The Machame route, also known as the "Whiskey" route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro.
The Machame route, also known as the "Whiskey" route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro.
Explore the Machame Route: Kilimanjaro's Most Scenic Trek
If you're looking for the most scenic and adventurous route up Mount Kilimanjaro, the Machame Route is the perfect choice. Often referred to as the "Whisky Route," this spectacular trail offers one of the most visually stunning and diverse treks on the mountain. From lush forests to alpine deserts, the Machame Route guarantees breathtaking views and an unforgettable trekking experience.
Stunning Scenery and Varied Terrain
Starting at the Machame Gate, the trek begins in temperate climates, where you’ll walk through dense forests teeming with life. Moss-covered trees, misty mornings, and vibrant flora like red-hot pokers and violets create an enchanting atmosphere. As you ascend, the landscape dramatically shifts from lush vegetation to scrubland dotted with lobelias and daisies. This diverse flora is just a glimpse of the ever-changing beauty that awaits you on this route.
One of the highlights of the Machame Route is the Shira Ridge, where the landscape becomes more rocky and barren. As you climb higher, the terrain transforms into an alpine volcanic desert, where you'll be surrounded by glaciers, such as Lava Tower and Arrow Glacier. The Southern Ice Fields also provide a stunning backdrop, making this route a photographer’s paradise.
Acclimatization and Summit Success
The Machame Route typically takes six days to complete, but it's highly recommended to take an additional day for better acclimatization. This helps increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro. Acclimatization is key in avoiding altitude sickness, and taking it slow will enhance your trekking experience. While the Machame Route isn’t the quietest (routes like Lemosho are less crowded), it strikes the perfect balance between beauty, adventure, and summit success rates.Trekking the Machame Route:
What to Expect
The journey begins with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate, where you’ll start your climb through a steep, lush forest toward the Shira Plateau. As you ascend, the route intersects with the Lemosho Route near Lava Tower, and continues across the rocky landscape toward the Western Breach. From there, you’ll descend to Barranco Camp, cross the Karanga Valley, and finally make your way up to Barafu Hut. The summit push from Barafu Hut is where the real adventure begins, but the views and landscapes make every step worth it.
Barranco Wall: The Challenge You’ll Conquer
Many people fear the Barranco Wall, but there’s no need to worry. Although it sounds intimidating, the Barranco Wall isn’t a true vertical wall. Instead, it’s a rocky section of the mountain that zigzags up the rock face. Yes, it's steep, but it’s entirely manageable with a steady pace and some determination. The wall is a key feature of the Shira Route and offers an exciting challenge that’s well worth the effort.
Descent via the Mweka Route
Once you’ve summited Kilimanjaro, you’ll descend via the Mweka Route, which provides a more gradual descent through the mountain’s lower regions. This descent offers an opportunity to reflect on the amazing adventure you’ve just experienced as you return to the base of the mountain.
Why Choose the Machame Route?
The Machame Route is not only the most scenic but also offers a variety of ecosystems and stunning vistas, making it the perfect option for those who want to experience Kilimanjaro's true beauty. Whether you’re looking for a physically challenging trek or simply want to experience the mountain’s incredible landscapes, the Machame Route is sure to leave you in awe.
Key
Features:
Scenic landscapes with diverse ecosystems
High summit success rates with proper acclimatization
Varied terrains including forests, alpine deserts, and glaciers
Steady climb with breathtaking views of Lava Tower and Southern Ice Fields
The thrilling Barranco Wall challenge
If you are looking for answers to specific questions, read here or go here to see some of our blog posts
Day-1: Meet at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to hotel.
Day-2: Machame Gate (1830m) - Machame Camp (2835m)
Elevation: 1830 metres to 2835 metres
Distance: 18km
Trekking: 5 to 7 hours
Environment: Montane forest
Today after a brief stop in Moshi we drive to Kilimanjaro park entrance at Machame, near the Machame village. Here we complete formalities for trekking permits and then start trekking through the forest. Rain is possible in Machame Forest.
Day-3: Machame Camp (2835m) to Shira Camp 2 (3840m)
Elevation: 2835 metres - 3850 metres
Distance: 9km
5 to 6 hours
Environment: Moorland
You leave Machame camp and climb quite steeply for about an hour. The route then follows a more gentle gradient toward the base Shira Plateau which is actually a the remains of a caldera, or collapsed volcanic crater. Then you traverse up the rocky outcrop before trekking in an easterly direction, to Shira Camp, Shira being one of the three volcanoes of the Kilimanjaro massif.
