Overview of the Machame route
Machame is the “Whiskey” route – the popular, scenic counterpart to Marangu’s “Coca-Cola” line – and the second most walked route on the mountain. It starts on the southern slope near Moshi with a steep climb out of the rainforest, crosses the Shira Plateau, and from Lava Tower onwards shares its line with Lemosho: the same walk-high, sleep-low swings over the Barranco Wall, through Karanga and up to Barafu for summit night.
That profile is what makes Machame work. The route drops back down after every high point, so your body gets repeated chances to adjust, and seven days is enough for most climbers to summit comfortably. The trade-off for the lower price and shorter schedule is company: Machame is the busiest tented route in high season, and from Lava Tower you will share the trail and the camps with other groups.
Safety first: To maintain our strict safety standards, mountain expeditions are available only to participants aged 12–70 years.
Expert recommendation
Choose Machame if you want Lemosho’s scenery and summit odds for less money. It walks the same spectacular second half of the mountain – Lava Tower, the Barranco Wall and the southern circuit – and the seven-day version sits only just below Lemosho on success rate. What it gives away is quiet: if empty trails matter to you, spend the extra on the eight-day Lemosho instead.
Take the 7-day version
The six-day Machame compresses the same line into one day less, and that lost day is an acclimatisation day. The seven-day itinerary costs a little more in park fees and gives meaningfully better summit odds. Unless your dates genuinely will not stretch, it is the version we guide.
Machame route on the Kilimanjaro map
The Machame route starts at Machame Gate on the south-eastern slope of Kilimanjaro and climbs through rainforest to the first camp at around 3,000 m. The trail then crosses the Shira Plateau, joins the western high circuit at Lava Tower at 4,640 m, and drops to Barranco Camp. From there it shares the southern circuit with Lemosho and the other tented routes – over the Barranco Wall, through Karanga and Barafu to the summit – before descending by the Mweka route.
Join our Kilimanjaro Group Climbs
You do not need a private climb to walk Machame. We run fixed group departures throughout the year on which six to ten climbers start together, sharing the guide, the crew and the camp – at the published per-person price shown on each departure below. Most of our solo travellers join one, and Machame is one of the most common departure routes.
Group Machame departures typically run monthly, scheduled around the dry windows – June to October and mid-December to March. Female-only departures run in selected months. Pick a year and a month below to see what is running; a $100 deposit holds a place, and if no departure suits your dates we will build the same itinerary as a private climb instead.
Arrival 02 Feb 2028
Departure 09 Feb 2028
From $1,850 per person
Join group tourArrival 09 Feb 2028
Departure 16 Feb 2028
From $1,850 per person
Join group tourArrival 16 Feb 2028
Departure 23 Feb 2028
From $1,850 per person
Join group tourArrival 23 Feb 2028
Departure 01 Mar 2028
From $1,850 per person
Join group tourArrival 28 Feb 2028
Departure 06 Mar 2028
From $1,850 per person
Join group tourMachame Route - Summit Success Rate
Published summit rates for the seven-day Machame climb sit in the 75–85% range – comfortably above the mountain-wide average of roughly 65%, but below the 85–90% that the longer Lemosho and Northern Circuit itineraries post. The difference is a night of acclimatisation, not a difference in terrain: from Lava Tower onwards the two routes are the same trail.
Climbers who take the six-day version pull the odds toward the lower end of that range, and the busiest camps on the mountain – Barafu in particular – mean summit night starts in a long queue. A guide who keeps your group at pole-pole pace and a body that has had enough nights above 3,000 m are still the two things that decide it.
What the number really means
A success rate counts climbers who reach Uhuru Peak. It never counts the wisdom of a guide who turns a group around at 4,700 m – and that decision is still a good climb. See how we measure summit success for the full picture.
Machame Route Detailed Itinerary
Below is the Machame route walked both ways – the 6-day itinerary the route is built for and the 7-day version we guide. Switch between them with the tabs. The two part company at Barranco, where the 6-day walks straight through Karanga to Barafu, merging two days into one; from Lava Tower on they are the same trail. Every day is taken slowly, with a hot lunch at camp.
Two days compressed into one: Barranco to Barafu becomes a single long walk, and there is no acclimatization day between camps.
