Day 2 - Machame Huts - New Shira Camp (3850 m/12630 ft)

Waking at 5.30,  our next days trek was due to commence around 6.30. Sleeping had not been easy, mainly I think due to the close proximity of the other tents around us:

We were alreadt above the clouds, yet our target ahead still seemed far away.

A longer days trek, around 9 hours, making a steep ascent through the heather and moor land reaching the Shira Plateau, giving fantastic views over the land below. This time we didn’t increase our altitude so much, but still we will finish at a height of 3843 metres. At this altitude the montane forest gives way to the giant heathers of the moorland zone. The vegetation opens up and we have great views. We can see Kibo, Mt. Meru in the distance and also Machame way down below as we made our way up towards the Shira Plateau.

Although we had not covered much distance the increase in height did leave some people starting to feel the effects of altitude, headaches, sickness, slight dizziness.

Camp was however cold and the mist soon rolled in. Head torches were now a necessity, and staying close to camp to avoid getting lost became a priority.

After dinner, another dark night, so with a lack of sleep from the previous night it didn't take too long to settle down, and join the chorus of snoring from the other tents.

Day 1 - Machame Gate (1830 m/6000 ft) - Machame Huts (3030 m/9940 ft)

We start our challenge with a relatively short day of trekking, around 6 hours starting from the Machame gate. After a few photoshoots on the gate itself, we waited while our porters and guides arrived, weighted our kit, and we were signed into the park.

After taking on some water and picking up a pack lunch we were off.

Remember pole, pole, slowly slowly. The pace was slow, although it was up hill from the start.

We trekked through the rain forests with porters carrying the camping kit and our night bags.



The forest is beautiful, a real fairytale forest, lush and deep and green. Moss and lichen are dangling from the tall branches, tree ferns shelter underneath and impatiens and violas are flowering on the ground. The path was easy to follow and we spent the morning chatting among each other, and happy that the trip was now properly underway.

An hour or so in, we saw our first monkeys, long white tailed variety, jumping from branch to branch. So this was the reason for the rabies jab and if they were going to bite me they would need very long teeth at that height!
It was about two and a half hours to a lunch stop in a clearing near a stream. Here we opened up our pack lunches that had been provided earlier. It was clear that chocolate and other sugar products were a stable component.

After lunch the same format again through the same terrain, however the descent did get steeper and the path became dustier. We arrived at the first camp mid afternoon, where we signed into the camp and then went in search of our tent and overnight bags.

Camp was basic, two to a tent, just enough room for a sleeping bag each and our overnight bag between. In addition there were two mess tents for hot drinks and dinner which mainly consisted of soup followed by rice.

After setting up our kit for the night, it became apparent how dusty everything was, and how dirty everything became real quick. A small bowl of warm water allowed us to wash our hands and faces, but within two minutes my hands were covered in thick black dust again !

Night comes in quick, so armed with head torched we made our way to the mess tent for dinner, a quick briefing of the following day, and we were in our tents by 8.30.

Review of the Trip to summit Kilimanjaro

Mt Kilimanjaro is one of Africa's most magnificent sights, and at 5,895m it is her highest peak. Rising sheer from the savannah plains, this snowcapped mountain is an almost perfectly formed volcano that is not yet extinct.

On the 15th October I departed from the BIE Office in Manchester heading for a train that would take me to London, I met up with 3 friends from my local village, and then boarded an overnight flight to Nairobi.

By this stage the team was split into two smaller groups, which we would remain in for the rest of the trip.

Arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport we taxied up to the front of the arrival building and walked in. No need for a transit bus here.

Immigration took a few minutes, and our bags were ready to load onto a waiting bus for the hour ride to the hotel we were staying at on the first night.

We arrived in Nairobi at 06:30 on Saturday the 16^th which was followed by a short flight to Kilimanjaro Airport. En route we got our first glimpse of the challenge ahead. At 19,340 ft or 5895 metres we were actually flying lower than the summit. Everyone on board the plane leaned over to the left to look at what we were destined to climb.