Kilimanjaro - Rongai route -Day 7

Last day, fairly quick descent down the Coca Cola route.  Epic journey.  Spent the last night in Moshi, heading back to Nairobi tomorrow.

Kilimanjaro - Day 6

Woke up at midnight to start for the summit.  Super cold.  Tough day.  Very steep climb on loose rock. Got up to the summit right at dawn.  What beautiful spectacular views.  The glaciers were amazing and we were afforded views of Mt. Meru, just peaking out above the cloud line.  You can see the curvature of the earth at this height.  Simply breathtaking.

Morning time, on our way, super cold, brrrrrrrrrr

Once you get to Gilman's, you know you have the summit locked down

Almost there

Getting closer

Nailed it

Kilimanjaro - Day 5

Walked to base camp, great hike.  Desert like area, beginning to feel the altitude.  The views coming towards base camp were spectacular.

Base Camp

Kilimanjaro - Day 4

Spent another day to acclimate at Mawenzi.  Just chilled and listened to some music.  Hiked around a bit to get further acclimated.

Kilimanjaro - Day 3

Beautiful hike up to the base of Mawenzi.  We were all alone up to this point.  Now there our approximately another 50 or so climbers at this camp.  Tons of porters, the largest mess tent I have ever seen.  First day I began to despise the amount of people on the mountain.

Kilimanjaro - Day 2

Day 2, got further acclimated.  Great day, not too hard.  Came across a couple of caves on the way.  The topography changed a bit from forest to a more shrub like.  A bit colder, but the altitude is still not that bad.

Kilimanjaro - Day One

We woke up early had breakfast and went through our orientation for the day.  Packed up the van and we were on our way.  Our first stop was at the main gate to pick up our permits.  I have never seen so many people on a mountain, it was crazy.  I was happy that we were moving on to a trailhead on a more secluded part of the mountain.  In fact, when we arrived, we were the only climbers, much better than the 100 plus climbers at the main gate.  The porters had to weigh in, no more than 25 kilos per porter.  I'm not happy about having porter and guides, but it is mandatory.  Since I was invited by my friends to go with their expedition, I really did not have a choice in the matter.  If I were to do it again, it would be with the minimum required.  At the time that meant at least one guide.  We finally started our 5 day journey to the peak.  Plenty of time to enjoy and get acclimated.  The lower portions of Kili were beautiful, lots of wildflowers.  Very pleasant first day to our first camp.

Porters at the main gate

Signing in

Weighing in

Trail head

First night campsite

Kilimanjaro - Transfer to Moshi

Traveled to Moshi from Nairobi.  Took about 6-7 hours.  We stayed at the Leopard Hotel, the locals call it leo- pard, funny!  The hotel was decent.  I would recommend staying across from the lobby in the newer part of the hotel.   It was built more recently and is much nicer.  Moshi is a neat little town in Tanzania.  Some great local art here for a good price.  After dinner we met with the guides and the some of the climbing team.  Everyone seems nice enough.  Can't wait to get started tomorrow.

http://www.leopardhotel.com

Orientation in Nairobi

 

Moshi with Kili in the background

Kilimanjaro Itinerary

Our Kilimanjaro trip was organized by Steve Kimking

stevekimkung@gmail.com

KILIMANJARO TREK

Rongai route

Itinerary

Transfer to Moshi -21st February

You are kindly required to be ready for pick –up from residence in Nairobi by 06.30 in the morning for transfer to Riverside shuttle Nairobi base. Leave Nairobi at around 07.00 for Moshi. You will pass through the Namanga border point and here you will be required to pay USD 100 as visa fees. You will have a scenic drive to Moshi. Feel free to carry snacks to have  an occasional bite on the bus and some water too. On arriving in On arriving in Moshi, our guide will transfer you to your hotel/Inn. Dinner and overnight.

Day 1 – 22nd February

Your day starts early with breakfast and a briefing. Transfer through many villages and coffee plantations for 4-5 hours to the attractive wooden village of Nale Muru (1,950 m/6,398 ft). After signing in and preparing the porters, you begin the hike on a wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes, then enter pine forest. You then start to climb gently but consistently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin and Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530 ft) is near the “First Cave” at the edge of the moorland zone with extensive views over the Kenyan plains.

