The climb has been something in the pipeline for me for the last 3 years, it was always one of my many goal stones ...
Having arrived in Cape town in August 2007 meeting up with a university friend who had recently completed kilimanjaro, the furnace began to burn- the wheels and motivation spiralled from there. wow, what an achievement this would be, and now the time has eventually arrived- 24th-29th April 2010, i will be stopping off in Zanzibar on the journey home from Moshi -flying out from the captial -Dar es Salaam...hopefully after summiting on the 29th April. 3 days in Zanzibar should be adequate time to perhaps relax and get back to reality.
preparing
candy and i
Friday, April 23, 2010
Questions that people have been asking me
As i have been doing my researched here is some info i have discovered :
Will I See Wildlife?
Although the elephant, buffalo and rhino have long left the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro, (elephants and buffalo can be found on the northern slopes) wildlife abounds throughout the climb, especially in the tropical forest belt from 6,000 to 9,000 feet.
Black & white Colobus monkeys and Sykes monkeys rustle in the upper canopy, while tropical boubous call from tree tops. As you turn in on the first evening, you may hear jackals barking and tree hyraxes calling one another. You will likely spot signs of smaller antelopes such as the bushbuck and duiker, and perhaps will see their hoof prints on the trail. Around the river gorges in the lower forest grow sycamore figs, whose fruits draw Hatlaub's turacos and hornbills.
Into the heath and moorland, there are not many large animals, though on the Shira Plateau there have been infrequent sightings of eland, buffalo, klipspringer, and even lions. Smaller animals are more abundant, such as the four-striped grass mouse and other rodents. Civets, serval cats and leopard prey on these animals, and you may find their fur-filled droppings along the trail. The more common birds in this zone are the gregarious alpine chat and the sparrow-like streaky seed-eater, while augur and mountain buzzards soar overhead.
The highland desert is quite inhospitable to most species; only the hardiest venture into this zone. The white-naped raven is often seen scavenging around campsites in this zone.
The summit is characterized by arctic conditions. This, combined with high radiation and low oxygen, is completely inhospitable to wildlife. In 1926 a German missionary named Reusch found a leopard frozen in the snows of the summit.
What Is Your Success Rate for Summiting?
Our success rates are phenomenal in relation to the overall success rates for all climbers who attempt to reach the top. Our success rate (reaching Uhuru Peak) is over 90% overall, and over 95% on our 9-day Western Approach Route. The average on the entire mountain is less than 50%. Our Kilimanjaro program is designed for success and safety, which is purely a factor of dedication, experience, and a commitment to providing the best services.
How Many Miles Will I Trek Per Day?
Most Tanzanians measure distances by the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B, but we estimate that the 9-day Western Approach Route covers about 55 to 60 miles (over 9 days), and 60 to 65 miles on the Umbwe Route (over 6 days).
The Western Approach route is a gradual ascent, which requires some rock-scrambling, but overall the Umbwe Route is more physically taxing and more difficult because it does not allow as much time for acclimatization and it requires an overnight summit bid.
The trekking times below will give you a good idea on the distribution of those miles, though they are skewed by the descent, where about a third of the total miles are covered in the last two days
What if I Can't Make it to the Top?
Some climbers may fall short of Uhuru Peak, but not at the expense of their overall experience. There are many wonders on Kilimanjaro, and the experience is rewarding even for those who never reach the top.
If one or more members of a group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted (laterally or downward) to the most convenient campsite or hut.
Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.
Will I See Wildlife?
Although the elephant, buffalo and rhino have long left the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro, (elephants and buffalo can be found on the northern slopes) wildlife abounds throughout the climb, especially in the tropical forest belt from 6,000 to 9,000 feet.
Black & white Colobus monkeys and Sykes monkeys rustle in the upper canopy, while tropical boubous call from tree tops. As you turn in on the first evening, you may hear jackals barking and tree hyraxes calling one another. You will likely spot signs of smaller antelopes such as the bushbuck and duiker, and perhaps will see their hoof prints on the trail. Around the river gorges in the lower forest grow sycamore figs, whose fruits draw Hatlaub's turacos and hornbills.
Into the heath and moorland, there are not many large animals, though on the Shira Plateau there have been infrequent sightings of eland, buffalo, klipspringer, and even lions. Smaller animals are more abundant, such as the four-striped grass mouse and other rodents. Civets, serval cats and leopard prey on these animals, and you may find their fur-filled droppings along the trail. The more common birds in this zone are the gregarious alpine chat and the sparrow-like streaky seed-eater, while augur and mountain buzzards soar overhead.
The highland desert is quite inhospitable to most species; only the hardiest venture into this zone. The white-naped raven is often seen scavenging around campsites in this zone.
The summit is characterized by arctic conditions. This, combined with high radiation and low oxygen, is completely inhospitable to wildlife. In 1926 a German missionary named Reusch found a leopard frozen in the snows of the summit.
