Kilimanjaro Climb via Machame Route
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Kilimanjaro Climbing from Machame Route

Key Infomation

  • Duration:9 Days
  • Trip GradeStrenuous
  • DestinationTanzania Kilimanjaro
  • Max Altitude5,895 m
  • ActivityClimbing, Trekking & Hiking
  • Group Size1-15
based on 4 reviews
Traveler's Choice
Price fromUS$2,350US$2,500
Group Price Available
Group Price Available
peoplePrice
1 person - 1 personUS$ 2490
2 people - 2 peopleUS$ 2350
3 people - 5 peopleUS$ 2290
6 people - 10 peopleUS$ 2220
11 people - 15 peopleUS$ 2170
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  • No booking or Credit Card Fee
  • Free Cancellation
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Kilimanjaro climbing is one of the most popular and widely visited destinations in the African nation, Tanzania. Likewise, the popular wildlife safari in Tanzania, the Kilimanjaro climb, is an exciting destination for travel enthusiasts. The Kilimanjaro climb via Machame route is also known as the Whiskey Route, which is the popular route for Mt. Kilimanjaro climbing. Approximately 50% of the hikers choose this route to summit Kilimanjaro, as this trail offers smooth acclimatization, stunning views, and diverse scenery.

The Kilimanjaro Machame route takes you through the scenic landscapes and incredible views of the arctic zone, passing through the grasslands, tropical rainforest, alpine meadow, moorlands, and high desert to snow and ice. This route is relatively difficult as compared to others, but there are no parts on the trail that require the technical skills of climbing and mountaineering. For more details, read our blog Difficulties of Kilimanjaro Climbing.

The trip began with the scenic drive from Moshi to Machame Gate, located at the southern base of the mountain. The trail leads onto the lush rainforest. The trail further leads onto the Shira Plateau before winding along the southern circuit of the mountain. The trail offers spectacular views of the valleys, tropical rainforest, and amazing landscapes. As you ascend higher, you’ll experience a dramatic shift in the scenery, with tropical rainforest giving way to moorland. Afterward, you’ll climb up to the great Barranco wall and pass underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers to reach Karanga Camp. At this camp, you’ll have ample time for acclimatization. The journey continues to Barafu Camp, where you will sleep early and rest for the next day's summit push. The final day would be more challenging, as you’ll wake up early at 2 am and start ascending towards the summit of Kilimanjaro. After 4 to 5 hours, you’ll reach the crater rim at Stella Point, from where you can experience the breathtaking views of the sunrise. You’ll see the stunning view of Mawenzi Peak from here. Continue ascending further for an hour, and you’ll reach the top of Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) at your dreamland. The views from the top are breathtaking, and after some time, you’ll descend down to Millennium Camp through the same route.

Highlights of Kilimanjaro Climbing

  • Seven days on the Machame route provide sufficient acclimatization that ensures a success rate of up to 95%
  • Summit Mt. Kilimanjaro to Uhuru Peak, the highest freestanding mountain in the world 
  • From the “Roof of Africa”, you’ll experience breathtaking views of the African landscape and scenery below the clouds 
  • Experience the rich culture, ethnic people, and amazing hospitality of Africa with the delicious taste
  • Explore the pleasant hike in the tropical rainforest via the Machame route 

Facts of Kilimanjaro 

Dominating the landscape like no other mountain, iconic and standing taller, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest peak in Africa and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain with an elevation of 5,895 m above sea level. Mt. Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira, and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extant but Kibo ( the highest peak) could erupt again. In this region, almost every kind of ecological system is found such as cultivated land, rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, and an arctic summit. Italian Bruno Brunod scaled the fastest ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2001, which takes around 5hr and 38min. Also, the fastest roundtrip was accomplished in 2004 by a local guide, Simon Mtuy who went up and came back in 8 hours and 27min.

The Machame route is suitable for more adventurous people or those who like to chase the authenticity of the high-altitude hiking and climbing experience. Footprint Adventure offers the best reasonable price, specialized local guiding, and amazing hospitality to climb the Kilimanjaro. We also offer a day tour in Tanzania, Tanzania Safari, Meru Climbing, and many more amazing tours and treks in Tanzania.

