TRAVELLING DAY: As the dawn appeared on the horizons, it meant a new day for us with another unique Mount Kilimanjaro experience.
We started off at Arusha shuttles station Nairobi City. We left the station at 07:00AM in the morning and drove along Mombasa Road. After driving for 30 minutes, we joined a diversion along Kajiando-Namanga Road. We arrived safely at the Kenya-Tanzania border. After an hour of passport checks at the boarder we continued on the with the safari to Mt Kilimanjaro.
We crossed the border and drove towards Arusha-Moshi Road to the start of our Mount Kilimanjaro hike. The clear vicinity looked remote and nothing could create much attention along road. The remoteness of the Mount Kilimanjaro vicinity was an attraction to the nomadic Maasai Community. We could see their herds of cattle in thousands along the Serengeti, and beyond the Mt Kilimanjaro area. Further on was an extended stretch of pale trees (thorny) with no trace of settlements in that area. As we continued on for about 1.5hrs, the environs changed randomly. Before seeing the great Mount Kilimanjaro, we were treated to another magnificent sight. Above the high sky emerged a giant pointed peaks almost covered by the mist. This was the beautiful sight of Meru Mountain that could be seen from a distance. The sight of this mountain bought our interest to the mission we had ahead of us-to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro!
Mr.Andreas, a man determined to climb Mount Kilimanjaro who was silent all through spoke up for the first time and shouted with joy when he saw the mountain. Below the Meru Mountain were impressive farms as people in that area were in the developing world as civilization took shape. A little bit Unlike Mount Kilimanjaro, on the right side of the Meru Mountain was sloppy scape, and on the left side runs a saddle plain.
Continuing with our journey to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, we entered into the Centre of the city without our knowledge after a 2-hour drive. This is because everything that covered that area was definitely beautiful. We arrived in Arusha and some passengers alighted-this was the first station. After a 30 minutes break for drinks and snacks, we drove off from Arusha to Mt Kilimanjaro along Moshi-Dar Salaam Road. We took us 2 hours to reach Arusha because the traffic rules on the road had a speed limit-5o0KM/hr. We arrived at Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro foot, in late evening and the views were fantastic because we could see Mount Kilimanjaro summit in the far distance. The weather in Moshi was very pleasant as cool air lit the atmosphere. It created an ample time for us to have to have a discussion about our journey from Nairobi to Moshi.
After dinner we retired for the overnight rest.
We met at 10:00AM after a long night rest in the city. The city was well sheltered by beautiful greener trees that were above it and kept the city warm throughout the night. We took a tour around the city as we waited for the rest of the Mount Kilimanjaro hiking clients who were arriving in the afternoon.
We were served with a kingly diet (a breakfast fit for people about to take on the great Mt Kilimanjaro) and we share it with a lot of warm, cracking jokes to order to prepare the mood for the day. After breakfast, we drove off to the Airport to catch up with the other two clients.
CLIENTS NAME – MOUNT KILIMANJARO HIKERS
Andares-55 years old Animal Doctor working in Swiss
Steffv-26 years old Journalists from Germany.
Martha-33 years old High schoolteacher from Germany. She was born again Christian.
We departed from the airport to Moshi to commence out Mount Kilimanjaro hike. We had a great moment with Steffv and Martha. We had climbed Mount Kenya with them in 2017 and they did it very well. The group had comprised of 12 hikers climbing Mount Kenya in that trip and it was success. We had a catch up with lunch hour in Moshi. The lady’s choice food was Salad and pizza. After lunch Steffav and Martha left us for shower and afternoon nap. They were very tired due to the long flight to Moshi.
Andres and I had an opportunity after lunch to explore the city. Moshi is situated on lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is embedded on North Eastern that joins the Safari network circuit in Tanzania-Main-National parks- Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Serengeti, Amboseli and many others.
