They did an amazing job, took care of my every need, and got me up the mountain in style. Big shout out to my guide Rama, my chef Kuruwa, and my porters Muhammad Ali, Sariri, Rezwan (Numba D), Moyo, and Salim.
Trekking and HikingClimbing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Tent, Hotel, Hut
Age Range
7-85 yrs
Operated in
english, french, german, spanish
Destinations
Kilimanjaro Machame route, Kilim
Kilimanjaro Machame route, Kilimanjaro, Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Machame Camp, Shira Camp, Barranco Camp, Barafu Camp, Mweka Camp, Mweka Gate
The Machame route, also known as the “Whiskey” route, is now the most popular ascent route on Mt Kilimanjaro.
Compared with the Marangu route, the walking days on the Machame route are longer and the walks are steeper. However, the scenery is spectacular and landscape interesting. The Machame route is considered a more challenging route, and is better suited for those with some hiking or backpacking experience.
The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. Because it is a popular route there are increased numbers of trekkers. It 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.
Climbers sleep in supplied tents at designated campsites, and eat meals either outdoors (when it is warm outside and the sun is up) or inside a large dining tent, depending on weather conditions. Our staff will prepare all meals and set up and take down the tents.
The Machame route is a highly successful route to the summit as you climb high and sleep lower because of position of the campsites. The climb high sleep low approach aids acclimatization and increases your chance of getting to the summit.
After arrival at your accommodation in Moshi, you will have the opportunity to rest. Later there will be a meeting with the tour guides for a briefing about the trek and Mt Kilimanjaro. Importantly we also run an equipment check to ensure that every participant is as well prepared as possible. If you have any important gear missing, you can rent it from us.
This route is easy, gradual ascent and the most popular route for climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. You will be sleeping in shared wooden huts where toilets, dining and washing rooms (cold shower) are available. This route is recommended proper acclimatization. The Marangu Route is also known as the "Tourist Route" or "Coca Cola Route".
And just about every tour operator will tell you:
The Marangu route is the easiest, cheapest and by far the most popular. Unfortunately, only one of these statements is true: climbing Kilimanjaro on the Marangu route is the cheapest option. You will need a sleeping bag, warm clothes and walking poles.
At Horombo we will take an extra day for acclimatization. During this day you will be able to take various walks so it is not at all a waste of a day. Rather, it is a great day and also one that will give you a much higher chance of reaching Kilimanjaro's top, as you will be properly acclimatized.
For a detailed itinerary, we kindly ask you to see the itinerary tab.
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 Kilimanjaro route is a Zigzag route with a trail going up and down. We will hike high and to the extent possible try to sleep low as it is good for acclimatization.
On the Machame route a challenging point is the Baranco wall. We will take it slow and steady making sure that we pass it in a safe manner. While reaching the Mt. Kilimanjaro summit is a highlight in fact the entire Machame route is excellent.
On the way down from Mt. Kilimanjaro we will descend via the Mweka route. As for accommodation we will be making use of camping where also toilet facilities will be available.
Comparing the Machame route with the other Kili-routes then it is simply a longer and some times steeper. It covers more ground and involves more ups and downs. It wears you out more, takes more energy, but does not require more skill. But, a key advantage is that it offers much better acclimatization - increasing your chance of reaching the summit.
Some people are terribly worried about climbing the Barranco Wall. Don't worry. It's not a cliff face and it's not a climb. It's mostly a very steep path that requires you to use your hands every now and then.
For a detailed itinerary kindly see the itinerary tab. We look forward to providing you with an excellent climb on Africa's highest free standing mountain in the world.
The Marangu route is perhaps the easiest and most comfortable route to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak. We will pick you up from your accommodation in Arusha and drive you to Marangu Gate. From there you follow the trail that takes you to the top of the mountain via Mandara, Horombo and Kibo huts.
The route is well-developed and the climb is constant and of moderate intensity. The only portion that is quite demanding is the approach to the summit. However, you also have the option of adding a day for acclimatization at an additional amount if you want to. The advantage of this route is that kiosks selling mineral water bottles, soft drinks, chocolates and beers are available in camp sites throughout the climb.
For more details, please scroll down to the itinerary section.