For more details, please Read our article Comprehensive Guidebook for Kilimanjaro Climbing.

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Itinerary

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Here is the complete itinerary of the Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb from the Machame Route. If you are looking for your own customized itinerary, feel free to contact us anytime. 

Once you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a Footprint Adventures representative will be there to greet you and drive you to your hotel in Moshi. As the day progresses, we'll meet with our tour manager in the evening to go through trip details. Ask your tour guide as many questions as you like to help you prepare for your trip. The conversation will be followed by a welcome meal sponsored by Footprint Adventure. Our meal tonight will be a delicious introduction to Tanzanian cuisine and culture.

  • Accommodation Panama Garden Hotel
  • MealsWelcome Dinner
  • Maximum Altitude930 m

We will pick you up from your hotel in Moshi and complete your formalities and continue your journey to the Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park gate which takes around 1hr by car. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. 

We now leave the park gate and walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

  • Accommodation Camping
  • MealsBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Time1hr drive and 5-6hrs hike
  • Maximum Altitude2,835 m

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.

  • Accommodation Camping
  • MealsBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Time5-6 hours
  • Maximum Altitude3,750 m

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth." Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

  • Accommodation Camping
  • MealsBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Time7-8 hours
  • Maximum Altitude3,900 m

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day and acclimatization day as well before ascending the Kilimanjaro trek. 

  • Accommodation Camping
  • MealsBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Time3-4 hrs
  • Maximum Altitude3,995 m

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

 

  • Accommodation Camping
  • MealsBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Time4-5 hrs
  • Maximum Altitude4,673 m

Very early in the morning (midnight to 1-2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

  • Accommodation Camping
  • MealsBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Time10-12 hrs
  • Maximum Altitude5,895 m

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to the hotel in Moshi.

  • Accommodation Panama Garden Hotel
  • MealsBreakfast and Lunch
  • Time3-4 hrs hike and 1 hour drive
  • Maximum Altitude1,630 m

Our Representative will drop you at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your final departure from Tanzania. 

*Please note that you have to be at the airport before 3 hours of flight time. 

  • MealsBreakfast
  • Maximum Altitude930 m

What's Included

Included  Excluded
  • Private airport transfers during the arrival and departure
  • 2x nights hotel accommodation in Moshi with breakfast (Panama Garden Resort) or similar standard hotels
  • All park fees and required permits, camping fees, and park rescue fees for climbing
  • All camping equipment and gear, such as mountain tents, mattresses, kitchen equipment, dining tents
  • All the ground transportation during the climbing as per the itinerary 
  • Full board meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the climbing period
  • Oxygen bottle for emergency carried by the climbing crew 
  • Health check twice a day during the climbing
  • Food, insurance, and salary for all the crew members
  • T-shirt and certificate of achievement from the company side
  • Carry Me Bag for responsible waste collection throughout the trek  
  • Professional English-speaking guide(s), porters & chefs during the climbing
  • Water, tea, and coffee with meals during the climbing
  • Company service charges and government taxes
  • International and Domestic fights 
  • Lunch & dinner in Moshi
  • Travel Insurance
  • Tanzanian Visa fee (50 USD for most of the passports and 100 USD for USA citizens, purchase on arrival)
  • Increases in park fees where applicable
  • Private tent during the climbing (USD 300 extra applicable)
  • Personal equipment such as sleeping bags, hiking gear, and trekking equipment 
  • Tips for guide(s), porters & cook (expected)
  • Soda, alcohol, and other hard drinks 
  • Any other personal expenses which are not mentioned above

Additional Info

Popular Things to do

Tanzania is widely popular for wildlife safari and Kilimanjaro climbing especially. Besides this, beaches, friendly people, intriguing culture, amazing hospitality, the popular Serengeti National Park, and Kilimanjaro mountains. After the trek, exploring the Zanzibar Islands, beaches and drinks are other most fascinating things to explore during the Tanzania trip. 

