The Machame Route, nicknamed the "Whiskey Route" for its steeper, more demanding profile compared with the hut-based Marangu Route, is Kilimanjaro's most popular trekking path. Climbers camp at five different sites as the trail climbs from montane rainforest through heath and moorland onto the open Shira Plateau, crosses the dramatic Barranco Wall, and finishes with a midnight summit push via Stella Point to Uhuru Peak (5,895m).
This 6-day itinerary is the standard Machame trek, with one night each at Machame, Shira, Barranco and Karanga camps before the summit push. Trekkers who want an extra buffer for acclimatization and a meaningfully higher summit success rate should look at our 7-Day Machame Route Climb, which adds a rest day at Karanga Camp. Trekkers who would rather sleep in a hut than a tent each night may prefer the 6-Day Marangu Route Climb, though Machame's varied scenery and stronger acclimatization profile make it the better all-round choice for most climbers.
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$2,800 per person when 1 person treks alone
$2,220 per person when 2 persons trek together
$1980 per person when 3 persons trek together
$1,910 per person when 4 persons trek together
$1,820 per person when 5 persons trek together
$1,750 per person when 6+ persons trek together
For a more accurate estimate, contact us with your specific requirements and budget. We'll send a detailed quote based on your itinerary, group size, and preferred level of comfort.
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Your SafariBando representative meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transfers you to your hotel in Moshi. In the evening, your mountain guide runs through the route, weather expectations, and a full equipment check, so any missing gear can be rented locally before you set off.
Distance: Airport transfer, approx. 45 minutes
Activity: Arrival, equipment check and pre-climb briefing
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, drive around an hour from Moshi to Machame Gate (1,800m) to complete park registration. The trail climbs steadily through dense montane rainforest, often muddy underfoot, to Machame Camp on the forest edge.
Distance: 5 km, 5-6 hours walking
Activity: Trek through montane rainforest to Machame Camp
Accommodation: Machame Camp (tented camp, 3,000m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The trail leaves the forest behind and climbs into moorland, opening onto the wide, rolling Shira Plateau with your first clear views of Kibo's summit dome. Shira Camp sits on the plateau itself, exposed and often windy.
Distance: 5 km, 4-5 hours walking
Activity: Trek through moorland onto the Shira Plateau
Accommodation: Shira Camp (tented camp, 3,840m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The trail climbs steadily across semi-desert terrain to Lava Tower (4,600m), a striking volcanic plug, where you'll stop for lunch. This high-altitude lunch stop is a key acclimatization point, putting the 'climb high, sleep low' principle to work before you descend through a dramatic valley of giant senecios to Barranco Camp, sheltered beneath the Barranco Wall.
Distance: 11 km, 6-8 hours walking
Activity: Acclimatization stop at Lava Tower, then descend to Barranco Camp
Accommodation: Barranco Camp (tented camp, 3,960m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The day opens with the Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical scramble that looks more intimidating than it is, gaining around 300m in roughly an hour. Beyond the wall, the trail undulates across ridges and valleys with constant views of Kibo, descending into and back out of the Karanga Valley, before a final climb across the barren Karanga-Barafu ridge to Barafu Camp, the summit base camp. On this 6-day itinerary the trail continues past Karanga rather than stopping there overnight.
Distance: 9 km, 6-8 hours walking
Activity: Scramble up the Barranco Wall, then trek via the Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp
Accommodation: Barafu Camp (tented camp, 4,640m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & early Dinner
After an early dinner and a short rest at Barafu Camp, you depart around midnight. The ascent climbs steep scree switchbacks to Stella Point (5,756m) on the crater rim, then follows the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), usually arriving around sunrise. After photos and a short rest, you descend back through Barafu to Mweka Camp, dropping over 2,700m in altitude on tired legs.
Distance: Approx. 15 km (5 km ascent, 10 km descent), 10-12 hours
Activity: Summit climb to Uhuru Peak via Stella Point, then descent to Mweka Camp
Accommodation: Mweka Camp (tented camp, 3,100m)
Meals: Breakfast (early), Lunch & late snack on return
A final, more gentle descent through rainforest brings you to Mweka Gate, where you'll receive your summit certificate (Gilman's Point or Uhuru Peak certificates are issued depending on your highest point reached). Your driver transfers you back to your hotel in Moshi for a well-earned hot shower, a proper bed, and a celebratory dinner.
