Obviously I've been doing my raffles every 2 weeks and talking a lot about fundraising for Alzheimer's Society, but I just wanted to give you a bit of background on my trip to Tanzania and the trekking schedule.
For those of you who don't know, Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and muggins here is going to climb it (eeek). The mountain is in Tanzania in east Africa (south of Kenya).
I decided to do this as I like to constantly challenge myself and I saw this advertised in the Metro one morning and thought why not? I don’t do things by halves so within a couple of days I had fully signed up, created a new blog, created a Just Giving account, started training and was working with a physio to try and correct an old injury. I've never been to Africa, I've been on very few holidays in my lifetime (work trips don't count as I see the inside of a hotel). I don't even think I'd know what to do with myself on a normal holiday anyway, I get very restless and hate sunbathing. :-) I thought this would be a good thing to do to get me fit again, meet new people and with the massive added bonus that I might actually be able to do something good and raise awareness about Alzheimer's Disease.
So here's the plan:
Day 2: I'll be arriving at the entrance to the Machame route (route less well travelled), we'll be trekking for 5-7 hours and will cover about 18km (12.2 miles). Overnight camping at 3,100 ft.
Day 4: Machame – Shira caves
The route continues on up through the forest until the steep ascent on to the Shira Plateau, where there are inspiring views of the mountain - really can't wait to take some photos of that bit! Apparently here you can see Mount Meru rising high above Arusha town. Trekking time approx. 4 – 6 hours, approx. 9km. Overnight: camping at 3,840m.
Day 5: Shira – Barranco
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We will traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp at the Barranco Hut (3,900m), a tin shack where we will pitch our tents. The day will be spent at altitude (up to 4,600m), but we will follow the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to avoid altitude sickness by aiding our bodies’ acclimatisation. Trekking time approx. 6 – 7 hours, approx. 15km. Overnight: camping at 3,900m.
Day 6: Barranco – Karanga
We will start the day by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We will then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we will head towards the Karanga valley. From there I'll have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to the night’s camp at Karanga camp. We will go for a mid- afternoon acclimatisation trek up to around 4,200m before descending back to camp for the night. Trekking time approx. 5 – 7 hours, approx. 10 km. Overnight: camping at 3,963m.
Day 7: Karanga – Barafu
After a good night’s rest and breakfast we will set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4,600m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude.
On arriving at camp we will eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. We will have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit. Trekking time approx. 4 – 6 hours, approx. 10km. Overnight: camping at 4,600m.
Day 8: Barafu – Uhuru – Millenium camp
We set off in the early hours, and walk steeply upwards to the Summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but will gain incredible height over a short distance. Apparently the views are spectacular! We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5,750m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. There will be spectacular ice cliffs within the crater and the views to Mawenzi and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit Uhuru (5,896m), the highest point; Uhuru means freedom in Swahili. We will then begin the descent by retracing our steps to Stella Point before descending on scree back to camp. After a short rest and some lunch we continue descending down the ridge towards our nights stop at Millennium camp. Overnight: camping at 3,900m. Trekking time approx. 12 – 14 hours, approx. 20km (7km climb).
Day 9: Millennium camp – Moshi
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, where we will complete park formalities and receive certificates of ascent. We will then met by the vehicles and driven back to the hotel in Moshi. Overnight: hotel. Trekking time approx. 5 hours, approx. 10km.
Day 10: Moshi
A free day to explore Moshi where there are some good markets (woo, shopping time!).
I'm then going to take a week and either go to Nairobi or Zanibar (Island just off the coast of Tanzania). Really not sure yet, but if anyone has any suggestions/recommendations please do let me know.
Just a reminder that I am doing all of this for Alzheimer's Society and that I am holding this fab raffle here (amazing prizes worth over £80 above and below) to try and raise funds (£1 per ticket and anyone can enter). I am well on target already thanks to the generosity of all the lovely people who read my blog, but we can always raise more for such a good cause! :-)
Day 1: I'll be flying into Kilimanjaro International airport, meeting with everyone and then staying overnight in a hotel in Moshi town.
Day 2: I'll be arriving at the entrance to the Machame route (route less well travelled), we'll be trekking for 5-7 hours and will cover about 18km (12.2 miles). Overnight camping at 3,100 ft.
Day 4: Machame – Shira caves
The route continues on up through the forest until the steep ascent on to the Shira Plateau, where there are inspiring views of the mountain - really can't wait to take some photos of that bit! Apparently here you can see Mount Meru rising high above Arusha town. Trekking time approx. 4 – 6 hours, approx. 9km. Overnight: camping at 3,840m.
Day 5: Shira – Barranco
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We will traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp at the Barranco Hut (3,900m), a tin shack where we will pitch our tents. The day will be spent at altitude (up to 4,600m), but we will follow the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to avoid altitude sickness by aiding our bodies’ acclimatisation. Trekking time approx. 6 – 7 hours, approx. 15km. Overnight: camping at 3,900m.
Day 6: Barranco – Karanga
We will start the day by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We will then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we will head towards the Karanga valley. From there I'll have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to the night’s camp at Karanga camp. We will go for a mid- afternoon acclimatisation trek up to around 4,200m before descending back to camp for the night. Trekking time approx. 5 – 7 hours, approx. 10 km. Overnight: camping at 3,963m.
Day 7: Karanga – Barafu
After a good night’s rest and breakfast we will set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4,600m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude.
On arriving at camp we will eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. We will have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit. Trekking time approx. 4 – 6 hours, approx. 10km. Overnight: camping at 4,600m.
Day 8: Barafu – Uhuru – Millenium camp
We set off in the early hours, and walk steeply upwards to the Summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but will gain incredible height over a short distance. Apparently the views are spectacular! We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5,750m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. There will be spectacular ice cliffs within the crater and the views to Mawenzi and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit Uhuru (5,896m), the highest point; Uhuru means freedom in Swahili. We will then begin the descent by retracing our steps to Stella Point before descending on scree back to camp. After a short rest and some lunch we continue descending down the ridge towards our nights stop at Millennium camp. Overnight: camping at 3,900m. Trekking time approx. 12 – 14 hours, approx. 20km (7km climb).
Day 9: Millennium camp – Moshi
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, where we will complete park formalities and receive certificates of ascent. We will then met by the vehicles and driven back to the hotel in Moshi. Overnight: hotel. Trekking time approx. 5 hours, approx. 10km.
Day 10: Moshi
A free day to explore Moshi where there are some good markets (woo, shopping time!).
I'm then going to take a week and either go to Nairobi or Zanibar (Island just off the coast of Tanzania). Really not sure yet, but if anyone has any suggestions/recommendations please do let me know.
Just a reminder that I am doing all of this for Alzheimer's Society and that I am holding this fab raffle here (amazing prizes worth over £80 above and below) to try and raise funds (£1 per ticket and anyone can enter). I am well on target already thanks to the generosity of all the lovely people who read my blog, but we can always raise more for such a good cause! :-)
