Known as the Whiskey route, the Machame route is now the most popular route on the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days in Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. The Machame route is considered a difficult route and is better suited for more adventurous folks and those with some hiking or backpacking experience as well as It is for physically fit people with some hiking experience.
The Machame route approaches the summit from the southwest and descends using the Mweka route, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau, an optional scramble up Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco wall, and a traverse underneath Kilimanjaro's southern ice field.
Rongai route approaches Kilimanjaro from the north-eastern section of the mountain, not far from the Kenyan border. It is considered quite remote but has seen a surge in trekkers in recent years. On this route, the drive to the trailhead at Nale Moru is long but the road is tarmac most of the way. With a starting point in Arusha, the routes on the souther or western side are more popular because of accessibility. On this route, we camp at the base of Mawenzi Peak before walking across the Saddle to perch ourselves in the the busy camp of Kibo in readiness for the summit assault.
This route over 7 days allows for an extra night at Mawenzi Tarn with acclimatisation walks during the spare day. Doing this will increase the chance of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro.
Among all the routes used to climb the mighty Kilimanjaro, the Lemosho Route is a relatively new one. This route has less traffic compared with other routes and a high summit success rate at the same time. Join us on this seven-day, private, guided expedition and conquer Africa's highest mountain.
We will pick you up from your hotel or accommodation in Moshi and drive you to Londorossi Gate on the first day of the tour (one night's pre-tour accommodation included in the tour price). Hit the trail after all the formalities are done.
Spend the first two days travelling through a rainforest to reach Shira Ridge after which comes the Shira Plateau. Unlike the popular Machame Route, which only passes through a section of the plateau, the Lemosho Route crosses the entirety of the plain from west to east. The routs climbs upward from the plateau via Lava Tower, Barranco and Barafu (known as the southern circuit) to reach Kilimanjaro summit.
In addition to having less traffic, this route is considered by many to be the most scenic route to the top of the mountain. Enjoy panoramic vistas of the mountain from different angles during the trip. We will drop you off at your accommodation in Moshi after the tour is over.
The Lemosho route is widely considered to be the best route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Not too long ago, there were only two main routes used to climb Kilimanjaro – the Marangu (Coca Cola) route and the Machame (Whiskey) route. But as Tanzania’s tourism industry flourished, the Kilimanjaro park authority created more trails to African’s highest peak.
Lemosho, a relatively new route, is preferred by reputable operators due to its beauty, remoteness and success rate. In short, it maximizes the chances that a climber will reach the summit.
The Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route is the best ascent route and offers a complete Kilimanjaro experience with more acclimatization time, more culture, more spectacular scenery and even a night in Kibo crater/caldera. Note: that the itinerary ascends via Stella Point and not the Western Breach and is for that reason considered to be a safer route.
Starting on the Western side of Kilimanjaro this ascent covers all of the most spectacular areas of Kilimanjaro. The trip is fully supported with spacious guest tents, mattress and pillow as well as a mess tent with lightweight tables and chairs and all cutlery. Our trips also include a toilet tent in camp and most importantly knowledgeable professional guides who have undergone special training, cook and porters.
Rongai is the only route that approaches from the north. Due to its remote starting location, which requires a little extra effort to get to, it is one of the least frequented trails on Kilimanjaro, which is perfect for those looking for a more ‘wilderness’ experience. Technically speaking, ‘Rongai’ is not its true name, but is the one that it is best known by. The trail used to start right on the Kenyan border at Rongai Village, but now begins in the small town of Loitokitok, which is the official name of the trail. Rongai is by no means an ‘easier’ route, but it takes a slower pace, usually over 7 days, and has more of a gradual ascent than other routes. The route follows a trail through farmland and then up to a smaller forest section before continuing in the shadow of Mawenzi Peak, Kilimanjaro's second highest volcano, where trekkers have the chance experience arguably the most picturesque camp on the mountain at Mawenzi Tarn. From here the route crosses 'The Saddle' through desert terrain up to Kibo camp, and from here joins the Marangu Route on its approach to the summit via Gillman’s and Stella point.
For those who only have six days to climb Kilimanjaro, this climb through the Machame route is the best choice because of its acclimatization profile.
Compared to the other six day routes, the Machame route exposes the climber to higher elevations quicker (day three) which kickstarts the body's adaptation to altitude. However, this route requires that a person is in good shape to be able to tackle the challenging elevation gains and losses.
In particular, day four combined with day five makes for a very challenging schedule. Day four is a full day of hiking from Barranco to Barafu. Then after dinner and a partial night's sleep, the very long and exciting summit day begins around midnight.
To find out more about day-by-day activities, please see the itinerary.
I always dreamed of conquering Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, and the team has been a great partner in fulfilling this dream. I chose the Machame Route because it's a little more challenging but offers a lot of beautiful scenery. The sunsets of Shira and walking through the mist of the Barranco Wall - all in one word, it was a wonderful experience. Guides and porters were always on hand; they handled everything from the pitch of the tent to the cooking of the food perfectly. I'm grateful to this team.
The Machame route is regarded as the most scenic of the trails to trek Mount Kilimanjaro. You ascend gradually through the forest until you emerge onto the Moorland of Shira Plateau, known for offering some of the best views of the Kibo Peak and the Great Mawenzi.
Theoretically, you could also extend the trek to increase your summit chances, but if you can afford a longer trek then the Shira or Lemosho route are better options. They share the same scenic path for the last four days to the summit…
The days are spent taking an easy walk ''pole pole'' through our professional licensed mountain guides and happy support crews. Please see our day-to-day itinerary for more details about this Machame Route tour.
