5 October 2018 – Mt Kilimanjaro
With three months of training, a total of five days and 70 km #hiking the Marangu Route on Mt Kilimanjaro Tanzania (the oldest and toughest route), raising awareness, funds (A$500 in total for the campaign so far, thankyou for your generosity) and placing a Solder On flag at the Uhuru Peak with an altitude of 5,895 m above sea level (started at 1,870 m), I achieved my goal and have made it back to the starting point, Moshi, in one piece and couldn’t be prouder. The view from the top of Africa was breathtaking and should be experienced. Amazing landscape.
Had the best week on the mountain and made some great friends. Five days of hiking and climbing to the roof of Africa, with the final ascending day trekking 9 hours in total with the temperature going down to -15 degrees C, was a long but rewarding and memorable day. With no altitude sickness (well I had no energy), headaches or symptoms, I was blessed. In 2017, when I was at Mt Everest base camp I got acute mountain sickness the day before reaching the base camp. This trek is more difficult than Mt Everest base camp. The guides, porters and cook were fabulous and I recommend this Intrepid travel trip wholeheartedly. My Mont Adventure Equipment, Macpac, Kathmandu gear, Scarpa GTX Terra hiking boots (which I donated to one of the porters at the end of the trip), EPE 3 litre hydration reservoir backpack and other miscellaneous equipment all worked perfectly. I had travel insurance with World Nomads, thankfully didn’t have to use it but is great to have peace of mind up at these high altitudes.
Everything went our way, from the second we got off the plane, (thanks Qatar airways) to meeting our awesome guides, reaching the summit and the long decent. Not much wildlife up here but white butterflies and black crows popped up every now and then, to remind us they were there. Did see some monkeys in the low lying rainforest terrain.
You can still donate to Solder On via this link, https://soldieron.giveeasy.org/campaigns/mt-kilimanjaro-hike-for-mental-health-awareness/ 100% of the money raised goes directly to them. Visit Tanzania, you will not be disappointed. You will experience and explore nature and the outdoors like never before.
Thank you for coming on this journey with me. What is your purpose in life? You can overcome.
Click here for the 15 min YouTube video of the hike up to the roof of Africa.
Touch down at Kilimanjaro airport
On route to the start point of the hike
View of Mt Kilimanjaro from
the start point of the hike
View of Mt Kilimanjaro from
the start point of the hike
Bags ready for weighing in
First porter to start
carrying bags
Model of Mt Kilimanjaro at the
starting point of the hike
Marangu starting gate
of the hike
Off we go
Flower in the rainforest sub climate
up to the first hut
Flower in the rainforest sub climate
up to the first hut
First overnight hut of the hike
Crow on route to the second hut
Crow on route to the second hut
Mt Kilimanjaro
Mt Kilimanjaro
Mt Kilimanjaro
Mt Kilimanjaro
Foggy end to the day hiking
to the second hut
Foggy end to the day hiking
to the second hut
Second sleeping hut
Mt Kilimanjaro
Flower on route to third hut
The Saddle, on route to
the third hut
Third sleeping hut
Sunrise close to the peak
Ice clifts close to the peak
Made it!!!!!
Rest stop after coming back
down from the peak
Sunset at the second hut after coming
back down from the peak
With guide and fellow hiker at the second hut
after coming back down from the peak
Handing some unwanted
gear to the porters
Loading up gear on route
back to the hotel
Thanks to Intrepid Travel for allowing me to use the below route map.