We observed a good public relation that help to attract foreign guests to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The city gives the guests a bright warm welcome which enhances trustworthy and security to the foreign guests. Areas of public relation create a good atmosphere to everyone that visit Moshi city and the entire Mount Kilimanjaro region. The areas around Moshi practice extensive farming in which they produce maize, beans and bananas-once per year.
Moshi town population is 40,000 people- Chagga remain the highest population in the town and the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro. The name Moshi has reported to have its origin from smoke from nearby Mountain.
BUFFALO HOTEL– It offers second class service with affordable price for all seeking to hike Mount Kilimanjaro. It is built on a tourism avenue ultimately making it an attraction with impressive and elegant service. After 3 hours walk we went back to our Hotel-Buffalo Hotel. We met with the other guests for briefing and preparations for six days Mount Kilimanjaro hike. We sorted our personal stuffs and gears for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. We had a meeting also with the porters and guide to engage us and encourage us into the hiking mood for reaching Mount Kilimanjaro summit would be no easy feat. We would be accompanied by 13 porters (cooks, chef) and 3 guides. We checked the foodstuffs, camping equipment and also checked their conditions. After confirming all was in order we agreed with the entire team we met the next day-17 January 2022 at 09:00AM ready for hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. All the team and clients were healthy and normal except for Andreas. He had low appetite but was using a lot of fluids.
We retired for the night in readiness for the next day to commence the Mount Kilimanjaro hike.
After an early breakfast at Buffalo Hotel, we were picked and driven Machame gate. On the neighboring areas we saw many villages on the busy farms with people busy feeding their livestock. The road to Mount Kilimanjaro was in good condition but passed through hilly areas that reduce our speed. Banana plantations spread like forest that makes the boundary to the Machame Main forest Mt Kilimanjaro. After arrival in the Machame Park gate of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, we had to register at the gate before entry. After registration the chefs had to organize a cold lunch for the clients because it was noon. We didn’t really enjoy the cold lunch because it started raining and temperatures dropped extremely low-like 7 degree Celsius. After lunch exactly at 1:00 PM, we had to put on rainy gears and warm clothing. It normal to climb Mount Kilimanjaro while it rains. We set off in quick pace in order to keep ourselves warm. After entering the heart of the forest the temperatures arise because of Flora which spread its beauty and shelter the vicinity. This caught our attention and the clients stopped to know the names of different spectacular flora (trees, plants and flowers).
FLORA IN THIS ALTITUDE- Sycamore, Junipers (Impatients Macaranga, Kilimanjiri)-These are the two species growing in Mount Kilimanjaro only, also Old-man beards, Camphor.
As we continue climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and gain enough height, the vegetation tend to change as well as the altitude. Similarly the Mt Kilimanjaro climate changes, above the trees the primates were hanging themselves on the branches. They include blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, terrestrial olive baboons moved under the trees.
Species of birds in Mount Kilimanjaro Forest could be spotted –Hartlab’s Turaco, Red eyed doves, Bearded vultures. Cuckoo is solitary species and hard to see, but we happened to be lucky, and saw one flying over the trees.
Similarly Mt Kilimanjaro FAUNA were spotted (foot prints) of many animals, buffalos, elephants, Aardvark-Abbots duckers.
The views in Mount Kilimanjaro forest changed our intentions because the ecosystem in the forest was so wonderful. The plant life, fresh air and microorganism which depend on one another for survival. The entire Mt Kilimanjaro catchment areas store and release rainwater and regulates the flows of the streams.
It took us like 4.5 hours from the gate to the camp (2,980M) in which we were in good health and not very tired. We were met by our whole Mount Kilimanjaro hike team ready to serve us with snacks and hot water, chocolate and coffee to keep us warm. After this we had our dinner and overnight in Machame first Camp. The Machame camp is situated along the Mount Kilimanjaro forest line just neighboring to heathland.