Weather & Climate 

An  African country located on the southern equator of the world offers a diverse climatic environment that depends on the elevation, and geographical structure of a particular place and season during the entire year. Normally on coastal sides, the temperature remains humid and hot and tropical weather prevails. While the northern side remains cold and the high altitude area becomes more chilled across the year. The central part of Tanzania remains dry and arid throughout the year.

Food in Tanzania

This African country offers a variety of local, international, and continental cuisine. The local cuisine has been widely influenced by several cultures, people, and flavors as there are about 120 ethnic groups along with people from Asia, and Europe who also lived there. The normal meals from Tanzania include local products like rice, wheat, corn, beans, cabbage, varieties of nuts, banana, mango, pineapple, and coconut. The taste of the Tanzanian foods is amazing and mouth-watering along with nutritious, healthy, and fresh as well. The popular local food in Tanzania is Ugali which is a staple food served during both lunch and dinner. 

Ugali, Maandazi, Vitumbua, Wali wa Nazi, Supu ya Ndizi, Nyama Choma, Pilau, Chapati Bread, Mchemsho, Ndizi Nyama, Wali na Maharage, Mchuzi wa Samaki, Mishkaki, Date Nut Bread, Sweet Potato Pudding, Mchicha, Makubi, Coconut Bean Soup, Mkate wa Sinia, Vibibi are the some of the most popular and delicious foods in Tanzania which you must try when you are in Tanzania.

Best time to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro 

Mt. Kilimanjaro lies in the equatorial region of the earth, so you don’t have to experience the extreme hot and cold across the year. Though, there are a few months which is the best time to explore the beauty of Tanzania and Kilimanjaro. Normally, the peak season for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro starts from December to mid of March and mid of June to the end of October. The good part of peak season offers favorable weather conditions and the best time for hiking, trekking, and climbing. Also, the high season offers beautiful views of the sunrise from the top and amazing scenery. The hectic part of the prime season is that the trail gets crowded, and obviously, the peak season brings the many fellow travelers, and climbers, and the region gets crowded. 

Kilimanjaro Climb via Machame Route

Popular Full Moon Climb 

Mt. Kilimanjaro climbing is popular on full moon days. So, travelers patiently wait to make the trip during this period in the high season. Climbing during the full moon day brings the bright moonlight that illuminates the nearby surroundings with the glittering glacier. Also, you can see the magical views of Mt. Kino with more visibility during the full moon day. Also, another important reason for climbing Africa’s tallest mountain during the full moon is due to its glows that enhance the insights of the Kilimanjaro trekking passes and especially during your summit attempt.

The difficulty of Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

For beginners and new trekkers, Kilimanjaro climbing would be a little tough and intimidating task for you but it’s not impossible as the difficulty level for this climbing is not that extreme as compared to the high Himalayas of the Great Himalayan Trail. The most demanding part of this trek would be the high altitude. The proper guidance, proper acclimatization, rest, and well-known information regarding the trails would definitely help you to achieve your goal. We’ve made such a good itinerary where you’ll get enough time to acclimatize your body. Also, you need normal physical fitness to succeed in this climbing as you’ve to walk 5-7 hr daily with 57km distance to cover in a week.

Fitness & Altitude Sickness 

There is no doubt that Kilimanjaro climbing is challenging and you’ll hike up to high-altitude climbing. To make the journey successful, your fitness level should be normal, you should be able to walk around 5-7hr every day at a normal pace. You may feel your pace could be slow due to the higher elevation which is normal in high mountains. But it is essential for a safe and successful ascent. Prior hiking and trekking in high mountains would be additional support for your successful ascent. 

Regarding altitude sickness, this is a very obvious situation when you are in high mountains. To avoid such a condition, you must acclimatize your body when needed and drink enough water while hiking up. You should follow all the necessary guidance from your climbing guide which will be helpful from AMS ( Acute Mountain Sickness). You can use some medicines such as Diamox (acetazolamide) to avoid mountain sickness.

FAQs

Q1. Can I get a visa on arrival in Tanzania ?

Yes, you will get a visa on arrival in Tanzania. 