Day-4: Shira Camp 2 (3840m) to Lava Tower (4640m) - Barranco Huts (3985m)
Elevation: 3840 metres - 3985metres
Distance: 12km
Trek: 6 to 7 hours
Environment: Moorland
Shira camp can be quite cold early morning as you hike away from views of Mt Meru into an arid desert type environment full of lava rock. The route is a steady gentle climb toward Lava Tower. It is not uncommon to start feeling the effects of altitude on Machame Route or any other route with shortness of breath around 4200m. At Lava Tower you break for lunch before descending almost 680m in altitude to Barranco Camp at the base of Barranco Wall. Today you follow the principle of climb high, sleep low.
Day-5: Barranco Huts (3985m) to Barafu Huts (4680m)
Elevation: 3985 metres - 4680metres
Distance: 13 km
Hiking Time: 7-9 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
This morning you start the slow climb up the well known Barranco Wall, bringing you out below Heim Glacier. After taking in incredible views you trek along the route to Karanga Valley which takes you through three ridges and valleys, before coming out at Karanga Camp. This however is not your camp, and you climb another 2-3 hours to a rocky narrow camp, at Barafu. Today is a very long day, but above you, 1345m up is the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Day-6: Barafu (4550m)- Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Elevation: 4600metres to 5895 metres to 3100 metres
Highest: 5895 metres (Summit)
Distance: 30kilometres (7kilometres ascent, 13 kilometres descent)
Trek: 13-16 hours (6 to 8 hours ascent, 7-8 hours descent)
Environment: Stone scree / ice-capped summit
Rising before midnight, you start your climb in a North westerly direction. The route will take you to Stella Point (5685) on Kibo crater rim. It can take anything from 5 - 6 hours and is physically challenging. After a short rest at Stella before trekking to Kilimanjaro summit, another altitude gain of 200m, taking anywhere from 1-2 hours. After basket in a moment of glory at the summit of Kilimanjaro, you hike down to Barafu and then down towards Mweka hut (3100m).
Day-7: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka (1980m)
Elevation: 3100 metres to 1800 metres
Distance: 8 kilometres
Trek time: 3 to 4 hours
Environment: Montane forest
This morning is a short 3-hour scenic hike to Mweka. Those climbers who made Stella (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates for your Machame Route climb on Kilimanjaro.
Day-8: Depart
Today you are transferred to Kilimanjaro airport for your flight home.
End of services
There are 7 summit routes; namely, Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe and Machame. Of all the routes, Machame is by far the most scenic albeit steeper route up the mountain. The Rongai is the easiest camping route and the Marangu is also easier but accommodation is in huts. As a result, this route tends to be very busy and ascent and descent routes are the same. Both of the latter have lower prospects to acclimitise by the climb high sleep low principle unless one adds on extra days. The Northern Circuit, approaches Kibo from the west, crossing the caldera of Shira Volcano before turning north to follow the trail through Moir Valley and around the northern side of Kilimanjaro.
The Shira, Lemosho and Machame all meet up before Lava Tower (day three), and then with Umbwe at Baranco Camp (end of day three). Marangu, Rongai and Northern Circuit all meet up at Kibo Huts.
The Barranco wall is along the Machame Route, Shira Route, Lemosho Route and Umbwe Route. Is it a “wall” – well no it is not, in the sense that a wall is pretty much vertical which Barranco is not. It consists of a rocky path that zig zags up the rock section of the mountain. Yes it is steep, let us not deny that fact, but do-able? Definitely!
The wall itself is only 843 ft tall (257 meters) so in terms of distance, it could certainly not be classified as endless. It is a climb? Once again, no it is not.
Most people think Everest Base Camp is higher than Kilimanjaro but surprise surprise, it is not. Base camp of Everest (or rather Kala Pathar – the little hill you climb up above base camp) is actually 5545m, whereas Kilimanjaro summit is 5895m.
People also think it is a tougher hike than Kilimanjaro, but Kilimanjaro is actually regarded as tougher by those who have done both.
How Bad is the Barranco Wall? These are the type of catch phrases you will read about on many sites that describe or talk about the famous Barranco Wall. So is it really that bad and do we need to fear it?
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How hard is it to hike to Everest Base Camp compared to Kilimanjaro? Most people think Everest Base Camp is higher than Kilimanjaro but surprise surprise, it is not. Base camp of Everest (or rather Kala Pathar – the little hill you climb up above base camp) is actually 5545m, whereas Kilimanjaro summit is 5895m.Continue reading
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effect of tourists on the environment. Sadly this is not the case.
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Let us remind ourselves when we climb this sleeping beauty that
Kilimanjaro is not stratovolcano for nothing, for beneath her seemingly
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When I first climbed Kilimanjaro with my Dad in 2002, we were told that
by 2020, all of the glaciers will be gone. It struck me this morning on
my morning run, that we are now IN 2020 and the question is, have all of
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“Look no further! You’ve found the luckiest bloke in the world.” These were the words of Wayne Sticher, proud participant of the High Sight Expedition to the highest mountain in Africa.
Continue readingWHEN IS THE BEST TIME TIME TO CLIMB KILI
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these boots are made for walking
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