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Moshi to Machame Camp
The drive from Moshi drops you at Machame Gate at 1,800 m on the southern slope of the mountain, where registration is signed off and the porters load their kits. The trail enters the rainforest at once and climbs hard for four to five hours on red volcanic soil, emerging at Machame Camp at 3,000 m on a shoulder of the mountain with the valley falling away below. The steepest first day of any route – and a proper introduction to walking slowly.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Machame Camp
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Machame Camp to Shira Camp 2 via Shira Ridge
Out of the heath and onto the Shira Ridge, where the trail runs along the spine of the hill with views down both flanks and, ahead, the glaciers of Kibo. You cross the plateau to Shira Camp 2 at 3,900 m – for many climbers the first point on the mountain where walking feels genuinely easy. Kibo is close enough now to read the crevasses.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Shira Camp 2
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Shira Camp 2 to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
The defining day of the Machame route. The trail climbs from Shira Camp 2 to Lava Tower at 4,640 m – the highest point of the trek before summit night – and lunch is eaten at altitude, then the path drops 700 m into Barranco Camp at 3,960 m. Up high for the afternoon, sleeping low for the night: that swing is the acclimatization move the whole route is built around. Kibo’s glaciers now hang directly above the wall ahead.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Lava Tower, 4,640 m
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Barranco Wall to Barafu Camp via Karanga
The long day of the six-day version: straight from the top of the Barranco Wall through Karanga Camp and on to Barafu at 4,640 m – seven to eight hours, with the Karanga water stop the only real pause. The traverse is steady rather than steep, but with no rest day left in the calendar this is where the six-day climb shows itself. Barafu, an early dinner, an even earlier night.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Karanga Camp
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Summit day: Barafu to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Shortly after midnight the camp stirs, and by one o’clock the line of headtorches is moving up the scree. Six to seven hours of slow climbing in the cold brings you to Stella Point on the crater rim as the sky lightens, then an hour on to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m as the sun comes up over the plains. Photographs, a short rest and a drink at the sign, then the long descent to Mweka Camp at 3,100 m – around fifteen hours on your feet in total.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Mweka Camp after the descent
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Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
A relaxed three-hour walk down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where the mountain authority signs off your summit certificate and the crew sings. From here it is back to the hotel in Moshi for showers, a cold drink and the celebration dinner. The end of the trek – the start of the stories.
Lunch offered: Farewell lunch at Mweka Gate
The version we guide: the extra day keeps Karanga as its own short, well-paced climb up to Barafu.
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Moshi to Machame Camp
The drive from Moshi drops you at Machame Gate at 1,800 m on the southern slope of the mountain, where registration is signed off and the porters load their kits. The trail enters the rainforest at once and climbs hard for four to five hours on red volcanic soil, emerging at Machame Camp at 3,000 m on a shoulder of the mountain with the valley falling away below. The steepest first day of any route – and a proper introduction to walking slowly.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Machame Camp
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Machame Camp to Shira Camp 2 via Shira Ridge
Out of the heath and onto the Shira Ridge, where the trail runs along the spine of the hill with views down both flanks and, ahead, the glaciers of Kibo. You cross the plateau to Shira Camp 2 at 3,900 m – for many climbers the first point on the mountain where walking feels genuinely easy. Kibo is close enough now to read the crevasses.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Shira Camp 2
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Shira Camp 2 to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
The defining day of the Machame route. The trail climbs from Shira Camp 2 to Lava Tower at 4,640 m – the highest point of the trek before summit night – and lunch is eaten at altitude, then the path drops 700 m into Barranco Camp at 3,960 m. Up high for the afternoon, sleeping low for the night: that swing is the acclimatization move the whole route is built around. Kibo’s glaciers now hang directly above the wall ahead.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Lava Tower, 4,640 m
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Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp
An early start on the Barranco Wall: a short, hands-on scramble of about an hour – more fun than frightening, and the most talked-about hour of the whole trek. From the top the trail traverses contour paths with the Reusch Glacier on your shoulder into Karanga Camp at 4,035 m, the smallest and quietest camp on the southern circuit. Four hours walking in all.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Karanga Camp
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Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
A short, sharp day up to Barafu Camp at 4,640 m, the launch pad for the summit. Barafu means “ice” in Swahili and the camp sits on bare rock with almost nothing growing; the afternoon is deliberately idle – lunch, a little reading, an early dinner and bed by six, because the guide will wake the camp shortly after midnight. From here on, drink more water than you feel like drinking.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Barafu Camp
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Summit day: Barafu to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Shortly after midnight the camp stirs, and by one o’clock the line of headtorches is moving up the scree. Six to seven hours of slow climbing in the cold brings you to Stella Point on the crater rim as the sky lightens, then an hour on to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m as the sun comes up over the plains. Photographs, a short rest and a drink at the sign, then the long descent to Mweka Camp at 3,100 m – around fifteen hours on your feet in total.