ClimbingAdventure
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hut, Hotel
Age Range
15-79 yrs
Operated in
english, french
Destinations
Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro Nation
Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Machame Camp, Shira Camp, Baranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Mweka Camp
The most beautiful, but Technical, climbing skills required, is now often booked by many - a bit more expensive but worth it for frequent climbers. The climb involves crossing the breath rain forest and gives you an open view of the glacier when you reach the Shira Plateau situated in the middle of the moorlands.
Day 1 - Airport - Hotel in Arusha B/B
Day 2 - Transfers to Machame camp
Day 3 - Shira camp {3,800m}
Day 4 - Barranco camp {3950m}
Day 5 - Barafu camp {4,900m}
Day 6 - Summit {5,895m} - Mweka Camp
Day 7 - Mweka Camp - Arusha town hotel B/B
We provide all meals, head guide and assistant guide and porters and cook who will prepare all meals.
The Marangu route is one of the most popular routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro. This could partly be as a result of the fact that the Marangu is the least expensive route, but more so, perhaps the fact that it is possible to do the Marangu route in 5 days, thereby getting to the summit one day earlier compared to the Machame route. This is not always the best way, due to a shorter acclimatisation period.
The Marangu route does however offer you the option of spending an extra acclimatisation day on the mountain. This extends the route into a 6-day trek, greatly increasing your chances of success. This offer includes the 6 days trekking, and the trip will in total take 8 days including arrival and departure from Tanzania.
Shared hut accommodation on the Marangu route forms one of the main differences, compared to the other kilimanjaro routes. It offers you the relative luxury of being able to sleep in huts along the entire route. Mineral water, soft drinks, chocolates and beers are also sold at all the camps on this route. All your equipment and supplies are portered and a cook prepares all your meals.
This will be a climbing adventure of a lifetime. No previous mountaineering experience is needed. We will take care of your safety and make the utmost out of your trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro.
This 8-day Lemosho Route on Kilimajaro starts with a high-altitude drop-off in the alpine region at 3,500 meters. Starting from this high point generally makes the trek easier and milder, making it perfect for families or beginners.
Lemosho route is known for its premium-class Kilimanjaro trekking. If you choose it as your trekking option you will get a unique fusion of the most amazing landscapes and easy acclimatization. Lemosho makes Uhuru accessible even for teenagers.
This route has a slightly more expensive price which is fully justified by the advantages of the Lemosho Route. These include spectacular scenery, an SUV transfer to the beginning of the trek, and the highest chances of successful climbing and solitude! Also, the camping site's location and gradual altitude increase are the most suitable for beginners and amateurs. Compared with other routes, the acclimatization process is the easiest one on Kilimanjaro, making the summiting chances the highest.
The Kilimanjaro Machame route is one of the most popular routes for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. The reason for its popularity is due to it being a very scenic route.
This is a long and hard trek, which reaches an altitude of 5895m. Even if you consider yourself fit, you might still find the climb very hard, depending on how well your body acclimatises to high altitude. There is no scientific way to determine how easily you acclimatise, and be aware that the acclimatisation process also differ from climb to climb.
Most of the trails on the Kilimanjaro trek are well defined and of good quality but some forest sections are often slippery and moorland paths can be very wet in poor weather conditions.
The final ascent to Uhuru peak is almost exclusively on loose rock without permanent footpaths. However, no technical skills are required. During the course of the trip we shall spend time at both high and low altitude, experiencing both extremely cold and quite hot conditions.
We will prepare for an early start every day on Kilimanjaro.
Many people list Kilimanjaro as a lifelong dream adventure. Climbing Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route gives you the complete Kilimanjaro experience, more acclimatization time, more spectacular scenery, this is a superb trip, and the best way to climb Kilimanjaro.
An 8 day ascent to the roof of Africa. Starting at Lemosho on the Western side and traversing across the most spectacular parts of the mountain. It joins the Machame route above Shira camp on day 4 and then from Barafu camp ascends to the summit via Stella Point. The descent is via the Mweka route.
Highlights on this tour are: Afromontane forest, Shira plateau, glacial valleys, alpine desert, views of Mawenzi, ascent of Kibo and possible views of Kibo caldera and ash pit.
For a detailed day-by-day itinerary we kindly refer to the 'Itinerary' tab.
We look forward to providing you with a fun, comfortable, memorable and ethical tour to the roof of Africa.
I recently completed the 7-day Machame Route hike to Mount Kilimanjaro with Kilisa Tours & Safaris, and it was truly the adventure of a lifetime.
From beginning to end, the trek was exceptionally well-organized. The guides demonstrated deep knowledge, patience, and unwavering support—particularly during the summit ascent, where their encouragement and steady pacing proved invaluable. They maintained a consistent "pole pole" (slowly, slowly) rhythm and continuously checked in to ensure we were acclimatizing properly and feeling well.
The Machame Route itself offers breathtaking diversity. Each day revealed new landscapes—from the lush rainforest on day one to the dramatic Shira Plateau, the exhilarating Barranco Wall, and the stark beauty of the alpine desert approaching Barafu Camp. The route’s acclimatization profile is excellent, and I am confident it contributed significantly to our group’s high summit success rate.
The support crew—porters, cooks, and camp staff—exceeded expectations. We were warmly welcomed at each camp with hot meals and comfortable resting areas. The quality of the food was remarkable for a mountain expedition—nutritious, hearty, and far above what I had anticipated.
Reaching Uhuru Peak was both emotional and exhilarating. Witnessing the sunrise from the Roof of Africa was a deeply rewarding moment and one of the proudest accomplishments of my life.
For anyone considering a Kilimanjaro climb, I highly recommend the 7-day Machame Route. It offers the perfect balance of challenge, scenic variety, and effective altitude adaptation. I strongly encourage choosing Kilisa Tours & Safaris as your operator—they deliver an outstanding and unforgettable experience.