After early breakfast, we set off our ascent leaving the forest line and joined heathland, moorland zone. The heathland accommodates various species of flowers that are unique .ie. Red hot poker, Protea, St.John worts, and everlasting flowers. These floras spread on the Mt Kilimanjaro landscape beautifully creating a uniqueness of its own. As we ascent much higher we catchup with another wet and somewhat boggy moorland. The spread of pinky grass covers the landscape and some scattered vegetation like-Lobelias giant groundsels and scencio plant covers some parts of Mount Kilimanjaro. On the sides of the leaves of Lobelias we watched hanging beautiful colored malachite Sunbirds. Also, in this upland moors no fine soil can be traced (aerosols peat). Further on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro we arrived on the rocky ridges on the Shira plateau, where spectacular streams invades the rocky ridge down the valleys. The valleys were much greener than the high ridges.
Our Mount Kilimanjaro hike took us past the ridges towards the western side views and ahead of us was a fabulous view of the Western Beach and its glacier. We gradually entered the open Mt Kilimanjaro campsite on the upland (3,840M). The tents were pinked in a certain pattern that made the entire campsite look colorful. The climb up Mount Kilimanjaro had us arrive late afternoon and by now our chef had prepared warm water for everyone to refresh from the hot day hike (15⁰C to 20⁰C). After refreshing from the day’s Mount Kilimanjaro hike we joined together in the mess tent to enjoy hot drinks, chocolate, coffee, milo, tea and snacks. After a rest of one hour, we went exploring Mt Kilimanjaro in the nearby areas around the camp then returned back to the camp. After the walk, we had a great time in the mess for stories and more discussions about the Africa culture, traditional norms of various tribes. We watched the spectacular Mount Kilimanjaro sunset as it sank down the horizons. The sun lit the sky with glorious orange color.
It was now 6:15 PM and everybody was making their way into the tents to call it a nights after a long day climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Also, the temperatures had dropped to 5⁰C. The leftovers were left for the scavengers of Mount Kilimanjaro to fed on.
It was now dinner time and our able chef placed the meal on the medium portable aluminum table. The diet when hiking Mount Kilimanjaro caters to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. We enjoyed the meal together as family. As was custom when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, there was hot water always on the table for the guests.
After dinner I noticed the altitude was 3840M and I recalled the physical assessment. I made the 3 guests to stand in a line while lifting one leg to the knee level and take 10 minutes in a balance. All the 3 guests qualified the Mount Kilimanjaro hike assessment. The assessment searches out the clients of the following; dizziness, shock and health capabilities. It also gives an assurance of the next day’s Mount Kilimanjaro climb. We then retired to our kingly tents for the night rest.
Following an early morning breakfast, we left the Mt Kilimanjaro moorland environment and joined with semi-desert and rocky landscape. After hours of walking east we came face to face with the LAVA TOWER (4630M). As we continued climbing Mount Kilimanjaro the terrain changed into pinkish rocks (volcanic rocks like). This Mount Kilimanjaro terrain has the following rocks; basalt and kenystes, volcanic massive which has 6 types of rocks. Basalt is hard rock which takes many years before weathering sabotage.
This rocky landscape gives room for some rodents and their prey to survive on the mountain. bearded vulture, auguar buzzard, alpine swift and also white necked raven that colonizes the parts of Mt.Kilimanjaro (Alpine zone). On the alpine zone micro-organisms existence is very low because only the pales everlasting daisies can survive on this harsh environment. As we continued climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the ascent the respiratory organs (like lungs) have abnormal functions. The reduction of oxygen caused puffed up and dizziness at this altitude. The 2-hour Mount Kilimanjaro trek changed the momentum and walking pace because of hard breathing and chest pain. After 10 minutes we were standing under a humongous wall rock (the lava tower)-4630M. At this height we were served with cold lunch. This gave us a much-needed moment to rest and we regain our strength for the rest of the Mount Kilimanjaro hike. The temperatures remained warm and calm under the shelter of the tower as we rested and caught our breath for 1.5 hours.