From the commencement of the Machame route trial (Machame Gate-1640m) to the summit of the Kilimanjaro Uhuru peak(5895m), then down to Mweka Gate(1640m), this route is 62 kilometers. Both expert and novice climbers liked the Machame route. This route is used by over half of annual Kilimanjaro climbs.

 

Kilimanjaro is best climbed during the dry season and favorable weather; nonetheless, Kilimanjaro's weather is unpredictable. One minute it's sunny, the next it's raining. January, February, mid-March, mid-June, July, August, September, October, and December. Climb Kilimanjaro utilizing the Machame path during the aforementioned ideal months; you'll have a higher summit success than during the rainy season, which has heavy rain and strong wind. Due to poor weather in certain months, climbers need waterproof gear (May, April, November).

 

Due to its long path and better opportunity for acclimatization, the Machame route is one of the less challenging ones on Kilimanjaro. On summit night, trekkers will still need to climb hard up the Barranco Wall. Although technical climbing skills are not necessary, it is strongly advised to be physically fit. You may learn more about preparing to climb Kilimanjaro by visiting our page on the Kilimanjaro training program.

 

The Machame Route trekking distance—from the trailhead to the top and back down to Mweka gate—is approximately 62 kilometers or 37 miles. The smallest amount of time needed for the Machame Route is six days, but ten days when arrival and departure days are included. To enhance your chances of success, it is actually advisable to spread out the work over 7 or 8 days because it is a much longer approach method.

 

The Machame route has very high summit success rates because of its climb high and low design. Although there are no official numbers, the average success rate for the 7-day trek across all operators is 85%, and the average success rate for the 6-day trek is 73%. On the Machame route, we have a 95% success rate in reaching the summit. For additional information on why we advise lengthier journeys, read more about how many days it takes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

 

 

On your way to the summit, you will pass through five different climatic zones and a plethora of different landscapes. The trip starts in a rainforest on the lower slopes and ascends through a low alpine zone of moorlands and wild meadows.

From there, you make your way through the high alpine region until you arrive at the glacial zone. Shira Plateau, Barranco, and Lava Tower are just a few of the breathtaking locations you'll see, along with many others.

 

The best season to climb Kilimanjaro is from July to September because the weather is most predictable and there is less chance of rain then. Despite this, the peak may be climbed at any time of the year because it is so close to the equator. The months of April and May are wet, so it is advisable to avoid them.

 

It is undoubtedly risky to climb a mountain that is 19,341 feet (5,895 m) high. Every year, an estimated 50,000 individuals attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, 1,000 of whom are forced to be evacuated and 10 of them die. It implies that the likelihood of dying on the mountain is essentially zero—0.0002%. In other words, the greatest cause of fatality is altitude sickness, and there is only one death every 5,000 climbers.

 

No, and yes! It is feasible to climb Kilimanjaro alone, away from other trekkers and crowds. You will still receive assistance from porters and guides, though. As the Tanzanian Tourism Board forbids hiking without a guide, porter, and other crew members, even though you will be the sole trekker, you won't truly be alone. The ratio of hikers to support staff is 1:4, thus if you're the solitary climber, 4 other trekkers from your organization will help you.

 

The glacier zone, where the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, also known as Uhuru Point, is located, with an average daytime temperature of roughly -6°C (21°F). All ascents, however, start at about midnight in order to arrive at the Uhuru peak before daylight. Consequently, you will be trekking during the night, when the temperature drops to between -7 and -29°C (19 and -20°F).

 

Altitude sickness is the leading cause of climbers' failure to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The body's reaction to the low oxygen levels in the environment is this illness. Although oxygen is not essential to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, supplemental oxygen may be required if an individual has altitude sickness because of a shortage of oxygen while trying to reach the summit. However, excessive use of more oxygen may be extremely harmful to your health. If a person experiences altitude sickness at extremely high elevations above 23,000 feet, additional oxygen is typically used.

