Machame Route
Considered to be the most beautiful and scenic of the various routes up Mount Kilimanjaro, the Machame Route is appropriate for more adventurous hikers who wish for a more physically demanding climb than Marangu or Rongai can offer.
Machame is presently the most popular route despite its higher degree of difficulty, so you can expect to not be the only one climbing.
You can choose to complete this route in either six days or seven days.

At a glance
- Approaches from the south of the mountain
- Highly recommended for its scenic value
- Considered a difficult route with steeper walks
- Perfect for adventurous travelers and intermediate to highly experienced
- backpackers
- Con: Can get crowded as this route has become more popular over the years
- Trek length: 6 to 7 days
Click below for a full day by day itinerary
Combine your climb with an incredible Big 5 Safari and/or beautiful beach getaway to Zanzibar Island for the Ultimate Tanzania experience.
Don't just take our word for it
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We’ve just got home from the most amazing 11 day honeymoon adventure with Luna Safari and couldn’t recommend them more. Michaela and Alfani (and of course Arlo) organised... read more us a perfect trip and were such welcoming and fantastic hosts, greeting us at the airport with some bubbles, making sure everything was sorted and that we were having a brilliant time. A luxury to have everything organised for us and the whole trip went so smoothly. The first half was spent on safari with our guide Selle who we couldn’t recommend more!! 4 days exploring Tarangire, Ngorogoro and the Serengeti were a dream come true and the accommodation along the way was just perfect! We saw all the wildlife we could dream of and Selle was so knowledgable about the place and the wildlife. Spending the last 5 days in the sun and on the glorious beaches of Zanzibar was the perfect ending and way to really see the whole Tanzania. Absolutely magical and perfect accommodation chosen by Michaela and Alfani. We couldn’t recommend them more and want to say the biggest thank you for organising us the most magical honeymoon.
1st March 2022 -
Luna Safari did an awesome job at putting together an unforgettable trip for our honeymoon. Everything was perfect. The hotels/bush camps were excellent and the safari was amazing, we... read more saw so much in only a few days. Our safari guide was extremely knowledgeable and we really enjoyed our time with him. I would highly recommend using Luna safari if you’re thinking about travelling to Tanzania.
1st March 2022 -
This family run safari business is highly recommend. The couple that own and run it are super people, down to earth honest and understand from the travellers perspective... read more what makes a great safari. Our highest were: Mike our driver and guide, what a guy, really friendly and informative, yet not overbearing. a genuine knowledgeable guy, really good company (since you are with the guide all week we felt this is one of the most import parts). The accommodation throughout the trip was amazing, ‘camp’ is not a good description it (to us) was luxury camping at vest, more like a hotel in the bush!!) the staff on location were brilliant the food was great and PLENTFUL, and they all added to the friendly relaxed atmosphere. There are probably more ‘shiny’ safari companies out there, however for us the service and reassurance from the pre booking enquires, to departure was second to none and I feel that that made up for any level of 'shininess' other larger company seemed to offer (this like cooked lunches, champagne and white table cloths). We preferred the sparkling service and friendly honest approach. Having said that this tour was pretty sparkling too. Thanks Miyakla & Afani, we miss you already & hope to visit again soon. Cheers guys x
1st March 2022 -
What a ride, what an adventure, what an experience and we're beyond pleased that we did it with these guys. Everything was seamlessly organised, we worried and wanted for... read more nothing throughout. Tanzania was epic and what this wonderful family have created is absolutely on point. A truly remarkable safari experience provided by helpful, sweet and genuine people. I will be recommending Luna Safari and talking about this experience for the rest of my life. It was my Birthday on the trip and I received not one but 6 Birthday cakes throughout, champagne on arrival - everything was above and beyond. Camping was nothing short of luxury and the wildlife blew us away. Zanzibar was a dream. The only company you need talk to when wanting to book a safari holiday in Tanzania without a shadow of a doubt.
