Machame

Overview

The most popular route on Kilimanjaro, and for good reason. Machame climbs through lush rainforest to the Shira Plateau, then traverses the southern slopes under the glaciers, crossing the famous Barranco Wall. Its "climb high, sleep low" profile gives excellent acclimatisation and a very good summit success rate.

Best for: First-timers with good fitness who want spectacular, varied scenery.

Altitude profile

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Machame Gate → Machame Camp

   1,800 m → 3,000 m ~11 km 5–7 h

   After registering at the park gate, walk through dense montane rainforest full of moss, ferns and colobus monkeys to the first camp at the edge of the forest.

2. 2

   Machame Camp → Shira 2 Camp

   3,000 m → 3,850 m ~5 km 4–6 h

   Leave the forest behind and climb steeply through giant heather and moorland onto the Shira Plateau, with the first wide views of Kibo.

3. 3

   Shira 2 Camp → Barranco Camp

   3,850 m → 3,960 m (max 4,630 m) ~10 km 6–8 h

   The key acclimatisation day: climb into the alpine desert to the Lava Tower at 4,630 m, then descend into the Barranco Valley among giant groundsels. Climb high, sleep low.

4. 4

   Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp

   3,960 m → 3,995 m ~5 km 4–5 h

   Scramble up the Barranco Wall (hands needed, no technical skill) and follow the undulating trail under the southern glaciers to Karanga.

5. 5

   Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp

   3,995 m → 4,673 m ~4 km 3–4 h

   A short climb over barren rock to base camp. Early dinner, final briefing and rest before the summit night.

6. 6

   Barafu Camp → Mweka Camp

   4,673 m → 3,100 m (max 5,895 m) ~17 km 12–15 h

   Start around midnight by headlamp. Reach Stella Point on the crater rim at sunrise and continue to Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m. Descend to Barafu for a rest, then down to Mweka Camp.

7. 7

   Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate

   3,100 m → 1,640 m ~10 km 3–4 h

   A final walk down through the rainforest to the gate, where you receive your summit certificate. Transfer back to your hotel for a well-earned shower.

Distances and times are approximate.