Lunch offered: Hot lunch at Mweka Camp after the descent
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Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
A relaxed three-hour walk down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where the mountain authority signs off your summit certificate and the crew sings. From here it is back to the hotel in Moshi for showers, a cold drink and the celebration dinner. The end of the trek – the start of the stories.
Lunch offered: Farewell lunch at Mweka Gate
Summit night is the real test
Expect -10°C to -15°C, six to seven hours in the dark and very little sleep beforehand. With correct layers, steady pacing and your guide watching your oxygen levels, it is well within reach of any prepared hill walker. See our Kilimanjaro packing list before you fly.
Prices for Machame route
Machame prices are set by how many days you spend on the mountain and how many of you share the crew and the camp. Park fees – entry, camping and rescue – are charged per climber per day, so the seven-day itinerary costs more than the six-day. Everything below is per person in US dollars and includes the two hotel nights in Moshi, all transfers, all meals on the mountain and the full crew.
Prices per person by itinerary length and group size:
| Itinerary | 1 PAX | 2-4 PAX | 5-9 PAX | 10+ PAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-day climb | $1,890 | $1,800 | $1,600 | $1,550 |
| 7-day climb | $1,980 | $1,850 | $1,790 | $1,730 |
What is included in a Machame climb
- All Kilimanjaro National Park entry, camping and rescue fees
- Licensed English-speaking guide, assistant guides, cook and porters
- All meals, drinking water, tea and coffee on the mountain
- Sleeping tents, dining tent, mattress and camp furniture
- Two hotel nights in Moshi before and after the climb
- Airport and trailhead transfers from Moshi or Arusha
- Emergency oxygen, pulse oximeter and a comprehensive first-aid kit
- Daily health and altitude monitoring by your guide
- Summit certificate and applicable government taxes
What is not included
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and high-altitude trekking insurance
- Personal gear rental (sleeping bag, poles, boots, jackets)
- Tips and gratuities for guides, porters and cook
- Alcoholic and soft drinks, and snacks
- Additional hotel nights and personal expenses
Every Machame Route itinerary and group size in one table – or save the full Kilimanjaro price sheet as a PDF.
What to Expect on Machame
Steep start, fast-changing scenery
Machame packs a lot into a short time. Day one climbs steeply through dripping rainforest to Machame Camp – the steepest forest exit of the main routes. The scenery shifts quickly: rainforest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and, finally, arctic summit. Expect company from day two onward – it’s sociable and well-trodden for good reason.
Ridge views and growing company
Day two crosses the Shira Ridge with the plateau stretching west and Kibo filling the horizon. Larger camps at Shira Camp 2 and Barafu are normal; the quietest moments are often the first morning and the Mweka descent. The pole-pole pace is essential here – don’t let the sociable buzz tempt you to rush.
Barranco Wall and the high traverse
The Barranco Wall is the highlight – a short scramble at 3,960 m, well within reach of any sure-footed walker. From there you head up to Karanga and Barafu, crossing alpine desert with glaciers overhead. Acclimatisation days are built in (especially on the 7-day itinerary), and the up-high, sleep-low principle does a lot of heavy lifting.
Summit night and descent
Summit night is hard as expected: midnight from Barafu across freezing scree. You’ll reach Stella Point for sunrise (5–6 hours), then Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) shortly after. After photos, descend to Barafu for a breather, then down the Mweka route – fast and forested. Tired legs are guaranteed, but you’ll finish at Mweka Gate with your summit certificate.
