Long, impressive, varied, steady acclimatisation, busy and dusty. That sums up the Machame route on Kilimanjaro.
The Machame route, nicknamed the whiskey route, was selected for its extended timeline allowing better acclimatisation compared to faster alternatives like the coca cola route. The mountain comprises three volcanoes, with two having collapsed, leaving the prominent peak.
Day one started at 1,800m through forested areas to Camp 1 at 3,000m. Blue and white pan pan monkeys along the way. The guide team's consistent service was impressive, though I felt unaccustomed to being waited upon in mountain settings.
Days two and three we ascended through alpine meadows to 3,800m, then tackled the challenging route to Lava Towers at 4,600m before descending to Camp 3 at 3,900m. Some students experienced altitude symptoms but persisted. A recuperation day followed before reaching base camp at 4,600m for the overnight summit push.
The crowded conditions were notable — hundreds of tents at each campsite, making solitude difficult despite starting early. Ashante Tours delivered excellent service throughout. An interesting contrast between the usual autonomy of mountain trips and the organised tour logistics.