We chose to ascend Kili via the lesser-travelled, more rugged Machame Route. It approaches Kibo from the southwest then gradually circles its southern face before rising to the summit from the southeast at Barafu Hut (high camp on the Machame Route). One then descends via the Mweka Trail to Mweka Gate.

The highly popular Marangu Route approaches Kibo from the far southeast on gentle slopes. Marangu hikers sleep in well-furnished huts each night along the way where Coca-Cola is served, hence it's nickname the "Coca-Cola Route". The drawback is less time allowed to acclimate with more severe cases of Acute Mountain Sickness as a result.

The Machame Route is nicknamed the "Whiskey Route" because it is both more expensive than the Coca-Cola Route and because one takes one's time with it, e.g., more time is allowed for acclimatization.The relative success rate of summit attainment on this route is considerably higher than that of the Marangu.

To bolster our chances for success, we added an additional night on the route. This was spent at Karanga Valley, between Barranco Hut and Barafu Hut camps. Karanga Valley is the last water source on the Machame Route until one descends to Mweka (main) Hut at forest level.

Approximately 10-20 people die on Kilimanjaro each year. It is not a mountain to be underestimated, yet people, and some Bulgarians, do it all the time.