Sunset over Mt Meru taken from Shira Cave Camp on Machame

Machame Route

Name: Machame Route
Brand: Follow Alice
SKU: 2043406381
Price: 2765 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (10 reviews)

Trips/Climb Kilimanjaro

9 days

The Machame is a beautiful and popular route. The winding path leads you up the southwestern slope of Kilimanjaro, then strikes east below the shadow of Kibo Peak, before turning north to approach the summit. The scenery is dramatic and rewarding. And the acclimatisation profile is good, so it has a high summit success rate.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival day

We fetch you from Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive you to the lodge. Here you meet your fellow trekkers and lead guide, who gives you a briefing on what to expect. Relax by the pool and enjoy your last night of easy living for a while!

Day 2: The trek starts

After an early breakfast you're driven to Kilimanjaro National Park where the trek begins! At Machame Gate (1,640 m) you’re recorded in the park's register. You then hike for five to seven hours through pristine rainforest to Machame Camp (3,020 m). This is a beautiful section of the hike, and you should keep your eyes open for monkeys, duikers and birds.

Rainforest on the way from Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Day 3: Ascend into the heath zone

After an early breakfast, you climb up and out of the rainforest and into the moorland (or heath) zone. You cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira Cave Camp (3,810 m). At this campsite you have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers. Today’s hike lasts about five to six hours in total.

Florence smiling on Kilimanjaro in the heath zone

Day 4: Climb to Lava Tower

Today’s route consists of two parts: the hike up to Lava Tower (4,630 m), followed by the hike down to Barranco Camp (3,967 m). This means we 'hike high, sleep low', which is an excellent strategy for good acclimatisation. You enjoy lunch at Lava Tower, a striking rock formation. Barranco Camp is nestled at the base of the imposing Barranco Wall. You hike for six to eight hours today.

Day 5: Tackle Barranco Wall

After an early breakfast, it’s time to conquer Barranco Wall. While it may look intimidating at first, it's actually very managaeable. And most trekkers actually really enjoy it. It's a funnel on the trek route, and there's a great spirit of camaraderie. From there, the trail winds up and down until you arrive at Karanga Camp (3,995 m). In total you hike for four to five hours.

Day 6: Walk through alpine desert

It’s getting real! You’re now very close to the summit and have some amazing views of the mountain during your ascent of three hours to reach Barafu Camp (4,673 m). You all go to bed early tonight as you’ll be woken around midnight by your crew with tea and biscuits to get ready for the start of the long summit trek.

Day 7: Summit time!

This is it! Time to go big or go home. And that means believing in yourself and when it gets tough, just focusing on the next step. Because you can do it! Starting at midnight, you reach Stella Point on the crater rim around 6 or 7 am for sunrise. After another hour of walking you're standing at Uhuru Peak (5,685 m), the higest person in Africa! It's then a long hike of six to eight hours down to Mweka Camp (3,068 m).

Day 8: Descend to Mweka Gate

Today you hike the last bit of the trek route (which takes three hours) to reach Mweka Gate (1,640 m). This part of the route takes you back into the rainforest, and all that oxygen-laden air is a dream! Your driver meets you at the gate and whisks you back to your lodge where you can enjoy beers, hot showers and cosy beds!

Day 9: Departure day

Today we drive west, with Kilimanjaro in our rearview mirror and amazing memories in our back pockets. For those flying out of Tanzania or on to Zanzibar, we drop you at the airport. But for those heading off on a safari, we continue west into the next part of our adventure!

Inclusions

Dedicated trip manager

In-depth preparation documents

Assistance and advice concerning Covid testing requirements

Pre-climb Zoom consult

2 overnight stays at Lindrin Lodge in Moshi (incl. breakfasts and dinners)

In-depth pre-climb safety briefing at Lindrin Lodge

Transport to and from trailheads

Kilimanjaro National Park entrance fee

Qualified, experienced, English-speaking guides

Porters

Experienced cook

All meals on the mountain

Snacks and hot drinks

Purified drinking water

Daily bowl of water for ‘washy washy’

High-quality, four-season sleeping bag

High-quality, four-season sleeping tent

Sleeping mat

Private Follow Alice toilet (1 per 8 climbers)

Organisation of any rental equipment, if required

Medical equipment (incl. pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen)

Climb certificate

Tanzanian visa

Airfares

Traveller's insurance

Single supplement ($200) if required

Tip for mountain crew

Airport transfers ($25 per person per transfer)

Where you'll stay

Lindrin Lodge

Lindrin Lodge in the town of Moshi offers chalet accommodation in a pretty and well-maintained garden setting.

Gallery

Londorossi Gate group photo FA Kilimanjaro

Matthieu and Arwa at Stella Point Kilimanjaro

FAQs

Do I climb the Barranco Wall on the Machame route?

Yes, the Machame route leads you up the magnificent Barranco Wall. This is a highlight of the trek for many.

Is the 6- or 7-day Machame route better?

We always advise clients to choose the seven-day over the six-day Machame route. This is because we don't think the latter offers enough time for your body to acclimatise properly. Proper acclimatisation is essential for avoiding altitude sickness.

That said, it's a personal choice and we're happy to lead climbers on both the six- and seven-day Machame routes. You can find both itineraries spelled out in our Machame route blog post.

Is the Machame route an easy or hard route?

Firstly, we should say that there are no easy routes up Kilimanjaro, because the mountain is a beast! That said, some routes are shorter and steeper than others, and some don't allow for as much as acclimatisation. The seven-day Machame route comes somewhere in the middle in terms of difficulty.

What is the distance of the Machame route?

The total distance of the Machame route is 62 km (39 miles), making it the third shortest Kilimanjaro route. See a detailed breakdown of the Machame route.

What is the scenery like on the Machame route?

The landscapes along the Machame route are wonderfully varied and beautiful. You ascend and descend the mountain along different routes, which lets you see more parts of the mountain. The sections through the rainforest and moorland have beautiful vegetation, and the views from higher up where you look out over the plains are magnificent.

Where does one go to the toilet on the trek?

If you climb the Machame route, you stay in tented camps and your tour operator provides the group with a toilet tent. On the trail, you duck behind bushes and rocks to relieve yourself. For full details, please read 6 things I wish I knew before climbing Kilimanjaro. You might also like to read Advice for women climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.