Machame Route

Who the Machame Route Is For

 

Machame is our most popular route for a reason. It suits you if you want the classic Kilimanjaro experience: big scenery from day two onwards, a sociable trail, and a route profile that helps your body acclimatise by climbing high and sleeping low.

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• Choose Machame if: you have a moderate to good fitness base, you want the most scenic bang for a 6 to 7 day window, and you like the idea of the Barranco Wall scramble.

• Think twice if: you want the quietest possible mountain (look at Rongai or the Northern Circuit), or you want maximum acclimatisation time (the 8 day Lemosho or 9 day Northern Circuit give you more).

 

6 Days or 7 Days on Machame?

 

Both versions climb the same trail; the 7 day itinerary splits the climb to Barafu with an extra acclimatisation night. We recommend 7 days for most first-time climbers. The extra night is the single cheapest way to raise your summit chances: it gives your body 24 more hours to adapt to altitude at the point in the climb where it matters most.

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"The longer you spend on the mountain the more success you have.

She give's way to patience".  

 

How Long Is the Machame Route?

 

Gate to gate, the Machame route is roughly 62 km (38 miles): about 11 km on day one, 8 km on day two, 10 km on day three, 6 km each on days four and five, then summit night, which is around 4 km up to Uhuru Peak followed by a long 12 km descent, and a final 10 km walk out to Mweka Gate. The distances are modest on paper; the altitude is what makes them work.

 

Why Is Machame Called the Whiskey Route?

 

The nickname is a joke at the Marangu route's expense. Marangu, the only route with hut accommodation, was long considered the soft option and earned the name the Coca-Cola route. Machame, steeper and wilder and under canvas, got the stronger drink: the whiskey route (you will also see it spelt whisky route). The name stuck because the comparison is fair: Machame asks more of you than Marangu, and gives you more back.

 

How Hard Is the Machame Route?

 

We grade Machame 3 out of 5. No day on the route needs technical climbing skills, but three things earn its whiskey reputation: the daily ascent profile, the Barranco Wall, and summit night.

The Barranco Wall looks alarming from camp: 257 metres of rock rising straight above the tents. In practice it is a hands-on scramble up a well-worn path, taken slowly, one move at a time, and most climbers finish it grinning.

 

"We climb the mountain monkey style, Kiss the rock and keep on climbing"

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Summit night is the real test on any route: you start around midnight, climb roughly 1,200 vertical metres in the cold and dark, and reach the crater rim at dawn. Our guides pace it deliberately slowly; the climbers who struggle are almost always the ones who went too fast, not the ones who were too unfit.

 

Machame Route Success Rate

 

Industry-wide, around 70 to 80 percent of climbers on 6 to 7 day Machame itineraries reach Uhuru Peak, and the 7 day version outperforms the 6. Our own Machame success rate is 85 percent. The difference comes down to pacing, an extra acclimatisation night, and guides empowered to slow the group rather than push it. Read our full breakdown of Kilimanjaro success rates by route to see how every route compares.

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Best Time to Climb the Machame Route

 

Machame climbs well in both dry seasons: January to early March, and June to October. The long rains (late March to May) make the rainforest days genuinely wet, and November brings shorter rains. There is no bad month, only different trade-offs of weather, crowds and views. See our honest month-by-month guide to the best time to climb Kilimanjaro for the full picture.

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What Does the Machame Route Cost?

 

Our Machame expeditions start from $4,100 per person, including transfers, hotel nights in Arusha before and after the climb, all park fees and KINAPA levies, certified guides, fair-paid porters, all meals on the mountain, supplemental oxygen carried on every expedition, and professional camping equipment. A 20 percent deposit secures your place. See our full dates and prices, or read our prices explained page for exactly where the money goes and why we will never be the cheapest operator on the mountain.​

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Machame or Lemosho?

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The commonest choice our climbers weigh up. In one paragraph: Machame is the classic, sociable, 6 to 7 day option; Lemosho starts further west, adds a quieter first two days through untouched forest, and at 7 to 8 days gives you gentler acclimatisation and a slightly higher success rate, for a slightly higher price. If you have the extra day and budget, we usually say Lemosho; if you want the iconic route and a tighter window, Machame will not disappoint. Read the full Lemosho route guide to compare.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How long is the Machame route?

About 62 km (38 miles) gate to gate, walked over 6 or 7 days, with daily stages between 4 and 11 km.

 

How hard is the Machame route?

Moderately hard: grade 3 out of 5. No technical climbing is required, but the Barranco Wall scramble and a 1,200 m midnight summit push make it a genuine challenge. Good hill fitness is enough for most people.

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What is the success rate on the Machame route?

Around 60 to 65 percent industry-wide on 6 to 7 day itineraries, with 7 day climbs clearly outperforming 6 day ones. Our own rate is 85 percent.

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Is 6 or 7 days better on Machame?

Seven, for most climbers. The extra acclimatisation night meaningfully raises your summit chances for a modest extra cost.

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Why is Machame called the Whiskey route?

As a contrast to the gentler Marangu 'Coca-Cola' route: Machame is the stronger, steeper option, hence the stronger drink.

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Is the Barranco Wall dangerous?

It looks dramatic but it is a scramble, not a climb: a well-worn path with hands-on moves, taken slowly with your guides. Thousands of climbers of all ages cross it every season.