I learnt last night that one of our hardy troupe of Kilimanjaro climbers has, for the past few years, and, for the foreseeable future, sent a not inconsiderable financial Christmas ‘gift’ to one of our assistant guides as a ‘Thank You’.
No other correspondence just that simple gift. And by return a Christmas card is duly received back at this end, written with much effort in broken english. The guide lives alone with his sister, both are orphans
I would like to praise and recommend our Kilimanjaro team. Mainly, that is, the African Walking Company. A warm, friendly, experienced and well run company. No wonder the ‘Comic Relief’ climb used them (as did Ben Fogle on his BBC documentary ‘Extreme Dreams’). From the moment we were picked up in Nairobi, by our driver Alex, we found ourselves in good hands.
All eventualities were catered for and the service provided excellent.
Ngaya, a Company Director, who provided so much support for Johanne during his visit to hospital and ensuring he was looked after.
Straton, our exemplary Chief Guide, whose leadership and organisation allowed our large party (30 odd people) to climb Kilimanjaro smoothly; and more importantly checking that we all got down safely and in one piece. He also clucked like a mother hen over whether we had eaten and drunk enough (He also did the Ben Fogle and Comic Relief climbs but despite our badgering would not reveal all the ‘stories’). We can forgive him for wearing an Everton shirt.
Wilfred, assistant guide, helpful, cheerful and the man that carried our day pack when necessary, supervised the whole of Johanne’s descent and remained with him until we all rendezvous’d the following day. He also made sure that when Rosie vomited she had emptied her whole stomach (??????!!!)
George, assistant guide. Smiling and cheerful. Who carried Rosie’s daypack, taught her Swahili and made some impromptu crampons for the her descent. George encouraged us on, and with Straton and Wilfred, sang to us most of the way to the top.
Trophy, for cooking for us lot. Organising the stretcher party and making sure there was always a hot cup of tea or our arrival in camp. I ate more than I do at home!!
All the other porters, assistant porters who put up with us, and in a such a cheerful manner.
And again I must mention the African Walking Company. They look after their staff well, paying them a decent wage, ensuring they are not overloaded, providing education for the porters who wish, having a structured promotion and personal advancement system for their staff, making sure work is fairly distributed, providing teams to clear up the rubbish left by (us) tourists and other companies not so benevolent, supplying good clean accommodation, care and equipment…
…and lastly to I must say thank you to the poor guy/porter who had the job of carrying the portable toilet up and down the mountain. An unenviable task. He kept it clean, workable and empty. It clogged, froze and, one night, fell over..whilst I was in it!!! I always wondered why one of the porters was always at the back, perhaps that was him?
Less than a week to go, and it’s all seeming pretty real now.
Seems like AGES since Mark came up with this daft idea.
Lots of people seem to have climbed Kili already though – and I keep bumping into them.
Unfortunately, there are two recurring themes in what they say …
Firstly – “It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done ….”
It might be nice if someone – anyone! – said ‘oh it’s OK, quite easy really …’
And secondly they’ll say something graphic and ghastly about their bowels, or their stomach activity, or their lack of personal hygiene during the trip … which you then inevitably visualise … ugh!
Even more annoying are the people who haven’t ever done it, but who then say
“Well if Chris Moyles can do it then it can’t be THAT difficult …”
But what stuck with me most so far has been the comments of a chap who did it just last year. He spoke about how the trip can ‘infantilise’ you; you are in a strange and dangerous environment, and wholly reliant on others. The Guides, especially. So, it becomes a series of instructions, and you comply. “Eat up your porridge.” “Time to go to sleep now.” “Come on, you can do it.”
Sounds quite comforting, really …! Here’s hoping …
Rick
(aka ‘Johann’ by Mark (only in the whole world), for reasons too obscure to recount)
Mole Valley to ? 