The Machame Route, nicknamed the "Whiskey Route", starts at Machame Gate on the south-western slopes of Kilimanjaro and is the second most popular way up the mountain. It is walked in six or seven days over about 49 km, and unlike Marangu it ascends and descends by different paths, which gives varied scenery throughout. The first day climbs through the rainforest belt to Machame Camp, then continues up the Shira ridge onto the moorland of the Shira Plateau. From there the route follows the southern circuit: up to Lava Tower at about 4,600 m and down to Barranco Camp on the same day, an ascent-and-descent that aids acclimatisation, then over the Barranco Wall, through the Karanga valley to Barafu Camp, and a night-time summit push to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m before descending via Mweka. All nights are spent in tents at designated camps. The route is steeper and more physically demanding than Marangu but has a higher summit success rate when done over seven days.
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