Overview
Machame is Kilimanjaro's most popular route for good reason — varied scenery, dramatic ridgelines and a sociable trail. It's steeper than Lemosho, so it's best for travellers with prior multi-day trekking experience.
Quick facts
- Start point
- Machame Gate (1,640 m)
- End point
- Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
- Distance
- ≈ 62 km round trip
- Highest point
- Uhuru Peak · 5,895 m
- Group size
- Private, 1–12 climbers
- Best season
- Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Traffic
- Low to moderate
- Scenery
- Exceptional
- Accommodation
- Mountain tents
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1Day 1
Machame Gate → Machame Camp
Today's StatusHiking Time: 5–6 hoursTotal Distance: 11 kmStarting Altitude: 1,640 m (5,380 ft)Final Altitude: 3,010 m (9,875 ft)Elevation Change: +1,370 mHabitat: Montane rainforestDrive to Machame Gate and trek through rainforest to camp.
Meals: Lunch, DinnerMachame Camp · 3,010 m - 2Day 2
Machame → Shira
Today's StatusHiking Time: 4–6 hoursTotal Distance: 5 kmStarting Altitude: 3,010 m (9,875 ft)Final Altitude: 3,845 m (12,615 ft)Elevation Change: +835 mHabitat: Heather & moorlandClimb out of the forest onto the Shira Plateau.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerShira Camp · 3,845 m - 3Day 3
Shira → Lava Tower → Barranco
Today's StatusHiking Time: 6–7 hoursTotal Distance: 10 kmStarting Altitude: 3,845 m (12,615 ft)Final Altitude: 3,960 m (12,995 ft)Elevation Change: +785 m / −670 m (via Lava Tower)Habitat: Alpine desertAcclimatisation day via Lava Tower at 4,630 m.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerBarranco Camp · 3,960 m - 4Day 4
Barranco → Karanga → Barafu
Today's StatusHiking Time: 7–8 hoursTotal Distance: 9 kmStarting Altitude: 3,960 m (12,995 ft)Final Altitude: 4,673 m (15,331 ft)Elevation Change: +713 mHabitat: Alpine desertClimb the Barranco Wall and continue to summit base camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerBarafu Camp · 4,673 m - 5Day 5
Summit → Mweka
Today's StatusHiking Time: 12–14 hoursTotal Distance: 17 kmStarting Altitude: 4,673 m (15,331 ft)Final Altitude: 3,068 m (10,065 ft) via Uhuru Peak 5,895 mElevation Change: +1,222 m / −2,827 mHabitat: Arctic → moorlandMidnight summit push to Uhuru Peak, then descend to Mweka.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMweka Camp · 3,068 m - 6Day 6
Mweka → Moshi
Today's StatusHiking Time: 3–4 hoursTotal Distance: 10 kmStarting Altitude: 3,068 m (10,065 ft)Final Altitude: 1,640 m (5,380 ft)Elevation Change: −1,428 mHabitat: Montane rainforestFinal descent, certificates, transfer to hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
What's included & route FAQs
Everything covered on the ground, what's not, and the questions climbers ask most.
What's included
- All park and rescue fees
- Experienced guides, cook and porters
- All camping equipment and meals
- Airport transfers and 2 hotel nights
- Daily health checks
The Trip Cost Excludes
- Flights and visa
- Personal gear
- Crew tips
- Travel insurance
Do I need previous climbing experience?+
No technical climbing is required on any of the standard routes. Good general fitness and prior multi-day hiking experience are strongly recommended — you'll be trekking 5–7 hours per day for a week at high altitude.
How cold does it get on the summit?+
Summit night temperatures typically range from −7 °C to −20 °C with wind chill. Daytime at lower camps is much milder (10–20 °C). We provide a detailed packing list and can rent quality cold-weather gear locally.
What is the summit success rate?+
Our overall summit success across all routes is 96 %. On the 8-day Lemosho itinerary it climbs to 99 %. Success comes down to route length (more acclimatisation days = more oxygen in your blood at 5,895 m) and guide quality.
Is travel insurance required?+
Yes — mandatory. Your policy must cover trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation. We recommend World Nomads or Global Rescue.
How much should I tip the crew?+
The KPAP guideline is about USD 20–25 per climber per day, pooled and split among guides, cook and porters. We hand out a detailed tipping breakdown at the pre-climb briefing.
What happens if I can't continue?+
Your lead guide monitors your oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily. If you need to descend, an assistant guide accompanies you down safely while the rest of the group continues. This is why we bring extra guides.
Pricing per person
All-inclusive on the ground. Price per person decreases with group size.
Trail map
A stylised overview of the Machame Route — camps, distance and summit approach.
Have a question about Machame Route?
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