What Is Your Success Rate for Summiting?
Our success rates are phenomenal in relation to the overall success rates for all climbers who attempt to reach the top. Our success rate (reaching Uhuru Peak) is over 90% overall, and over 95% on our 9-day Western Approach Route. The average on the entire mountain is less than 50%. Our Kilimanjaro program is designed for success and safety, which is purely a factor of dedication, experience, and a commitment to providing the best services.
How Many Miles Will I Trek Per Day?
Most Tanzanians measure distances by the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B, but we estimate that the 9-day Western Approach Route covers about 55 to 60 miles (over 9 days), and 60 to 65 miles on the Umbwe Route (over 6 days).
The Western Approach route is a gradual ascent, which requires some rock-scrambling, but overall the Umbwe Route is more physically taxing and more difficult because it does not allow as much time for acclimatization and it requires an overnight summit bid.
The trekking times below will give you a good idea on the distribution of those miles, though they are skewed by the descent, where about a third of the total miles are covered in the last two days
What if I Can't Make it to the Top?
Some climbers may fall short of Uhuru Peak, but not at the expense of their overall experience. There are many wonders on Kilimanjaro, and the experience is rewarding even for those who never reach the top.
If one or more members of a group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted (laterally or downward) to the most convenient campsite or hut.
Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.
The mountains facts...
Rising 19,340 feet above sea level, Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the world’s highest free-standing mountain.- Kilimanjaro lies 205 miles South of the equator and stands on Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya.- The structure is composed of 3 volcanoes: Kibo (19,340 feet), Mawenzi (16,896 feet), and Shira (13,000 feet).- Kilimanjaro supports 5 major eco-zones: rainforest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and glaciers.- With the exception of the summit zone, wildlife is potentially encountered throughout the lower parts of the climb. You may see elephants, buffalo, and eland on the northern slopes; black & white colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys, and tropical boubou in the forest belt; and birds such as sun birds, augur buzzard, mountain hawk eagle, lammergeier and white-naped ravens.- The name Kilimanjaro has no certain origin, but one of the most popular theories is that it came from KILMA NJARO meaning “shining mountain” in Swahili. The shiny snow on the peak led nearby residents to believe that evil spirits guarded the mountain. This myth could also explain why some referred to NJARO as a demon that caused cold.- Because they saw fellow tribe members attempt the climb only to disappear or to return deformed from frostbite, the Chagga people—who live at the base of the mountain—for centuries had no desire to climb the mountain they believed was full of evil spirits. - In 1889, German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountain climber Ludwig Purtscheller were the first to climb Kilimanjaro.- Today, about 15,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro each year, as a spiritual journey or as a personal challenge.
Pronunciation lesson
My friends and i have been debating upon how to pronounce the name of Tanzania. Of course i was telling them that there pronunciation was worng, perhaps i was wrong... Apparently the 'z' is emphahised and stands quite prominantly when pronounced. Yes i can imagine the smiles on all your faces after reading this... :) I found a bloggers insight below:
Pronunciation lesson-
I never quite believed my Mom when she tried to re-educate me on how to pronounce this country’s name after her visit to East Africa several years ago. But, she was right (Mother’s are always right, right?).
I noticed that Kenyans pronounced “Tanzania” differently than I did. I also notice that there were several different variations. After our visit to Tanzania, the most common pronunciation among East Africans was “tan-Zan-ia.” So, I have been working really hard to take “tan-za-Nia” out of my vocabulary and replacing it with the proper emphasis on the “Zan.”
Lester postulated that the pronunciation may be a result of politics. When Zanzibar united with Tanganika the founders may have just combined parts of each word: Tanganika and Zanzibar could have easily become ” tan-Zan-ia.” We have no idea if this is true, but it’s not a bad observation!
Pronunciation lesson-
I never quite believed my Mom when she tried to re-educate me on how to pronounce this country’s name after her visit to East Africa several years ago. But, she was right (Mother’s are always right, right?).
I noticed that Kenyans pronounced “Tanzania” differently than I did. I also notice that there were several different variations. After our visit to Tanzania, the most common pronunciation among East Africans was “tan-Zan-ia.” So, I have been working really hard to take “tan-za-Nia” out of my vocabulary and replacing it with the proper emphasis on the “Zan.”
Lester postulated that the pronunciation may be a result of politics. When Zanzibar united with Tanganika the founders may have just combined parts of each word: Tanganika and Zanzibar could have easily become ” tan-Zan-ia.” We have no idea if this is true, but it’s not a bad observation!
the day it begins
So this is the day we set off on our adventure. Having tried to travel throughout Africa whilst wokring full time for the last 2.5 years this is my biggest adventure to date.