1st February 2022 -
THE BEST!! The best service, the best people, best hotels and camps, the best food, the best experience......just the best!! Absolutely fantastic safari holiday - Tanzania blew... read more us away and so did Luna Safari. Cannot recommend them highly enough. This amazing trip will literally stay with us forever. It wouldn't have been quite the same had we have booked elsewhere, of that i am certain. JUST THE BEST 🙂
1st January 2022 -
Absolutely excellant safari experience. From the time we were met at the airport right the way through our holiday ,Micheala and Alfani were excellent hosts,and not forgetting little Arlo the... read more cutest cub of all. The safari adventure was just spectacular, our guide baba Lisa , was so knowledgeable and nothing was to much trouble. The camps on safari were superb. Then onto Zanzibar which was just paradise. A perfect way for my husband to celebrate his 60th birthday.
1st January 2022 -
2 Weeks in absolute heaven. Lions, Cheetah, Giraffe, Rhino, Monkeys, Elephants, stunning views, gorgeous and truly unique accommodations, wonderful caring people, white sand, terquoise waters, laughs, smiles and things we've... read more always wanted to do..... Not a moment we would take back, we went as a group of 6 friends and everything for us was perfectly organised, we didn't lift a finger for the whole 2 week trip, apart from to snap about a hundred million pictures with our cameras....and even the incredible pictures that we took really don't do this place justice. Booking with a little company made so much difference compared to trips we've taken in the past - these guys really got it right - customer service at its finest with the most warm and knowledgable people. Would recommend 100 times over. Thank you so much for everything, I hope that one day we can return!
1st January 2022 -
Well this Holiday was 2 years in the making and it was well worth the wait. From talking about what we wanted from the trip ,the budget we had and... read more then planning the itinerary it was all made so simple by Michaela, nothing was to much trouble and no question was ever silly. She even helped us with booking our flights. On arrival we were met at the airport by Alfani and 2 bottles of chilled Bubbles and driven to our hotel, on route we collected Michaela and the oh so very cute Arlo. The Safari is one of the greatest things that I have ever done, to see the animals in there natural environment is truly fantastic, to be so close up is mind blowing and thanks to our driver/guide we saw all that Tanzania had to offer. Glamping on the Serengeti was surreal, how the camps create such wonderful food is beyond me, and the tents had all any weary traveler would need. Yes the days.on Safari are long but so worth it. It's impossible not to love the experience, the Safari jeep takes a battering but is surprisingly comfortable, the fridge on board in full of water and the camps provide you with a picnic lunch. Arriving 5 days later back at the hotel ,we were met buy the Luna team to welcome us back to normality. We spent a couple of days in Arusha before flying to Zanzibar, what a beautiful island, 5 days of sun, sea, swimming pools and fantastic food was the perfect end to a 60th Birthday holiday. The Luna team were fantastic from start to finish, give them a go I promise you won't be disappointed. Tanzania is a beautiful place the food is great and the people are lovely. Please go and use Luna Safari I promise you won't be disappointed.
1st January 2022 -
Wow! I couldn’t imagine a better safari company than Luma Safari. From the first message sent to the owner Michaela, I knew that I was making the right choice. She... read more was always there to answer any question in a heartbeat and made me feel complete comfortable and relaxed throughout the entire booking. When me and my husband got to Tanzania it felt like I was uniting with an old friend. Her wonderful husband met us at the airport with champagne and we went to Arusha to begin our adventure. Again, the communication with Michaela was consistent and helpful as she was the entire safari. We had the absolute pleasure of conducting our safari with Sully who was cool as a cucumber and funny as hell. We were all laughing together the entire time while seeing every animal Tanzania has to offer. The safari felt completely surreal at times and a bit emotional as you’re seeing the circle of life in its truest form. Sully knew EVERYTHING about every single animal and never ran out of incredible facts or jokes. The BEST experience of my life and I can’t recommend Luna Safari enough! Complete professionals with a lovely warm, family touch! Thank you Luna Safari , we’ll be back! 💜💜
1st December 2021