Machame Route

Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route

There are six established routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai and Umbwe. The Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe routes all approach from the south of the mountain. The Lemosho and Shira routes approach from the west. The Rongai route approaches from the north near Kenya. All routes except Marangu and Rongai descend via Mweka.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via The Machame Route

The Machame route, also known as the Whisky Route is one of the most scenic and recommended routes on Kilimanjaro.  This popular route with paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Ice fields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. Because it can be done over longer periods and the incline is more manageable it has a much higher success rate of summit.

Duration: 6 or 7 days
Difficulty: Medium
Scenery: Excellent
Traffic: High

“Zones of Kilimanjaro”

Cultivated Zone (800m – 1860m)

This is the lowest Zone, where Tanzanians have settled and survive on agriculture of such crops like coffee, banana, corn, sunflower, and more.

Tropical Rainforest (1860m – 3000m)

The second Zone is a dense natural forest, providing habitat for wildlife and endemic plants and flowers.

Moorland / Heather (3000m – 4000m)

This Zone, the third of five, the trees become smaller and sparse, providing sightings of unique flowers and excellent views. This is where climbers begin the feel the effects of altitude.

Alpine Desert (4000m – 4600m)

Here there is hardly any precipitation, and weather extremes vary throughout the day and night. There are only a few varieties of grass and flowers that can survive here.

Summit / Arctic Zone (4600m – 5895m)

The landscape turns into rock and loose gravel. The glaciers of Kilimanjaro are in this Zone, and no life is sustained.

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