Machame Route 6-Day Group Departures: Itinerary & Success Rate
Why the Machame Route is Kilimanjaro's Favorite
The Machame Route, affectionately known as the "Whiskey Route", is the most popular and scenic path to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It offers a perfect balance of challenge, beauty, and acclimatization through the "hike high, sleep low" strategy.
Starting from the southwestern side of the mountain, the Machame Route takes you through five distinct climate zones — from lush rainforest to barren alpine desert and finally to the icy glaciers of the summit.
Complete 6-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kilimanjaro
You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Your guide will brief you on the upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
Meals: Dinner only
Accommodation: Weruweru River Lodge
Day 2: Machame Gate (1,817m) to Machame Camp (3,021m)
Half an hour drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route, where you will complete park registrations, then you are off on your trek. The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot.
Distance: 10km / 6.2mi
Duration: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Machame Camp (3,021m) to Shira Camp (3,830m)
Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha City in the distance.
Distance: 4.8km / 3mi
Duration: 5-6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Shira Camp (3,830m) to Barranco Camp (3,972m)
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp. The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4,600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of 'walk high, sleep low' to aid your body's acclimatization to altitude.
Distance: 10km / 6.2mi
Duration: 7-8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp
After a good night's rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Karanga camp. The day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It's a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring.
Distance: 8.5km / 5.3mi
Duration: 7-8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Karanga Camp (3,963m) to Barafu Camp (4,640m)
We set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4,640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It's a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arrival at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for the summit attempt.
Distance: 5km
Duration: 4-5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Summit Uhuru Peak (5,895m) & Descend to Millennium Camp (3,790m)
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5,739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Another hour's walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5,895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp.
Distance: 13.4km / 8.3mi
Duration: 12-15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Millennium Camp (3,790m) to Mweka Gate (1,630m)
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi.
Distance: 12.1km / 7.5mi
Duration: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Summit Success Rate
The Machame Route with Bush Lion Tours boasts an impressive 95% summit success rate. This is achieved through our experienced guides, well-paced itineraries, and the route's natural "hike high, sleep low" acclimatization strategy.
Book Your Machame Group Departure
The 6-day Machame Route is available as a group departure from $2,300 per person. Check our upcoming dates or contact us on WhatsApp to reserve your spot.