Day2- 23rd February

You make a steady ascent to the Second Cave where you have lunch. You leave the direct trail at the Second Cave, and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path toward Mawenzi’s jagged peaks. After another 10 km, you reach the Kikelewa Camp in a sheltered valley with giant Senecios nearby. The Kikelewa Cave is also nearby.

Day 3 -24th February

You do a short, steep climb up grassy slopes rewarded by superb all-round views and a tangible sense of wilderness. Shortly after you leave the vegetation behind, you reach the Mawenzi Tarn, which is situated in a spectacular cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. After this short hike, you can spend the afternoon exploring this exciting area.

Day 4 -25th February

Your extra day on the mountain, and you will spend two nights at Mawenzi Tarn. You can hike up toward Mawenzi for a splendid acclimatization hike.

Day 5 – 26th February

You cross the lunar desert of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach the Kibo Huts at the bottom of Kibo’s crater wall. You should spend the remainder of the day resting and preparing for your summit climb.

Day 6- 27th February

Wake at midnight to a light breakfast, then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise. Leave at 1 AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 5 and 7 AM. Here, views of the fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Another 2 hours of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 9 AM. This is Africa’s highest point, and you would have to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to find a higher peak! Be sure to have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. After your summit stay, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your things, and re cross the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved sleep! You do the beginning of this climb in the dark with headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!

Day 7 -28th February

Wake as usual, pack, and descend through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the park gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3 PM. Transfer to the hotel for Dinner and overnight

Chowpaty - I love this place

Ate at Chowpaty again today.  Some of the best Indian I have ever had.  Great menu, tons of choices.  Super friendly staff.  This is my go to place in the Westlands.  Check it out.

http://www.chowpatyrestaurants.com

Big Five Breweries, Nairobi

Went out to Karen to go drinking and eating with my friend Kat.  Kat is the best,  she can totally hang and knock 'em back.     Micro brewed beer in Nairobi, how can you beat that?   Highly recommend, if you are ever so inclined.

 http://thebigfivebreweries.com/

Gipsies - Team Ireland & Germany

Went to Gipsies, a local bar in Westlands popular with expats.  I joined two friends to watch the football match on TV.  Arsenal vs. Spain  Fantastic night with the boys, Floh and Fergal.  Things get crazy when a yank hangs with a german and irishman.

http://www.mydestination.com/kenya/nightlife/111249/gipsys

Dinner at Cedars Restaurant in Nairobi

Exquisite dinner this evening at.  Great place.  Me and Kourtnie were each others Valentines date.  We both love lebanese food and went for it.  Had after dinner drinks at a place around the corner called Casablanca.  Very cool place with outdoor seating.  Great vibe and ambiance, I highly recommend this place as well.  Great night with my best friend and a great meal.

http://www.cedarsnairobi.com/

After dinner drinks at Casablanca

Gikomba Market, City Centre & Max Lands

Went to Gikomba Market yesterday with Jimmy.  Gokomba is the largest outdoor market in Kenya.  No white people, just startled Kenyans who constantly blurt out Mzungu.   They were running the hard sell, white people equal dollar signs.  The market was crazy.  Wooden shacks with all kinds of clothes and shoes.  They would just put everything in a pile and it was a free for all.  Dirt and garbage everywhere.  It was interesting, but just got way too hassled to really dig it.  I bought some produce because it was way cheaper here than at the market.  I finally found a place where Kenyans shop.  They had signs with prices and as soon as I showed up, they turned the prices around.  Of course they were higher, but it was too late, I knew, so I haggled for the right price and got it.  I got 8 tomatoes for 20 shillings, 2 avocados for 20 as well and 5 red onions for 10, score.  :)  One US dollar equals about 81 shillings.  Here are a few pics, I didn't really take any because I just didn't feel right taking pictures here.

http://www.worldofronah.com/Africa/Kenya/Nairobi/gikomba-market/

Since the market was close to City Centre, me and Jimmy decided to walk there and have a couple of beers.  Well, we actually tried to haggle with a cab driver who told us 500 shillings, which is ridiculous.  So we walked it.  Here are some photos from the walk.

Here is where the US embassy used to be before Al Qaeda blew it up.

Here a couple of pics from where we had beers.  Had a Tusker Malt, I still think Heineken is better.  :)  Hating the Kenyan beer monopoly.

Lost in translation?

We closed down the night at Max Lands, a Nyama Choma joint, around the corner from the pad.  Sunday rages, local Kenyan flavor with a band.  Excellent traditional Swahili dishes.