I am eventually excited, or is it nerves.... i look forward to findsing a piece of myself on this trip. We get so caught up in the 9-5 we forget to connect with ourselves and the world.
All we have in mind having grasped regarding the trip to date is the literature we have hunted down, rapidly chased through and gulped down. Below is a review from a girl who completed the climb with our tour operator last year:
We have been back in the real world for just over a week now and although, for most of us, the experience still seems so unreal, we still stop in the passage and chat about it at every opportunity. One of the discussions was regarding all the Swahili words that the team learned. Someone asked why we did not know the word for “PLEASE”. This question came as quite a surprise but the reality was that it is because we never had to ask for anything, very little anyway. This was our experience from beginning to end with this project. We do however know the word “ASANTE” which is thank you – very well. So, asante to you and Crystal and everyone from Zara for all your help with arranging this trip. Your advice and volumes of information proved to be invaluable. Also, the arrangements for the trip, was absolutely flawless. The Zara staff were so friendly and made all us feel at home very quickly. Whenever anyone travels in Africa, it is always with an expectation that something will go wrong, well, very little did. The problem with the lost luggage was solved miraculously to the point that it had already reached Machame Hut before we even knew it had been found. Thank you for your assistance to the team with all the kit, and all the advice on how we should use it.
As for the guides, Mudi, Amishi, Lamick & Gerard, we all know that we would not have achieved this goal without them. Good leadership give people confidence to tackle the unknown and Mudi’s leadership was faultless. Everyday, it was easy to just get into line and start walking without worrying about the unknown because we knew with confidence that the person in the lead knew what he was doing. It was very clear that all 4 of them are passionate about Kilimanjaro and love working with people. They built relationships with each of us and were very willing to help us as we faced our individual challenges every day. Some of our team members did get very sick along the way and their understanding and ability to adjust the pace to accommodate this, was much appreciated. The team that Mudi put together was amazing – from the friendliness of the chefs when they brought us early morning coffee in our tents to the poor guy that had to clean the portable toilet. We were amazed by the quality of the food, right to the top of the mountain and appreciated the fact that we could sit at a table with flowers on (even if they were plastic) to enjoy our evening meal. Everyday we were amazed at all the porters that we saw, what they were carrying and their level of fitness.
Some comments from the team members:
Our trip was superbly organised through Thomas and his team. Thomas answered all our pre-trip questions and his advice regarding equipment and clothing was very valuable. Once in Tanzania, our guide, Mudy, and his assistant guides, Amishi and Lamick, together with Gerard were truly amazing. They looked after us so well from the moment we met them in Moshi. They guided us daily while we walked the trail and answered our myriad of questions about what to expect, what to wear, cell phone reception etc. They also took a genuine interest in us as people which was super. The porters were cheerful, kind and friendly and amazing to watch as they glided past us every day, at pace. The food was very good the entire time and the surprise porta-potty made the whole experience so much more pleasant. We owe our summit experience to all the guides, but especially to Lamick, who undertook on the very first day to get us to the top. We are truly very grateful that he was there supporting and encouraging us all the way. Once safely back in Moshi, Mudy very kindly accompanied us on a shopping trip to town and we really appreciated the fact that he was prepared to give up his time to show us around. (Rob & Justine)
Thomas: Very good information – he knows his stuff and if you follow what he advises, then you have a very good chance of making it to the top. I want to do Kili again next year and I would use him again.
Mudy: AWESOME guy. Friendly, gets to know a person very quickly and a good judge of character and person. Always up for a joke, but when ‘crunch’ time comes (night before final assent), then he is serious and gives proper and confident information. Has a great team around him. They all know what and how to do things. Speaking English for some of them can be a challenge sometimes, but I am sure this will improve over time. (Jonathan & Petrune’)
From Thomas, as a non-hiker, obtaining technical assistance as to gear required and training needed, it helped me to put my mind at ease and be able to prepare mentally for the adventure. Without Mudi, I don’t think I would have managed to summit. I was amazed at his patience and kind encouragement. As for the assistant guides, each one made me smile every day, each one helped me and encouraged me. I would recommend Maynardo & Zara Tours to anyone. Thinking back, it was a very positive & enjoyable experience with you. (Christina)
Thomas: A well organized trip, with very few hiccups. I definitely will be using Maynardo for any future adventures!
Mudy and the team: I am amazed at the patience of Mudy and his team. There were a few days (especially summit night) when I had little motivation to continue. But the faith and perseverance they demonstrated in me, made it impossible not to continue. The success of my journey squarely lies on their broad shoulders. Thanks! (Zaida)
All our lives have been changed to some extent, some have more questions now and some have answers for questions we had before we left. For all of us though, the change was and is positive and although no rand value can be put on the positivity brought into our lives through this experience, we know that, speaking in financial terms, there are not very many products on the market where the return on investment can compete with that of this experience.
