Decent table food along the Machame - Mount Kilimanjaro route

It's amazing how much effort goes into getting decent food on the table. And everything has to be brought upstairs : dining tent, tables, chairs, pots, pans, stoves, not to mention the food itself.

Breakfast is the same almost every morning: nutritious and rich in carbohydrates. We always get a big pot of coarse porridge first , which we then put in metal bowls. With a little sugar it tastes good and is above all very nutritious. Carbohydrates are useful. In addition, there is always bread and we can choose between jam, honey and peanut butter . Sometimes there were pancakes . As a second course we always get a large plate with fried eggs and sausages and slices of cucumber.

We usually had a packed lunch , but on the second day the folding tables and chairs were set up in the sun and shelter from the wind ... We were given sandwiches, cakes, bananas, plums, passion fruit and fruit juice.

Upon arrival there was always a snack in the dining tent. Tea with popcorn and biscuits (Maria Cookies), thermos with hot water and tea bags, instant coffee, powdered milk and cocoa powder.

Dinner consists of a large closet roll with delicious soup. Every day there is a different soup: cucumber soup, carrot soup. The main course is also different every day: potatoes, rice, pasta, baked and fried plantains, meat, vegetables. For dessert there are local fruits such as banana and mango.

On our route for 17 climbers , we had 41 porters, a main guide , 5 auxiliary guides and 3 cooks .

Willem Vandenameele