Machame Route
From Machame Gate · 7 days
The most popular camping route, nicknamed the Whiskey Route for its steeper, more varied terrain. It climbs through rainforest, moorland and the lava tower, then reaches the summit via Barafu. The descent uses the Mweka route. Seven days is the sensible minimum; the extra day on the mountain is the cheapest insurance against altitude sickness you can buy.
- Gate
- Machame Gate
- Duration
- 7 days
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Acclimatisation
- 3 / 5
- Best season
- Jun-Oct and Dec-Feb
Packing list
12 items the route demands
- Four-season sleeping bag rated to -15C
- Insulated sleeping mat
- Base layer, mid layer fleece and down jacket
- Waterproof shell jacket and over-trousers
- Thermal leggings for summit night
- Trekking boots plus camp shoes
- Warm hat, balaclava and liner gloves plus outer gloves
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Three litres of water capacity
- Water purification tablets and electrolyte sachets
- Trekking poles, duffel bag and personal first-aid kit
Altitude sickness
The climb-high-sleep-low profile on days three and four helps acclimatisation, but the rapid gain to Lava Tower still triggers symptoms in many trekkers. Hydrate (3-4 litres daily), walk slowly ("pole pole"), and report headache, loss of appetite or dizziness to your guide at once — descend if they worsen.
Fitness preparation
Moderate-to-good fitness needed: six days of consecutive hiking with 1,000 m+ daily elevation changes and a steep summit morning. Train with long weekend hikes, loaded daypacks and stair sessions for 6-8 weeks beforehand.
Guides & porter welfare (KPAP)
Tipping guide
Plan roughly US$250-350 per climber for the full crew on a standard group (guide, assistant, cook, porters), scaled to group size. KPAP recommends about US$10-15/day/porter and more for guides. Tip at the final ceremony in shillings or USD, person by person — never through the office.