– Last Updated on: 5th June 2018

Machame Route is one of the most scenic routes to the Roof of Africa. We’ll take you from the gate to the top and back on our photographic journey along the Machame Route.

Day 1: Machame Gate (1,790 m) – Machame Camp (3,010 m)

Driving towards Machame gate, your hiking boots laced up and your feelings somewhere between tired, nervous and giddy with excitement, majesty itself may give you the honour and allow you a sneak peek on what will be the constant point of fixture for the next five days.

You start walking, and it finally dawns upon you: you won’t stop for another six days. One foot in front of the other at an initially agonisingly slow pace which you will learn to appreciate after only a few hours.

The sun sets at Machame Camp at 3010 metres above sea level.

The sounds of cutlery chinking, crew members chatting in Swahili, tent zippers being undone; the smell of cucumber soup, potatoes and stew wafting through camp – you take a moment for yourself and let sink in where you are: on the way to the highest peak on the African continent.

You can see Mount Meru sitting calmingly in the distance, before the sun hides behind Kilimanjaro’s “little brother”.

Day 2: Machame Camp (3,010 m) – New Shira Camp (3,845 m)

Steep and steeper up you go, being rewarded with stunning views opening up around you.

Your gaze is forward, your goal always in mind and in view – higher and higher. Take a second, turn around and you’ll be surprised by yet another stunning view.

Photo: Arno Snellenberg

Arriving at New Shira Camp, another step – or rather: another few thousand steps – closer to your goal. But by now you know: it’s not only about getting to the top, it’s about enjoying each step of the way.