Preparation Tips
Nothing on Machame is technical – there are no ropes and no climbing skills involved, including on the Barranco Wall. What the route asks for is leg endurance, several days in a row, and honest preparation in the months before you fly.
- Train for endurance, not speed. Hill walks, stairs and back-to-back weekend hikes with a loaded pack, eight to twelve weeks out – see our Kilimanjaro training guide for a week-by-week plan.
- Break in your boots properly and train in the exact socks and daypack you will climb in.
- Pack from the Kilimanjaro packing list, and hire anything you are missing in Moshi rather than buying it at home.
- Arrive a day early. The briefing, the equipment check and one night of altitude-free sleep in Moshi are worth more than an extra day at home.
- Book three to six months ahead for the dry seasons – June to October and mid-December to March – because park permits and crews are limited.
- Take out insurance that explicitly covers trekking to 6,000 m and emergency helicopter evacuation.
Why Choose Topi Adventure
Based at the mountain
We are a Moshi operator. Your guides live at the foot of Kilimanjaro, walk these trails every month and know exactly when to push and when to hold.
Safety without shortcuts
Emergency oxygen, a pulse oximeter and a full first-aid kit on every climb, twice-daily health checks, and guides trained to turn around when the data says so.
Small groups, real pace
We cap our groups and keep the pole-pole pace even when it feels slow – the pace is what summits people.
Honest, all-in pricing
Park fees, crew, meals, tents, hotel nights and transfers in the first line of the quote, not buried in the last. Two hotel nights in Moshi included.
Other routes on Mt. Kilimanjaro
Machame is one of seven ways up Kilimanjaro, and not always the right one. These are the other six, each with its own full guide.
Lemosho Route
Rainforest, moorland and a high success rate on a quiet western approach. Our pick for most first-time climbers.
Marangu Route
The only route with huts all the way up: the shortest schedule, but the time it saves on the mountain costs success.
Rongai Route
The dry northern approach with gentle gradients – the strongest pick for the rainy season.
Umbwe Route
The steepest, most direct line up the mountain. Reserve it for experienced altitude trekkers.
Shira Route
Shares Lemosho’s western approach but starts higher and shorter. Quiet, scenic and usually merged with Lemosho.
Northern Circuit
The remote arc around the north face with an extra day of quiet, high walking. The mountain’s highest success rate.
Frequently asked questions
How many days is the Machame route?
Machame is walked in 6 or 7 days on the mountain. We guide the 7-day itinerary: the extra day is an acclimatisation day around Barranco, and it lifts the summit rate meaningfully. The 6-day version suits only climbers whose dates genuinely cannot stretch.
Is Machame harder than Lemosho?
The terrain is the same from Lava Tower onwards – Machame simply reaches that point by a steeper, shorter schedule. In practice Machame feels harder for most climbers because of the compressed acclimatisation and the busier camps. If you have the days, the 8-day Lemosho is the more comfortable walk with better summit odds.
How hard is the Machame route?
Machame is a demanding trek, not a technical climb. Day one is a steep climb out of the rainforest, the Barranco Wall is a short hands-on scramble, and summit night is fifteen hours at altitude in the cold. Hill fitness, a slow pace and the seven-day itinerary put the route within reach of most healthy walkers.
What is the success rate on the Machame route?
Published summit rates for the 7-day Machame climb run at 75–85%, against a mountain-wide average near 65%. The 6-day version sits lower, because it gives the body one fewer night above 3,000 m to acclimatise.
When is the best time to climb Machame?
The two dry windows – June to October and mid-December to March – give the best conditions and the clearest summit views. Machame climbs the southern slope, so expect mud on the forest sections after rain and busy camps in July and August. It is climbable year round with the right kit.
How much does the Machame route cost?
From $1,800 per person for the 6-day itinerary and $1,850 for the 7-day. The price per person falls as the group grows, and solo climbers pay the 1 PAX rate. Park fees, crew, meals, tents, two hotel nights in Moshi and all transfers are included; international flights, visa, insurance, gear hire and crew tips are not.
Ready to talk it through with a local guide?
Tell us your dates, experience level and budget. We will recommend a route, build the day-by-day plan and send it back free, with no obligation.
