Part 2-The epic journey has just begun!
Read Katrina's personal account following our
Embrace Kilimanjaro Team climbing to the Roof of Africa,
Mount Kilimanjaro.
'Climbing Kilimanjaro was hands down one of the hardest and most unforgettable experiences of my life. From the start to standing at the summit at 5,895 meters, every moment was full of ups, downs, and a huge sense of adventure.'
Day 4 - Tuesday 27th August
This morning, we shift gear to Kili. Our head guide Bobby and Assistant guide Josephine met us, did a gear check, and gave us a thorough briefing on how things will be on the mountain, what each day will look like, what we will eat, etc. It’s a lot, but we know we have got this.
We took some photos with the team at St Jude and it was time to say our goodbyes. Was bitter sweet. We were happy to be moving on to the main reason we are here in Tanzania but it sad that we have to leave these beautiful people that made us feel like family over the past few days.
An hour and a half drive to Moshi, some lunch at a local cafe and then onto our accommodation for the night. The Changa Lodge - a fabulous retreat in the middle of Moshi.
A couple of drinks on the garden and lovely dinner and we were off to bed - an early night as tomorrow we start hiking.
Day 5-Wednesday 28th August (day 1 on the mountain)
Today it begins. Look out Kili we are coming for you! We left our accommodation at 9 am on route to Lemosho Gate.
A couple of stops for snacks and toilets (we think the altitude tablets are already kicking in 🤪)
We arrived at the Lemosho gate at noon after a 3 hour trip. We’re greeted by our waiter porter, Nynyuka, who served us a delicious lunch. We are treking the Lomosho route on the western side of the mountain -our guides say it is the best for acclimatisation which makes us feel more confident. Today our starting point was 2100m.
We spotted our first herd of giraffe on the way-Sue's favourite animal so it was a fabulous surprise at to start our first day of Kili!
7kms of Pole Pole (slowly slowly), lots of new words, some blue monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys, hyrax and beautiful birds to keep us occupied along the way. The rainforest was beautiful and we all did a fantastic job on day 1.
We showed up at Mkubwa camp (elevation 2650m) greeted with a warm face washer and a cup of juice - we were blown away and also very grateful. Our tents were up, our bags ready for us, hot tea was made as well as some freshly made popcorn for afternoon tea. We took some time to settle into our tents before dinner was served… pumpkin soup and bread followed by fish, potato’s and vegetables - so beyond our expectations.
A briefing about tomorrow from one of our guides, Kim, and we were all in our tents ready for bed by 8pm.
The nerves have settled and the confidence grown. A fabulous day on the mountain.
Day 6-Thursday 29th August. (Day 2 on the mountain)
From Mkubwa Camp(2650m) to Shira 1 Camp (3610m)
Up at 6, breakfast at 6:30 and on the trail at 7:30. Let me go back to breakfast first - totally blown away… tea, coffee, two types of porridge, omelettes, pancakes, toast and condiments. Remember we are climbing a mountain and are in a extremely remote setting
Ok onto the trek. It was a tough day, only 7kms but it is listed as challenging and challenging it was. We gained 960m from where we started to where we ended but at the highest point of our climb today we hit 3800 so we actually did well over 1,000 meters of accent.
The team did a fabulous job and finished the day with a smile on their face. That’s not to say there wasn’t hard work, sweat and tears through the day.
At camp our hot towels and juice were ready for us with a hi 5 and great big smile from our team and the peak of Kili in the background. It really was a site for sore eyes.
Lunch, a wash and an afternoon lay down were in order.
Dinner once again was a treat - soup followed by chicken, rice, veggies and the most delicious avocado.
As we were getting our checks done (we get our heart rate and oxygen level checked as well as a series of questions to gauge how we were tracking) in comes our amazing waiter porter NyNyuko with a hot water bottle for each of us. Seriously we cannot believe the level of care we are getting. Bring on tomorrow!
Day 7-Friday 30th August (day 3 on the mountain)
Shira 1 camp (3610) to Moir Hut Camp (4100m)
Around 7km again today but a much gentler incline, a bit of rock scrambling. The team did so good today. Tonight we are camped right under the peak of Kilimanjaro and it is magnificent.
Day 8-Saturday 31st August (day 4 on the mountain)
Moir hut camp to Lava tower approx 7kms and 4600m (the highest point we have been). The last up was a hard slog so our guides sang 'up, up the mountain' - it always gives us a lift when they start singing and chanting to cheer us all on. We were greeted by our meal tent all set up for us with a hot meal prepared for us for lunch. Seriously this team of guides, porters and cooks are simply amazing. We had our Health checks to see how we were handling the altitude and we were all doing great.
