--- Our most-booked route
Machame Route
Known as the “Whiskey Route” for its stronger challenge relative to Marangu, Machame is prized for excellent acclimatization and some of the mountain’s best scenery across five ecological zones.
01
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Enter through rainforest, gaining altitude gradually as the vegetation shifts to moorland.
1,800m → 3,000m · ~5–7 hrs
02
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Climb out of the forest onto the Shira Plateau, with views across to Kibo’s summit dome.
3,000m → 3,840m · ~4–6 hrs
03
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (via Lava Tower)
Climb high to Lava Tower (4,630m) for acclimatization, then descend to sleep at Barranco — “climb high, sleep low.”
3,840m → 4,630m → 3,900m · ~6–8 hrs
04
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
A short but steep morning scrambling up the Barranco Wall, followed by an easier afternoon to Karanga.
3,900m → 3,995m · ~4–5 hrs
05
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
A shorter day to reach base camp, with rest and an early dinner ahead of the summit push
3,995m → 4,673m · ~3–4 hrs
06
Summit night: Barafu to Uhuru Peak, descend to Mweka Camp
A midnight start puts you on Uhuru Peak, Africa’s highest point, for sunrise, followed by a long descent to Mweka Camp.
4,673m → 5,895m → 3,100m · ~11–15 hrs
07
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
A final descent through rainforest to Mweka Gate, where your summit certificate is issued.
3,100m → 1,640m · ~3–5 hrs
Trip snapshot
Best time to go: June–September for river crossings; January–March for calving season; good game viewing year-round.
