Machame Route - Mount Kilimanjaro

The beautiful Machame Route is highly rated as the most scenic route of all those up Kilimanjaro, with diverse vegetation and wide views as well as a number of possible route choices beyond the Lava Tower Camp at 4630m.

For those who want a slightly more technical climb on Mount Kilimanjaro,Uhuru summit from Arrow Glacier camp is recommended (through the Western Breach), but less challenging routes can be taken from Barranco Hut.

Machame Route can take either five or six days to complete, depending on the fitness of the climbers, and the final ascent is steep in each case.

This route sets off from Machame village, and reaches the first Machame Camp at 3000m where the forest meets the heather. The track continues across moorland to Shira Camp on the western side of Kibo, with excellent views over the Shira Plateau.

Towards the Summit:
From here it is usual to follow the Shira Route to the Lava Tower Hut and then join with the Umbwe route down to Barranco Camp for an overnight at 3950m, but very fit climbers may continue to ascend the much steeper route via Arrow Glacier, (although the hut here is no longer in use).

Those at Barranco Camp ascend to Barafu Camp by the Mweka route, and continue on this trail on the final ascent to the summit. This route will usually descend by the Mweka Route.

Distances: