At Base Camp with a Tusker in hand
The group prepares to start the trek in Moshi, Tanzania after a long drive from Dar Es Salaam
Trekking Kilimanjaro 2003 - Seven friends and I undertook the most amazing trip to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2003. These pages recount the original diary that I kept during our trek. Photo galleries exist of the climb, the safaris to Tarangire and Ngorongoro and our trip to Stone Town, Zanzibar.
Next: Trekking Kilimanjaro Pt. 1 - Acclimatizing to mountain sickness
Previous: All Roads Lead To Dar Es Salaam
Sunday Sept 28th.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
I cannot believe I’m together with Chris again. He hasn’t changed — I have missed his friendship, it’s going to be good to have his wacky sense of humour on this trip (and everyone’s).
Colin is an interesting fellow, I remember taking an immediate liking to him. However, I didn’t think he’d make the Dubai — Dar flight. He was the last to go through security. I am truly flabbergasted that 8 such diverse people from such diverse locations are together on their way to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania!
3pm — we arrive in Dar es Salaam. We are met by our driver from Zara (Kuchi) who will drive us to Moshi and Springlands hotel. I cannot believe I am in Africa. We also find out that the drive will take 8 hrs not the 4 that Robin Paschall had insisted. Immediately we decide that starting the climb on Monday would be suicidal. We inform Zara by cell phone on our drive. And what a drive. It is long and cramped but we are revelling in the almost high-school-type camaraderie. This will obviously be a good trip.
First African meal — Highway Restaurant at Segara. I have fish and Ugali — a traditional maize rice substitute. It is very good and… filling.
On the drive, I’m out in front and I doze off for a few minutes ( the others are all sleeping) and I jolt awake to realize that Kuchi has fallen asleep ay the wheel and the van veering to the right. I wake him up and from this point I am determined to stay awake.
At 2am we finally roll into the gated private hotel that is Springlands in Moshi. The moon is a silver sliver and Kili is hidden in dark clouds. Grabbing out rooms we hit the sack. I am exhausted.
Monday Sept 29th.
Moshi, Tanzania
We are supposed to start the climb today but we cannot. We are all exhausted after that grueling drive from Dar. We sent an e-mail, explored Moshi and started getting ready for the climb. We met an American living in Nairobi who had just completed the climb. He’s training for a marathon and in his words, Kili was the “hardest thing” he had ever done.
We also discovered “Tusker” — a rather lovely lager which was apparently named after the elephant that killed one of the founders of the brewery! We have supper that night at Springlands and I have some horrid avocado dish. (Keep a track of this comment… it would haunt me for the next 4 days…)
I finally pack. Aaron and Santhi have brought a small dispensary. I’ve decided to take Jeff’s jacket as opposed to my winter jacket — I should have enough layers for the trip. Chris and I are sharing a room. Morning will take us to Kili.
