The Group
The Mountain
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp
The climb begins inside the National Park, a beautiful rainforest with gently sloping windy trails with picturesque landscapes of local flora, fauna, and natural wildlife.
Camping day 1 in the wild! Were those hyaenas I heard snorting outside the tent?
We emerge from the rainforest and continue a more steeply ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route turns onto a river gorge that takes us into the Shira camp, where the temperatures are. Temperatures begin to drop.
While I am tempted to start using the hot water bottle in the sleeping bag, I am told to save it until I need it!
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower- Barranco Camp
We continue up a ridge from the Shira plateau, passing the junction towards the Kibo peak before reaching a lava tower called “the Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m).
Shortly after the tower, we reach a second junction leading to the Arrow Glacier. We then descend overnight at Barranco camp.
Although we spent the better part of the day on steep ascents and clambering on very rocky terrain, we ended the day around the same elevation we began, which is a little frustrating. Still, there is a method to this madness- it is very important for acclimatisation! By now, our blood oxygen levels are much lower than when we started, and our hearts are pumping much faster even with little exertion.
Day 4 : Barranco camp to Karanga camp to Barafu camp
We continue on a steep ridge up to the adventurous Barranco wall, which includes hanging on a ledge and kissing the wall before you can safely cross over to the Karanga Valley.
This is one of the most memorable days to see the porters and crew's power, agility, and strength as they cross over this wall and the treacherous rocky terrain with what appears to be such ease. We connect with the Meek Trail and continue up toward Barafu Camp.
Once reached, we officially have completed the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many angles.
Day 5: Barafu camp to Stella Point and Uhuru peak summit
With just 4 hours of “rest”, trepidation builds as we set off for the. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At subzero temperatures, crawling at a snail's pace over a very steep ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim over 2535m above the last camp. Making it a conquest of mind over matter feels like a life-or-death challenge.
We continue our way to the summit between the reman and Rattle glaciers, struggling to stay warm from the arduous journey. The numbness is a combination of the extended hours in sub-zero temperatures, the fatigue of several days, not to mention the last 8 hours, coupled with semi- disbelief that this is it. We have reached the top of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the African continent, reaching a height of 5895m above sea level, well above the cloud. It feels surreal
It is a short and emotional triumph followed by what was, for me, a dramatic “James Bond” style steep descent with an oxygen tank down to Meek Camp!
On top of
Africa!
It was an uneventful day of trekking through the rocky and Forrest terrain back down where it all started. A sense of accomplishment begins to settle.
It feels nice to be back to “civilisation”, where a celebratory lunch and certificate award ceremony awaits.