After lunch and along break I checked our Mount Kilimanjaro hiking guests and no one had exhibited any signs of altitude sickness. We were now at 4630M altitude and were heading to Barranco campsite (3950M). The 4600M descent gave us advantage to our bodies to adjust to high altitudes and climb Mount Kilimanjaro better. It took us 2 hrs. walk to descent on rocky ravine. This gave us relaxation and relief and we could breathe normally, not a hectic Mount Kilimanjaro hike whatsoever! However, it kept our knee caps sore due to the steepness and slippery nature of the valley. While still descending the Mount Kilimanjaro valley we lost all the views of the mountain because of the humongous Barraco wall. The wall hindered the whole front parts of the Mount Kilimanjaro summit and montane zone. We descended slowly down the loose gravels until Barraco Camp (3950M).Inside the valley camp were magnificent views and we caught up with the calmness of low humidity and evening sunshine and clear sky. Mt Kilimanjaro temperatures were now around 15⁰C. After arrival at the Barraco Camp, the three clients were exhausted. They took a hot shower to refresh and had 1 hour rest. That evening I notices that the clients were not in a joyful mood. This was caused by the high Mount Kilimanjaro altitude which caused low appetite and stomach upset. I advised them to drink a lot of water (fluids). Therefore we decided to have an early dinner so that guests can have enough time to rest for the next day’s Mount Kilimanjaro hike.
The day appeared so unfriendly to all of us. Our minds were prepared to conquer the great Barraco wall of Mt Kilimanjaro which is force to reckon with. It was a tough challenge and we had to wake up early to check on the weather to see if it favorable. The Mount Kilimanjaro mist had covered the visibility of the wall and the valley.
After breakfast my clients-Andreas Steevf and Martha has smiling faces as they looked at an intimidating wall on an already intimidating mountain. We could only see a quarter of the wall and we decided to start climbing Mount Kilimanjaro slowly. We anticipated to get to the top of the wall after 1 hr 20 mins. The weather favored us because it was cool and misty such that you could not see the bottom of the wall.
After climbing the challenging wall on Mt Kilimanjaro, the mist cleared away on top of the wall. We had a magnificent view of Mount Kilimanjaro summit (Uhuru peaks) and Helm glaciers which were above the clouds. Our Mount Kilimanjaro hike was now heading down to Karanga Valley. Therefore the terrain changed and sceneries and altitude was much high and everyone had to descent slowly and carefully. The scree looked slippery. No animal could survive on the high Mount Kilimanjaro elevation because the Alpine desert stone and lava desert dominate. On the Mt Kilimanjaro rocks only lichen and moss which marks the only life, otherwise on other animal or plant can exist here. As we descend 4600M to 4240 M down Karanga valley, our clients had enough strength to hike the Karanga ridges which was about 700M to the topmost. We gradually continued our Mount Kilimanjaro hike until we reached on top of Karanga valley at 1:00PM.By now we were hungry and tired and already the porters and chef had arrived in the camping site for preparations. They had prepared the lunch meals and also pinched the camping site for the best accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro for the night. We were served with hot lunch (pasta and minced beefs) and fruits. The meal served was rich in vitamins and proteins. Good fuel for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
After lunch everybody had to take nap and relax until evening. The camp is located over the valley and very open for the Mt Kilimanjaro storms and wind. We were lucky and the weather changed in the afternoon with clear sky and temperatures of 18⁰C which was pleasant outside the camp.
Dinner was now here with us and we were served with another kingly diet to close the day’s Mount Kilimanjaro hike. This was first night that we almost had a sleepless night, but we were all in good health.
