Machame Route & Packages
OVERVIEW
The Machame Route is one of the popular trekking routes to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Known as the “Whiskey Route,” it is named for its challenging ascent, providing a more strenuous and adventurous climb compared to some other routes. The nickname reflects the demanding nature of the trail, with steep and varied terrain that includes rock scrambles and steep ridges. The Machame Route is known for its scenic beauty, offering trekkers diverse landscapes, from lush rainforests to alpine deserts, as they ascend towards the Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Kilimanjaro.
- Kilimanjaro Safari Ittinerary
Machame Route: A scenic ascent to Kilimanjaro’s summit. Known for its diverse landscapes, it offers a challenging yet rewarding trek. As the “Whiskey Route,” it combines stunning scenery with strategic acclimatization, making it a popular choice for adventurers seeking a memorable climb.
- Kilimanjaro Safari Ittinerary
Machame Route: A scenic ascent to Kilimanjaro’s summit. Known for its diverse landscapes, it offers a challenging yet rewarding trek. As the “Whiskey Route,” it combines stunning scenery with strategic acclimatization, making it a popular choice for adventurers seeking a memorable climb.
Frequently asked questions
How difficult is the Machame Route?
The Machame route is considered one of the less difficult routes on Kilimanjaro as it’s longer itinerary allows for better acclimatization. However, hikers will still need to ascend the Barranco Wall and climb steeply on summit night. No technical climbing is required but a good level of fitness is highly recommended. You can read more on training to climb Kilimanjaro and our Kilimanjaro training program page to help you prepare accordingly.
What is the distance of the Machame Route and how many days does it take?
The approximately trekking distance for the Machame Route is 62 km or 37 miles the entire climb from trail head up to the summit and all the way down to Mweka gate. The shortest number of days required for Machame Route is 6 days, but by the time you have added on arrival and departure days it is 10. However, as it is a much longer approach route it is actually best done over 7 or 8 days to increase your changes of success.
What is the Machame Route Summit Success Rate?
Due to it’s climb high sleep low mechanism, summit success rates on the Machame route are very high. Whilst there are no official statistics, the average success rate across all operators is 85% for the 7 day trek and a 73% success rate for the 6 day trek. However, We have a 95% summit success rate for the Machame route. Read more about how many days it takes to climb Kilimanjaro to know why we recommend longer treks.
What is the Scenery like on the Machame Route?
The scenery is extremely varied and you will pass through 5 climatic zones on your way to the summit. The trek begins in rain forest on the lower slopes before continuing up into the low alpine zone of wild grasslands and moorlands.
From there you trek into the high alpine zone before reaching the glacial zone. You will encounter many incredible vistas and visit stunning places such as Shira Plateau, Barranco and Lava Tower.
When is the best time to Trek Machame Route?
July-September is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro, as the weather is most stable during this period and encountering rain is less likely. That said, since it is close to the equator it is possible to climb the mountain at any time of the year. April and May is the rainy season so this period is best avoided.
