanjaro’s Machame route still stands out to be less stranous because of the open opportunity to add more days to acclimate better, this no technical skill are required to conquer, except for a much better level of fitness to climb.
What is the distance of the Machame Route and how many days does it take?
The total distance from the trail head to Uhuru peak, down Mweka gate is 62km or 37 miles, whereas it takes at least 6 days to summit Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame route/trail, exclusive of the extra days to acclimate. But by adding more days for acclimatization as well as pick up and drop off days, a successful Machame route trek sums up to 10 days.

What is the Summit Success Rate?
While statistics about the success rate for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is not clearly stated, total sums of: all operators is at 85%, plus 7 day trek of 73% and 6 day trek results to 95%, because of its high steep low climb mechanism,
What is the Scenery like on the Machame Route?
Machame route has 5 different vegetation zones, from the trailhead to the summit, up to Mweka Gate: starting with the rain forest on the lower slopes, ascending up into the low alpine zone consisting of the wild grasslands & moorlands.
The scenery is extremely varied and you will pass through 5 climatic zones on your way to the summit. The trek begins in rain forest on the lower slopes before continuing up into the low alpine zone of wild grasslands and moorlands, arriving at the glacial zone. You will enjoy scenic views, as well as visiting beautiful places like the Shira Plateau, Barranco and Lava Tower.
When is the best time to Trek Machame Route?
The best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro through Machame route is during the dry months of July, August, and September, when the trails are less muddy and little showers. But chances are that the machame route can be used all year round because it is situated near the equator with exceptions of April and May, which receives high levels of rain.