After our breakfast, we left Karanga camp 4034M, with a trial that intercepts with Mweka route, which is used to descend on the final two days. As we continued hiking Mount Kilimanjaro for an hour, we reached to a hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp(4550M) for hours. The Mount Kilimanjaro hike from Karanga to Barafu was quite easy and we hiked in slowly until we stepped on Barafu camp. The name “Barafu” is a Swahili name meaning “ice” and this camp is located on a ridge that is exposed to the strong Mt Kilimanjaro wind and storms.
We arrived in early afternoon and we had to familiarize with the camp before dusk set in. The Mount Kilimanjaro weather was clear but still freezing cold as we set our feet on Barafu Camp. The atmosphere was unpleasant due to the cold weather and everyone had to seek warmth from our sleeping bags. We all longed the darkness to befall Mt Kilimanjaro but hours were delaying on our side. The high Mt Kilimanjaro altitude experience sleepless night but fortunately we had to wake up at 11:30 PM for breakfast. We had an early dinner at about 06:00PM to give ample time to sleep in most high camp in Africa. After dinner we joined together for a briefing in preparation for the Mount Kilimanjaro summit attempt in the early morning. After the briefing we all went to sleep at 06:30 PM.
This particular night on Mount Kilimanjaro was bright and clear sky with stars very visible. I woke up the hikers around 11:30 PM for tea and biscuits (snacks). We took around 30 minutes for preparations for the great challenge ahead of us. At midnight we started hiking Mount Kilimanjaro for the summit attempt through the route that heads north and ascend over rock scree. During the Mount Kilimanjaro summit attempt everyone in the group experienced mixed feelings as the climb became more and more challenging. Steefv was seriously affected by the mountain sickness after a Mount Kilimanjaro hike of 3 hours. She developed stomach upsets and vomiting and we had her sit down and drink much water. After several drinks, she recovered and continued heading with us to Mount Kilimanjaro summit.
When we reached at Stella Point(5685M) which is located on Crater rim, we enjoyed the magnificent sunrise. We continued climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for an hour on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895M). The clients gazed in amazement for they had no imagination of such wonderful creation; the Majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. They couldn’t imagine they could conquer the high altitude of Mt Kilimanjaro. We had a photo session and eye views and great celebration for the great achievement (accomplishment). The Mount Kilimanjaro summit was beautifully covered by snow and glacier covered the crater rim. The weather was so cold but we had the proper clothing so keep off the cold touching our bodies. After taking enough photos we opted to descend and pushed on for 3 hours until we returned to Barafu Camp. It was quite easy to go down as opposed to the ascent. The scree slopes characterize in the eternal ice region up to Mount Kilimanjaro summit (Uhuru Peak) was dreadful, intimidating at first glance. At Barafu camp, we rested and enjoyed a hot lunch basking in the sun and our successful Mount Kilimanjaro hike. After eating our meal, we continued descending down to Mweka Hut (3100M).
We quicken our pace climbing down Mt Kilimanjaro as we left Barafu camp towards the scree and the rocks. The road lead through rocks on towards the moorland with everything looking beautiful. The hikers however were not feeling well; they were quite exhausted and Steffv had a serious headache and dizziness. But as we continued the descend down Mount Kilimanjaro, she felt better. However, we still decided to call the rescue team from Mweka Camp (TANAPA) which was near Mount Kilimanjaro. They sent their rescue van that drove us off the park to Moshi and we arrived in the evening. Steffv went for a checkup at the hospital and they confirmed it was mountain sickness. She was treated and she felt much better as we returned back to our hotel (Buffalo) for the overnight. We were very exhausted from hiking Mount Kilimanjaro and the sleepless nights on the mountain. We refreshed with hot showers and with no more Mt Kilimanjaro to conquer that night, we went to bed.
After breakfast we had to meet the whole team for group celebration for we had accomplished the mission of successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The clients were happy with services of the team and gave each person some tips. The group gathered in circle and sang their traditional mountain songs as they bid farewell to the guests.
After saying goodbye the team we drove off to the airport for flights back home.
Everything had ended well by the Mighty hand of God.