What is the best time to trek Machame Route?

The ideal time to trek the Machame Route is during the dry seasons, which occur from mid-June to October and from January to mid-March. During these periods, the weather tends to be more stable, with clear skies and moderate temperatures, providing better conditions for a successful Kilimanjaro Climb.

What is the summit success rate of the Machame Route?

The Machame Route Kilimanjaro has a relatively high success rate, with 85% of climbers reaching the summit on average. This can be attributed to the longer duration of the trek and the "climb high, sleep low" principle, which allows for better acclimatization. However, individual success rates can vary depending on factors such as physical fitness, altitude sickness, and weather conditions.

What is the climbing cost on Machame Route?

The cost of climbing the Machame Route can vary depending on several factors, including the trekking company, group size, and additional services. On average, the price ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 per person. This typically includes park fees, guides, porters, meals, and accommodations but may not cover additional expenses such as gear rental, tips, and Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance.

How long is the Machame Route?

The Kilimanjaro Machame Route is approximately 62 kilometres (38.5 miles) in length. The trek usually takes 6 to 7 days to complete, with the additional day helping climbers acclimatize better and increasing the chance of a successful summit.

Do I need any prior climbing experience for Machame Route?

While prior climbing experience is not mandatory for the Machame Route, it is considered a challenging trek due to its steep sections, altitude gain, and variable weather conditions. Therefore, it is recommended that climbers have a good level of physical fitness and some experience with multi-day trekking or hiking before attempting the Machame Route. Additionally, being familiar with camping and basic mountaineering skills can be beneficial for a more enjoyable and successful Kilimanjaro Climb.

Machame Route - Conquering Kilimanjaro Machame Route

Machame Route

The Machame Route called the Whiskey Route, is an enchanting and popular path up Kilimanjaro. Its seven-day trekking period provides ample time for acclimatization, making it an excellent choice for climbers.

Travellers opting for the Machame thoroughly enjoy Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing along this route. So, let’s delve deeper into the features of the Machame Route and understand whether it's the perfect fit for your adventure.

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Introduction

Machame Route At A Glance

Highlights And Considerations

Best Time To Climb The Machame Route

The Machame Route Itinerary

All About Machame Route

Sceneries Along The Way

How Crowded Is The Machame Route?

Accommodations On The Machame Route

Machame Route Kilimanjaro Cost

Machame Route Success Rate

Our Take On Kilimanjaro Machame Route

Frequently Asked Questions

Machame Route At A Glance

Total Distance– 62 km/39 miles
Difficulty – Medium
Duration– 6-7 Days
Success Rate- High
Height– Reaches the summit of Kilimanjaro at Uhuru Peak at a height of 5895 meters (19341 feet)
Location – The trek approaches Kilimanjaro from the southern side and begins with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate.

Highlights And Considerations

The Mt Kilimanjaro Machame Route is celebrated for its stunning beauty, diverse landscapes, and well-structured acclimatization process. Though similar to the Lemosho Route in many aspects, the Machame trail distinguishes itself by its unique paths on the first couple of days.

The 7 Days Kilimanjaro Machame Route option is often recommended over the 6-day variant for newcomers. The extra day enhances acclimatization, thereby increasing the Machame Route success rate.

Key Highlights

Optimal acclimatization through Kilimanjaro Machame Route 7 Days
High Machame Route Kilimanjaro Success Rate
Breathtaking scenery
Highest traffic among all Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes

Points To Consider

Possibility of crowding
Certain challenging sections

The Machame Route is an ideal choice for climbers aiming for a successful summit, ready to embrace the challenge, and undeterred by a route that may sometimes be busier.

Best Time To Climb The Machame Route

The weather on the Machame Route can be unpredictable and varies depending on the time of year. The Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro via this Kilimanjaro Route are during the dry seasons, from mid-June to October and from January to mid-March.

The weather is generally more stable during these periods, with clear skies and moderate temperatures. The wet seasons, from late March to May and from November to December, bring heavy rainfall and the possibility of snow at higher altitudes.

The Machame Route Itinerary

The Mt Kilimanjaro Machame Route is steep and rugged primarily because of its short itinerary length. Also, the hikers have to ascend the Barranco Wall on day 4, which appears to be a challenging climb initially (but it’s not). Then, the hikers must adjust to a steep incline on the summit night up Kibo.

Although none of this implies that one needs technical climbing skills to embark on the Machame Route, this route is only recommended for those with experience with long, steep walks on higher altitudes for the safe side.

