Anna, a Swiss national living in Germany and working for a travel agency, has become the latest international visitor drawn to Tanzania's irresistible charm – choosing the country for her first Kilimanjaro climb via the scenic Machame route.
The Pull of Tanzania
As a travel professional, Anna had long heard about Tanzania's reputation. 'I know that it's very well known for the safaris. There's the animal viewing, which is just incredible, and the landscapes,' she explained. 'Since I work at a travelling agency in Germany, we're also kind of selling tours for Tanzania.' This professional knowledge combined with personal curiosity finally brought her to experience the country firsthand, making Tanzania her third African destination after South Africa and Kenya.
Choosing the Machame Route
For her summit attempt, Anna selected the Machame route – often called the 'Whiskey Route' for its challenging terrain compared to the gentler 'Coca-Cola' Marangu route. The seven-day itinerary is widely considered one of the most beautiful approaches to Uhuru Peak, passing through five distinct climate zones from rainforest to arctic summit. 'I'm going to climb, or attempt to climb it. Not good. I'm going to achieve it,' she said with determination.
The Mountain Experience
The Machame route is favoured by experienced trekkers for its stunning scenery and better acclimatisation profile. Climbers traverse the Shira Plateau, scale the Barranco Wall, and approach the summit via Stella Point – each section offering unique landscapes and challenges. 'I look forward to the challenge and the beautiful landscape, of course, and just the feeling of climbing a mountain, and just being with myself, with my guide, and the people that surround me during the trip,' Anna shared.
Tanzanian Hospitality Impresses
Beyond the mountain, Anna has been captivated by the warm and caring Tanzanian people. This human connection is something many visitors highlight – the guides, porters, and local communities who make the Kilimanjaro experience so special. For travellers considering their own Kilimanjaro adventure, the Machame route offers an excellent combination of scenic beauty, reasonable difficulty, and good summit success rates when done over six or seven days.
Original Source: This article is summarized from Daily News Tanzania.
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