I am eventually excited, or is it nerves.... i look forward to findsing a piece of myself on this trip. We get so caught up in the 9-5 we forget to connect with ourselves and the world.
All we have in mind having grasped regarding the trip to date is the literature we have hunted down, rapidly chased through and gulped down. Below is a review from a girl who completed the climb with our tour operator last year:
We have been back in the real world for just over a week now and although, for most of us, the experience still seems so unreal, we still stop in the passage and chat about it at every opportunity. One of the discussions was regarding all the Swahili words that the team learned. Someone asked why we did not know the word for “PLEASE”. This question came as quite a surprise but the reality was that it is because we never had to ask for anything, very little anyway. This was our experience from beginning to end with this project. We do however know the word “ASANTE” which is thank you – very well. So, asante to you and Crystal and everyone from Zara for all your help with arranging this trip. Your advice and volumes of information proved to be invaluable. Also, the arrangements for the trip, was absolutely flawless. The Zara staff were so friendly and made all us feel at home very quickly. Whenever anyone travels in Africa, it is always with an expectation that something will go wrong, well, very little did. The problem with the lost luggage was solved miraculously to the point that it had already reached Machame Hut before we even knew it had been found. Thank you for your assistance to the team with all the kit, and all the advice on how we should use it.
As for the guides, Mudi, Amishi, Lamick & Gerard, we all know that we would not have achieved this goal without them. Good leadership give people confidence to tackle the unknown and Mudi’s leadership was faultless. Everyday, it was easy to just get into line and start walking without worrying about the unknown because we knew with confidence that the person in the lead knew what he was doing. It was very clear that all 4 of them are passionate about Kilimanjaro and love working with people. They built relationships with each of us and were very willing to help us as we faced our individual challenges every day. Some of our team members did get very sick along the way and their understanding and ability to adjust the pace to accommodate this, was much appreciated. The team that Mudi put together was amazing – from the friendliness of the chefs when they brought us early morning coffee in our tents to the poor guy that had to clean the portable toilet. We were amazed by the quality of the food, right to the top of the mountain and appreciated the fact that we could sit at a table with flowers on (even if they were plastic) to enjoy our evening meal. Everyday we were amazed at all the porters that we saw, what they were carrying and their level of fitness.
Some comments from the team members:
Our trip was superbly organised through Thomas and his team. Thomas answered all our pre-trip questions and his advice regarding equipment and clothing was very valuable. Once in Tanzania, our guide, Mudy, and his assistant guides, Amishi and Lamick, together with Gerard were truly amazing. They looked after us so well from the moment we met them in Moshi. They guided us daily while we walked the trail and answered our myriad of questions about what to expect, what to wear, cell phone reception etc. They also took a genuine interest in us as people which was super. The porters were cheerful, kind and friendly and amazing to watch as they glided past us every day, at pace. The food was very good the entire time and the surprise porta-potty made the whole experience so much more pleasant. We owe our summit experience to all the guides, but especially to Lamick, who undertook on the very first day to get us to the top. We are truly very grateful that he was there supporting and encouraging us all the way. Once safely back in Moshi, Mudy very kindly accompanied us on a shopping trip to town and we really appreciated the fact that he was prepared to give up his time to show us around. (Rob & Justine)
Thomas: Very good information – he knows his stuff and if you follow what he advises, then you have a very good chance of making it to the top. I want to do Kili again next year and I would use him again.
Mudy: AWESOME guy. Friendly, gets to know a person very quickly and a good judge of character and person. Always up for a joke, but when ‘crunch’ time comes (night before final assent), then he is serious and gives proper and confident information. Has a great team around him. They all know what and how to do things. Speaking English for some of them can be a challenge sometimes, but I am sure this will improve over time. (Jonathan & Petrune’)
From Thomas, as a non-hiker, obtaining technical assistance as to gear required and training needed, it helped me to put my mind at ease and be able to prepare mentally for the adventure. Without Mudi, I don’t think I would have managed to summit. I was amazed at his patience and kind encouragement. As for the assistant guides, each one made me smile every day, each one helped me and encouraged me. I would recommend Maynardo & Zara Tours to anyone. Thinking back, it was a very positive & enjoyable experience with you. (Christina)
Thomas: A well organized trip, with very few hiccups. I definitely will be using Maynardo for any future adventures!
Mudy and the team: I am amazed at the patience of Mudy and his team. There were a few days (especially summit night) when I had little motivation to continue. But the faith and perseverance they demonstrated in me, made it impossible not to continue. The success of my journey squarely lies on their broad shoulders. Thanks! (Zaida)
All our lives have been changed to some extent, some have more questions now and some have answers for questions we had before we left. For all of us though, the change was and is positive and although no rand value can be put on the positivity brought into our lives through this experience, we know that, speaking in financial terms, there are not very many products on the market where the return on investment can compete with that of this experience.
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