We trekked another 3 kms down to our camp at Barranko Camp. They say hike high and sleep low to acclimatise to the altitude. It was the longest 3 Kms of our lives - it seemed to go on forever … Pole Pole (slowly slowly) is another way to help with acclimatisation as well and we are a bunch of Pole Pole experts now.
We couldn’t see camp on our way down as it was covered in cloud - it was pretty cool really to be walking amongst the clouds to find our campsite.
It was a tough day for most but we are all in it together and our team name is Pamoja (together in Swahili) we even have matching bracelets to get us through.
Our camp at Baranco (3900m) was spectacular. Another delicious dinner, health check, brief for tomorrow oh and the hot water bottles and we were off to bed.
Day 9-Sunday 1st September (day 5 on the mountain)
WHAT A DAY!
Today team Pamoja took on the Baranco Wall - 300 meters straight up on the cliff face of the mountain. It was terrifying to think that we could actually do it BUT we took on the challenge and I have to say with the help of our amazing guides and porters we actually smashed it. It’s hard to explain it so please look it up online and also check out our photos - although we don’t think they do it justice.
Up the top we hit 4100meters and had hot ginger tea and some snickers bars waiting for us. After a much needed rest we were off again - down, then up, then down and then one final great big up to bring us to Karanga Hut Camp, sitting at 3950m. This up and down and up and down really does help with acclimatisation because the girls are doing fabulous and smashed the health checks again tonight.
A few photos of the sunsetting above the clouds - REALLY UNBELIEVABLE and then we were all in bed by 7:15. Next minute we get out hot water bottles delivered to our tents - once again blown away by the team from KilI Twende!
Day 10-Monday 2nd September (day 6 on the mountain)
Today we head for base camp - we are staying at Upper Barafu Camp (AKA Kosovo) which sits at 4700m
Pole pole we made our way up, up, up, all the time thinking if we will make it to the summit the next day. We are so close but still so far. Altitude sickness can hit at any time and we have to be mindful not to get our hopes too high.
It took us 5 hours to get to Lower Barafu Camp (4673m) for lunch and then another hour to reach our base camp, upper Barafu (4870m) the hour was tough with some steep rocky inclines but we made it for an afternoon nap in our tents and an early dinner at 5 as tomorrow we will be woken at 11pm to start our final accent to the summit. Omg this is really happening.
Day 11-Tuesday 3rd September (day 7 on the mountain)
12:00 Midnight and we start to walk with every piece of warm gear we had, a head torch and a lots of determination and nerves.
We won’t sugar coat it, it was hard going, the higher we got the harder it got, some felt nauseous, some felt tired, most of us short of breath. We kept moving Pole Pole as our guides and porters sang us up that mountain - seriously a privilege to be part of it. The sun popped through the clouds just before we hit Stella point at the top of the mountain. We knew from here it would be another hour or hour and a half to reach the absolute top of Africa. It’s only 700 meters but this final hour was hard as most of us felt the effects of altitude in one way of another. We pushed each other, we motivated each other and when we saw and then reached that sign we cried with each other. We had made it to Uhuru Peak - 5,895 meters above sea level.
The motto on Kilimanjaro is 'pole-pole' (slowly, slowly), and we heard these words and followed them religiously along the trail and it really is what got us to the summit.
15 minutes to celebrate and it was time to turn around and make our way back - Pole Pole of course. It took us 8 hours up and 4 hours back.
Had a 2 hour nap - replenished with a late lunch and the walked another 4 hours down hill to our next camp - High Camp with a much more civilised altitude of 3950 meters. Dinner and we were in bed by 7:30.
'Reaching the top of Uhuru Peak was such an emotional moment. We cried, hugged, and just stood there, amazed by what we’d done. The mountain pushed me to my limits, but it gave me so much more in return—new confidence, unforgettable memories, and a deeper connection with the amazing people I shared it'
Day 12-Wednesday 4th September (day 8 on the mountain)
Today was our last day on the mountain and 14km downhill walk to Mweka Gate. A fabulous day of mostly rainforest walking and reflection about the journey we had been on.
Crossing the finish line was one of those moments we will never forget. A moment of pure exhilaration and, in a way, disbelief that we had just conquered Kili. It will take some time to reflect and really understand the true gravity of what we had just done
We headed for lunch with the entire team that supported us, the porters, cook, waiters, tent porters and guides and celebrated together as one family - we sang, danced and cried and said farewell to the people who have made us feel so welcome and cared for on the mountain. Yes it was all about the journey but mostly it was about the people we surrounded ourselves along the way and for them we are eternity grateful. These people will remain etched in our hearts forever.
'Kili, you’ve got a piece of my heart forever. ❤️ Thank you to the group of beautiful and inspiring women I shared this with - I think you are all the most amazing women and feel truly blessed to have shared this with you. '
And yep I would absolutely do it all agan...
xKatrina
Owner, Women Embrace Adventure
Comments