Machame Route: The Popular Kilimanjaro Ascending Route
This is the most popular Kilimanjaro ascending route with its good number and maximum summit success rate, which is the next popular one after the Marangu Route. The route can be the most scenic route up Kilimanjaro. The accommodation used throughout on the way up and down is strictly camping only. Trekking via the Machame route is of extreme vigour which may be better suited to more adventurous hikers though not a technical route. The Machame Route is normally completed in a minimum of 6 days/5 nights on the mountain to 7 and 8 climbing days depending on the climber’s preference as the number of days increases, it is good for acclimatization. Climbing the Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route uses Machame Route for ascending up to the Uhuru Peak and descend down via the Mweka Route.
Machame is preferred by most climbers because of its impressive view and variety of habitat and considered to be a cheaper route because of its 6 days short itinerary with easy access. The route is also known as the Whiskey Route because of it being tough with a great adventure compared to the Coca-Cola/Marangu Route as other than just the hut accommodation and gradual incline that makes Marangu Coca-Cola, Machame Route has some steep trail and camping accommodation that makes it more adventurous route.
The Hike Through Machame Route
Hiking through the Machame Route, you will start your hike at the Machame Gate located on the southern part of the Kilimanjaro Mountain Base which is a short drive from either Moshi town or Arusha town. Machame Route climb to the Uhuru Peak is a hiking distance of 62 Kilometers designed for the physical fit and experienced hikers however first-time hikers and many and do reaches the peak.
The hike will begin through the fertile and lush Montane Forest of the Kilimanjaro Mountain where you can expect some precipitation on the lower slope on the Mountain. As you are hiking through the forest, the trail may be slippery and steep where the hiking poles are used. The hike will lead to the Shira Plateau where the tree disappears and you will be walking through the low brush in the heather zone then hike higher up to the Lover Tower (the volcanic plug) then dropping down and circling below the south icefield. The circular pathway from dropping the lover tower from Barranco to Karanga then to Barafu is what the southern circuit is as is the mountain traverse halfway where hikers are exposed to the stunning view of the peak. The attempt to the summit is made from the east through endless switchbacks up increasing gravity lose up reaching the crater rim at known as Stella Point where you will then have an hour flat hike to the Uhuru Peak; there you are at the highest point in Africa, “Congratulations” then after some shots as you won’t’ stay that long because of the cold you will then descend down via Mweka descending route.
Best Time to Climb Via Machame Route (Kilimanjaro Mountain)
Kilimanjaro Mountain is located on the equator, hence it is at the equator, the region is of no extreme summer and winter seasons, rather the Kilimanjaro Mountain has the rain and dry seasons only. Hence as the challenge with weather affect the climbing, this make the best time to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain be the driest and warmest months according to the Kilimanjaro Weather. As climbing the Mountain, itself is an adventure, hence safety is the most caution that should be considered; hence the weather can either increase or minimizes the risk when climbing the Kilimanjaro Mountain. With the rainy season associated with snow, mud, cold, ice and the rain itself are considered not only being the risky factor when climbing the Kilimanjaro but also are minimizes the rate for the successful summit to the Uhuru Peak. Hence, with the nice weather, there is a big crowd of climbers with a high rate of success summit. Following this description in the year, there is the main season on the weather where there are months that are recommended to climb than he rests as follow.
January and February are the months with warm temperature with medium precipitation and the cloudiness is very low, hence they are the highly crowded months as they are favourable for many climbers due to the favourable weather. Hence, are recommended months to climb.
March is the mid-month between dry and rainy season with moderate temperature with high precipitation and the cloudiness is moderate. The month has low crowd as the weather is not much good hence the numbers of climbers are few. The month is ok to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
April and May are the months with moderate temperature with high precipitation and the cloudiness is high, hence they are the less crowded months as they are not favourable for many climbers due to the unfavourable weather as it is the rainy season. Hence, are not recommended months to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
June is the cold month with medium precipitation and the cloudiness is medium too. The month is moderately crowded as the weather is not much good hence the numbers of climbers are few. The month is good to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
July is the cold month with medium precipitation and the cloudiness is low. The month is highly crowded as the weather is favourable hence the numbers of climbers are high. The month is recommended to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
August is the cold month with low precipitation and the cloudiness is low. The Month is highly crowded as the weather is favourable hence the numbers of climbers are high. The month is recommended to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
September is the month with moderate temperature and low precipitation and the cloudiness is low. The month is highly crowded as the weather is favourable hence the numbers of climbers are high. The month is recommended to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
October is the month with moderate temperature with low precipitation and the cloudiness is medium. The month is moderate crowd as the weather is not much favourable as it is approaching the rainy month of November hence the numbers of climbers are medium too. The month is recommended to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
November is the rainy month with moderate temperature with high precipitation and the cloudiness is medium, hence they are the less crowded months as they are not favourable for many climbers due to the unfavourable weather of the rainy season. Hence, not recommended month to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain
December is the month with moderate temperature with medium precipitation and the cloudiness is medium too. The crowd is also medium as the weather is not much good hence the numbers of climbers are few. The month is good to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
Generally, Kilimanjaro Mountain can be reached throughout the year, however, the best time to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain is when there is lower precipitation which is during the dry season, that is from December to March and June to October, and April to May and November are not a favourable time to climb the Kilimanjaro Mountain as they are the rain season and there is high precipitation.
