The Machame Gate is the starting point for the Machame Route, one of the most popular routes up Kilimanjaro, located about 30 kilometres northwest of Moshi. The gate sits at 1,800 metres elevation in the montane forest zone, where the day begins cool and green even when Moshi itself is sweltering. Porters, cooks, and guides all check in here, and the registration process — a requirement for all climbers — gives you your first sense of the serious logistics involved in a Kilimanjaro climb.
Even for non-climbers, a drive to the gate gives a good introduction to the Kilimanjaro ecosystem and the scale of the operation. The forest above the gate is home to colobus monkeys, Kilimanjaro hornbills, and sunbirds. A half-day guided walk into the forest from the gate — without committing to the full climb — is possible and recommended for anyone interested in the mountain's ecology.