Moreover, it takes around a 6-to-7-day itinerary to complete the Kilimanjaro Climb via Machame Route. A climb-high and sleep-low acclimatization day is included in both options. Here we will give you a detailed Kilimanjaro Machame Route 7 Days itinerary breakdown.

DAY	FROM-TO	DISTANCE	TREKKING TIME	ZONES
DAY 1	Machame Gate (1640 meters) to Machame Camp (2850 meters)	11 km/7 miles	5-7 hours	Rainforest
DAY 2	Machame Camp (2850 meters) to Shira 2 (3810 meters)	5 km/ 3 miles	4-6 hours	Low alpine zone (moorlands and grasslands)
DAY 3	Shira 2 Camp (3810 meters)- Lava Tower (4630 meters)	7 km/ 4 miles	4-5 hours	Low-alpine zone/High-alpine zone
DAY 3		Lava Tower (4630 meters)-Barranco Camp (3976 meters)	3 km/2 miles	Low-alpine zone/High-alpine zone	2-3 hours	Low-alpine zone/High-alpine zone
DAY 4	Barranco Camp (3976 meters)- Karanga Camp (3995 meters)	5 km/3 miles	4-5 hours	High-alpine zone
DAY 5	Karanga (3995 meters)- Barafu Camp (4673 meters)	4 km/2 miles	4-5 hours	high-alpine zone
DAY 6	Barafu Camp (4673 meters)-Uhuru Peak (5895 meters)	5 km/3 miles	7-8 hours	Glacial zones and all preceding zones/
DAY 6		Uhuru Peak (5895 meters)-Mweka Camp (3068 meters)	12 km/7 miles	Glacial zones and all preceding zones/	4-6 hours	Glacial zones and all preceding zones/
DAY 7	Mweka Camp (3068 meters)- Mweka Gate (1640 meters)	10 km/6 miles	3-4 hours	Rainforest

All About Machame Route

The Machame Route is a beautiful and popular Kilimanjaro Route. The seven-day version of it also offers good acclimatization. Find out all about Machame Route in below.

Sceneries Along The Way

The Machame Route Kilimanjaro is renowned for its stunning scenery, passing through five distinct climate zones. Trekkers start in the lush rainforest, where they can spot monkeys, birds, and exotic plants. As they ascend, the landscape changes to moorland, followed by an alpine desert with unique vegetation such as giant lobelias and senecios.

The final stretch takes climbers through the Arctic zone, with snow-capped peaks and glaciers. One of the highlights of the Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing through Machame Route is the breathtaking view from the Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall.

Also, the Machame Route passes through some locations that are known to offer some of the most spectacular sunsets and sunrises on Mount Kilimanjaro.

How Crowded Is The Machame Route?

As this Kilimanjaro Climbing Route boasts beautiful scenery and a fantastic acclimatization profile, the route attracts many climbers yearly. Also, many budget operators use this route because of its shorter itinerary and good acclimatization profile.

Accommodations On The Machame Route

This Kilimanjaro Climbing Route offers only camping accommodation. Make sure to carry your camping equipment. If not, there are provisions for providing camping equipment as a part of your Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Packages.

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Cost For Machame Route

Tanzania Tribe Safaris provides an option for a seven-day group or private climb via the Machame route. The Machame Route 7 Days Price is $2,585 per person (based on shared accommodations).

Furthermore, this package covers seven days of trekking on the mountain and an additional day at our charming partner lodge in Moshi before and after the climb, totalling ten days.

If you want to explore further what's included and excluded in the package or need more specifics about the adventure, please visit our 7 Days Machame Route.

Machame Route Success Rate

The Kilimanjaro Machame Route offers ideal opportunities to ascend high and sleep low, resulting in an outstanding acclimatization profile.

Although no formal data exists, the average Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing success rate across all operators is 85% for the 7-day itinerary. Although, the same Machame Route Success Rate drops to 73% for the six-day option

Our Take On Kilimanjaro Machame Route

The Kilimanjaro Machame Route is famous because of the variety of scenery and adequate acclimatization profile. The only downvote for this Kilimanjaro Climbing Route is that the route gets crowded more often.

So, in our opinion, you can choose the Machame Route for Kilimanjaro Climb only if you want to ace this challenging trek, as the route has a high chance of summiting the mountain. Also, if you have no problems with the trail being a little crowded, you can choose this Kilimanjaro Climbing Route.