Accommodation on the Machame Route
Climbing via Kilimanjaro Machame Route, climbers will be lodging in tents to the specialized camping sites. Depending on the number of climbing days via the popular Machame Route that ranges from 6 to 8 days, the camping sites that you will be lodging are Machame camp, Shira Camp, Barranco, Karanga Valley, Barafu for ascending and Millennium or Mweka Camp on descending. Here are the descriptions of the camps on Machame Route.
Machame and Millennium Camps: Machame Camp is the first camping site on day one while Millennium is the last Camping site via Mweka. Descending trail, the camps are of a number of campsites that can accommodate hundreds of tents on a tree line in a forest. Being at these camps, you will see a central ranger station and a number of brick toilets and long-drop latrines. As the camp is the forest, the air is humid and it is not too cold and because of the trees, you will not see other people around the camp. The camps are of similar features because they are on the same level or distance from the mountain base.
Shira Camp: The second camping site located on volcanic spill-off of the vast Shira Plateau from the last explosion some 100,000 years ago where you will find more fragile plants among the rocks. Here there are ranger huts, latrine and brick toilets. The site is large enough to accommodate hundreds of tents and very easy to spread out and have some private time. As you are on a bit higher altitude, it is windier and expect it to be cold than at the Machame Camp. At the Shira Plateau, you will see the stunning view of the summit point “The Kibo Kilimanjaro Cone” especially at down and dust and when it is a full moon in the night, it is even magnificent, seeing the moon behind the summit point.
Barranco Camp: The third camping site situated at the head of the steep valley a dropdown to Umbwe Route that goes down to Moshi. Tucked up underneath the summit massif, you will see huge dramatic cliffs, some remains of hanging glaciers and often the whole of Kibo Kilimanjaro Cone plastered in the snow while looking down the valley you will be seeing Moshi. Like the other campsite, Barranco Camp has the brick toilets and latrines, a Ranger's hut and can accommodate hundreds of tents, though space is limited which can take you some minutes of walking reaching your tent; the campsite is also with lots of plant life that make the campsite green and verdant, especially the giant groundsels that grows several meters tall.
Karanga Camp: The fourth ascending camp which is very open and located nearby the slope and this need to take attention of making sure that your tent is on a flat piece of ground. From here, you can easily see the route to the summit with other great views of the summit massif while looking down you will see the light of Moshi. As the rest of the camp, it has the Brick toilets and pit latrines, a Ranger's Hut and space for at least a hundred tents. As you’re at high, here it can be windy and cold with the cloud coming very fast. However, Karanga Camp has water challenge as there is no nearby stream which forces the porters to walk for about 40 mins down the trail fetching water to the nearby stream. For the 6 day trek, climbers do not camp at Karanga hiking directly to Barafu from Baranco but a stop to Karanga is a worth stop for acclimatization.
Barafu Camp: Barafu is the Swahili word meaning ‘ice’, hence literally it is an ice camp; the is the last ascending camp before the summit at 6400 meters. The camp used to be covered by permanent snow, but this is no longer happening but still, it is very cold and rocky as it is higher and exposed. It is here where you will feel the altitude and expect some snow and often wind. The campsites are dotted among nooks and crannies in the rocks, running the length of the ridge. Some camps are far below the Ranger's hut and the start of the summit climb, so it can add more than half an hour to the ascent. The campsite is with the brick toilets and latrines; the facilities are now good but water is in short supply so the porters are forced to travel back downhill to the nearest stream. At Barafu, rangers possess the heavy-duty stretchers with singe wheel at hand to take people down quickly in case of any emergency situation. At Barafu campsite, there is a helipad also.