Day 7
Back in the Hotel all safe and sound. Washed, shaved and drinking beer. 6 days of walking and where do I start. Well for one thing we have discovered that there are no rhino’s on Kilimanjaro, and definitely not on the top. Dinner is calling and the soft comforts of the Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort are very seductive so briefly….
Day 1.
Checked out of hotel and were overawed by the numbers also getting ready to climb Kili. A Landrover took us to the start of Rongai route. The road is very wide and very new, however, speed limits and driving etiquette were out the window and we clung on for dear life..
The start of our route looked more like a National Trust Visitors Centre rather than an Equatorial African Outpost. Checked in, met our team…3 guides and 20 porters and set off along the forest paths, chatting quietly….and having absolutely no idea of what lay ahead. Wilfred and George, as Assistant Guides, led the way, allowing us to stop off for lunch at a little picnic stop. Complete with picnic tables and (long drop) toilets.
Then on we went being preceded by a rather large male Baboon who seemed to swagger along in front of us. Johanne was happy with the local wildlife, Colobus and Blue monkeys plentiful in the forest around us. A large line of Safari ants crossed our path and Charles stood, unwittingly, on another column of ants whilst observing the first. He is the only person I know to have been bitten, several times, by these ants; much to our amusement.
We arrived at our campsite and prepared ourselves for the first night under canvas and sampled the delights of the food we would be eating. Thank God I had Immodium,
Day 2
Long walk to Kikilewa Camp
Day 3
Short walk to Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Day 4
Long walk across the saddle to Kibo camp
Day 5
Woken at 10.30 pm to depart 11.30 pm for assault on Kibo (Kilimanjaro) itself. A solid steady trudge in the dark, all suffering from the effects of Altitude sickness to the summit.
time has run out on this computer so must sign off. Nevertheless just to say we all made it and we are all safe and sound…
tbc….
Mole Valley to ? 