Distance: 7 km, 3-4 hours walking, plus approx. 1 hour drive back to Moshi
Activity: Descent to Mweka Gate, summit certificate ceremony, transfer to Moshi
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi (second night)
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch (on the mountain)
After breakfast, you're free until your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward flight. If you'd rather not end the trip on the mountain, this is also the natural point to roll straight into a Northern Circuit safari, many climbers combine this climb with our 4-Day Tanzania Lodge Safari to Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro for a full climb-and-safari trip.
Distance: Airport transfer, approx. 45 minutes (or onward to your next safari)
Activity: Free morning, then departure transfer or onward safari
Accommodation: N/A, end of Kilimanjaro programme
Meals: Breakfast
No technical climbing skills are required, but Machame is more physically demanding than the Marangu Route. You'll walk for 4 to 8 hours a day, the Barranco Wall on Day 5 involves steep, hands-on scrambling for about an hour, and summit night (Day 6) is a continuous 12 to 15 hour effort at altitude. Several months of regular cardio and hiking with a loaded daypack are strongly recommended before you travel.
The two main dry windows are late June to October and late December to mid-March, with the most stable weather and clearest views of the surrounding plains. January and February tend to be slightly warmer. April, May and November are the rainy seasons, the lower rainforest sections become muddy and visibility on the Shira Plateau and summit ridge is more often obscured by cloud.
Six-day Machame itineraries typically see summit success in the 85 to 90 percent range, among the better rates for any 6-day route on the mountain, largely thanks to the acclimatization stop at Lava Tower on Day 4. Adding a seventh day with a rest at Karanga Camp pushes success rates higher still, which is why we recommend the 7-day version for climbers who can spare the extra day.
The price covers two nights at a hotel in Moshi (before and after the climb), all park fees, camping fees and rescue fees, a certified English-speaking guide with the required number of porters and a cook, all camping equipment including private tents and a mess tent, all meals on the mountain, and safety equipment including a pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen. International flights, Tanzania visa, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks, tips for the mountain crew and any optional add-ons are not included. See the full "What's included" and "Not included" sections on this page for the complete breakdown.
Layering is essential: a moisture-wicking base layer, a fleece or down mid-layer, and a waterproof outer shell for both jacket and trousers. A sleeping bag rated to at least -10°C, a sleeping mat, sturdy worn-in hiking boots, gaiters, trekking poles, a headtorch with spare batteries, and sun protection for high-UV alpine conditions are all important. We provide tents and camping equipment; we provide a detailed personal packing list after booking, and basic gear rental is available in Moshi if you're missing anything.
Yes, it's the most popular route for a reason, the daily distances are manageable and the scenery rewards every effort. That said, it's a step up from Marangu: you'll camp every night instead of sleeping in huts, and the Barranco Wall and summit night are both more demanding. First-timers concerned about acclimatization sometimes pair this climb with our 4-Day Mount Meru Climb beforehand, or choose the 7-day Machame version for a gentler pace.
Most nationalities can obtain a Tanzania tourist visa online via the eTA system before travel, or on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). The visa costs USD 50 for most nationalities and USD 100 for US citizens. Yellow fever vaccination is only required if you're arriving from a yellow-fever-endemic country. Malaria prophylactics are recommended for your time at lower altitudes around Moshi. Comprehensive travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and medical evacuation is required for all climbers, we cannot accept bookings without it.
Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and checks oxygen saturation levels at each camp, along with emergency oxygen for serious cases. Mild altitude symptoms are managed with rest, hydration and, if needed, a controlled descent to a lower camp. For serious cases, porters and guides are trained in stretcher evacuation to the nearest gate, and we can arrange membership with the Flying Doctors Service for air evacuation as part of your booking on request.
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I summit on Top of Africa at Kilimanjaro last month with Safari Bando Company, and had the most amazing experience! The guides were so knowledgeable, and took great lengths to make the experience as enjoyable…