 

If you compare the Kilimanjaro climb to the Everest Base Camp Trek, you will find that the Kilimanjaro climb gets you to higher altitudes considerably more quickly. Depending on the route, it takes 4 to 6 days to ascend Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft) from Moshi (2,932 ft), which is a gain of more than 16,000 ft in elevation. According to statistics, the total success percentage for summiting Kilimanjaro is 65%, while the success rate for reaching Everest Base Camp is over 90%. As a result, climbing Kilimanjaro is more difficult than hiking to Everest Base Camp, especially given Kilimanjaro's swift ascent and significant elevation gain.

For the Machame route, you'll need porters. According to KINAPA, climbers cannot summit Kilimanjaro without porters. Porters must have a valid registration certificate to support climbers on Mount Kilimanjaro. Porters are the foundation of the Kilimanjaro climb; they carry all the food, camping gear, and climber bags. Without porters, many mountaineers would struggle. Climbers book Kilimanjaro with an ethical firm to ensure the porters are treated fairly.

 

Yes, the Machame route is more popular than the Marangu route these days due to the large number of experienced and novice climbers who are interested in climbing it. This means that the Machame route sees more traffic than the Marangu route, with many more climbers camped at the first campsite along the Machame route, Shira Camp, Barranco Camp, and Karanga Camp. Before attempting to reach the top of Kilimanjaro, climbers from the Machame, Lemosho, Shira, and Umbwe routes spend the night at Barafu. The gorgeous Machame trail loses its wonderful and exceptional beauty as a result of increased traffic.

Client Reviews

Making Dreams a Reality

Ms. Eight, Switzerland
Footprint Adventures and their guide Jerome and his team in Tanzania are the best choice for a successful and safe climb up to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.As a female solo traveller and hiker, I felt safe and secure and every need was met along the way.I’m a vegan and gluten free and Jerome’s chef cooked me fresh vegan gluten free meals daily and snacks daily! Also - Footprint Adventures and Jerome are concerned for your safely as they checked my oxygen levels daily and Jerome was very good at giving me advice as to when to take my altitude medicine for maximum performance and safe operations! If you are planning to hike Mount Kilimanjaro, I highly recommend Footprint Adventures and Jerome and his team to give you the best experience and best chance at a successful summit! Good luck!

Amazing Experience organized by Footprint Team & Jerome Team

Kristen G.K, United States

My family and I Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro -Tanzania in May 2022. We were able to make it to the peak of the mountain. Our driver picked us up on time and drive us back to the hotel in Moshi town where we had an overnight sleep. We had an extra day in Moshi for gear checkup and brief before heading to the Machame gate start point. We used Footprint Adventure and Kilimanjaro Mountain Guide team for our trip, and we did the 7 Days via Machame route.

Our trip was a lot of fun, we had a great enthusiastic mountain support crew (porters, guides, and cooks led by their leader guide Jerome. Our mountain guides were well trained and had such great hospitality throughout our journey.
They helped with the setup to clean our tents, and portable mobile toilets, carrying the oxygen tanks and the ox-meters, and checked from time to time if we were okay. Our sincere gratitude and thanks to our cook and waiter, they prepared the most delicious meal, from the first day to the last.Thank you again! It was really an amazing life experience for my family.

Many thanks go to the Footprint team and the entire team who put their time and efforts into planning and organizing our Mount Kilimanjaro trip, and a wholesome experience for my family. We highly recommend this company for your safe and smooth climb in Tanzania. We surely will go back.

Kilimanjaro Climb

Francisca S, Germany

In March 2022 I wanted to climb Kilimanjaro. However, the agency through which I had originally booked canceled the trip. So I wrote to Madhav, who reorganized the entire trip for me in 24 hours with his local partner. Thanks a lot for this! This is the second time I have traveled with the agency and I am very satisfied! Everything was perfectly organized on-site and I didn't have to worry about anything.

Safe and fun on the mountain of Tanzania

Aimals Wandrer, United States

Footprint Adventure and Jerome of Kilimanjaro Mountain Guide is a true professional and knows the mountain environment very well! We were a group of 3 friends with very little experience at altitude but we all summited!! YES!!!! The entire team kept us safe and we felt very safe with them. Plus, they make the climb lots of fun!!! Five shining stars for these amazing guys. We will visit Nepal and climb Everest Base Camp very soon. 
Can't wait to see you guys soon in Nepal !!!

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