Cycle 5 Travelogue: Mount Kilimanjaro Day 1-4

Mount Kilimanjaro, Day 1:

After an early breakfast at our hotel, we were picked up by a driver with the mountain company and transfered towards Moshi/Mount Kilimanjaro – after checking in at the park gate we set off on our first day of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Start Altitude: 1,800M / End Altitude: 2,835M
- Hike Distance: 11km / Est. Hike Time: 5-7 hours
Overnight at Kilimanjaro – Machame Camp
Greeted with a local dance by the company that guides us. A lot of fun and a great vibe to start the day.
Stopped for electrolytes and some more straight carbs for the final few days to summit.
Stopped by the police so they can say hello. Apparently they stop you no matter what and you pay as much as you have. A driver had to pay $6.
Into the 1st zone of Kilimanjaro – Cultivation Zone. Lots of farming: bananas and corn.
Got to the park gate at 11:15am, unloaded and signed in.
Had a lunch of chicken and veggies and rice and then back to get ready to hike.
Started hiking at 12:30 PM after getting our gear checked and getting the OK to start. Now hiking in zone 2 – mountain zone.
Arrived at our campsite before 6 PM. Had our tent set up and our food set up and wash basin in our own toilet so feeling pretty spoiled!
Got changed and went into the kitchen to watch the popcorn and tea and supper be made.
Then to our tent with a table and 2 chairs. Had supper. Cucumber soup, fried fish, sticks, and french fries, stewed green beans.
Paul ate with us and gave us a history lesson in all things Kilimanjaro and the Mei tribe. He has a big heart and is working very hard to change the culture of the Porter and guide world here.
In bed by 9 PM as we need to be up at 6 AM. Apparently, if you get more than two hours of sleep, it means you’re doing well at this altitude. Paul says we’re great champions!

More about why we’re in Africa here.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Day 2:

– Start Altitude: 2,835M / End Altitude: 3,750M
– Hike Distance: 5km / Est. Hike Time: 4-6 hours

I slept pretty good. Was restless, but I got over seven hours. PL said his was not great, but his sleep score said it was enough.
Last night they said if you get more than two hours, it means that your acclimating very well. So we both feel pretty good.
Had an amazing breakfast of really good porridge, sausage, eggs, avocado, bananas, and Panna cooking – Chipati
Everything packed up and we started hiking at 7:45 AM. Into Zone 3: Mooland Zone – Summer desert.
Arrived at camp at 12:30 took pictures, signed in and just settled in. Met two doctors from Italy and France that are hiking together and shared stories about what we’re doing, being at our age and what they are doing.
Have a bit of a headache, so taking some Tylenol and just hanging out. The plan is to just sit around until lunch and then take a bit of a break, and then do a 45 to 1 hour hike just to work on acclimating again.
Had lunch of some fresh fruit, tea, and some spaghetti with meat sauce. Very delicious. We are adding salt to everything to help with the electrolytes we lose.
Both of us are feeling pretty tired, so we’re going to have a quick nap before we do our second hike.
The sun & wind took a lot out of us as well.
Really appreciating our own porta potty 🤩 Sending a lot of emails 😉 PL has the opposite problem… He needs to send more emails! Bring on the dates 😏
Had a short rest and a 15min power nap. HR is 84!! PL is at 80bpm! Off to hike at 3:45pm.
Back to camp to do an introduction with all of the staff. Did a lot of singing and dancing and sharing all the names. Got emotional.
Washed up and changed and waited for dinner. Did a time-lapse to watch the sunset which was gorgeous.
Had butternut squash, soup and chicken and rice with vegetables. Delicious.
Discussed the next day of hiking and then hit the sack.
Paul gifted us hot water bottles for tonight as a special surprise.
In bed by 8 PM. Day starts tomorrow at 6 AM.

**** 5.57km / 911m – 4:58 h / 3750m

Mount Kilimanjaro, Day 3

This was an acclimatization day. We ascended into the Alpine Desert to Lava Tower, before descending a bit to Barranco Camp.

– Start Altitude: 3,750M / End Altitude: 3,900M
– Hike Distance: 10km / Est. Hike Time: 6-8 hours

Overnight at Kilimanjaro – Barranco Camp 🏕
Woke up at 4:50 to one of the guides alarms. Not that PL or I were sleeping. We both felt like we didn’t sleep much although I think I actually did sleep some.
It’s definitely breezy and chilly this morning, so we have lots of layers on.
I have a little bit of a headache, so need to manage that today.
Another great breakfast with Dmbele and Nelson our waiter. He is so sweet.
Great porridge, bacon eggs. We made some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches take with us. Also had some sweet potato chunks, which will be good to take along. But PL just stuck them in his sandwich. Now calling them the PL Special 🥪
Today was a 7 km climb to gain 900 m of elevation and then a 3 km descent that was not super technical but very rocky so it took a long time.
I was exhausted! PL had a great day, but we’re both scarfing down our lunch and feeling tired from the sun, the wind and the work.
Great lunch of pasta with a stewed chicken and veggies. Fresh mangoes and oranges, and some fresh ginger tea with real ginger.
Really happy that I felt better and just was a little lightheaded at the very top but no headaches.
PL burnt his neck a little bit, but he’s just feeling his traps from the backpack.
We saw some incredible views. Kilimanjaro is incredible and very daunting from way down here. Still can’t imagine what it’s gonna feel like to be on the top of that thing.
Lounged in the tent for a few hours and then just walked around to find the river. Ran into the two French doctors again and had a good chat.
Had dinner at 7 PM. Tomato Ginger soup which was delicious. Pizza and beef skewers.
So very tired I couldn’t even really eat.
In bed by 8pm. Please Jesus let us get some sleep.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Day 4

Another hiking day – more acclimatization, today was a short hiking day – the afternoon was spent relaxing and later that day we did a practice walk for summit day to ensure we erre comfortable with our kit.
- Start Altitude: 3,900M / End Altitude: 3,995M
- Hike Distance: 5km / Estimated Hike Time: 4-5 hours
Overnight at Kilimanjaro – Karanga Camp
I had a fantastic sleep and PL didn’t feel like he slept at all. We were both up just after five and things are going well. And then I instantly got a headache and felt nauseous. PL felt great. Took some Tylenol and one of my muscle pills I’m just hoping for the best today!
Nelson came in and said he was praying for a good day for me so I’m gonna trust that the prayer clearing me through.
Had a team prayer I left at 7:15 AM. I just needed to start. But it’s so great that the team comes together and I get to pray for everybody.
Felt better as soon as we started to go. Climbed the wall, which is 300 m of elevation. Made it to the top which is called the breakfast wall because that’s when you eat. Just trying to eat and drink and feeling better.
An incredible descent into a flat part than a more technical descent and then straight back up another somewhat of a wall. Made it to the top at 11 AM but there was no book to sign in as it was full. Today is a tough day as well. Although I think every day is going to be tough. I just hope that I feel good tomorrow morning.
Something funny is having to set our tent up a little differently than normal because PL doesn’t fit the one way. So there’s been a lot of readjusting of the tent every time we get here.
Just hanging out as everybody gets things set up and gets settled. Then the boil some water for us to wash.
This is one incredible group of men. They really do act like a family. There is a lot of laughter and joking around and it makes us feel great to hear them. Enjoy their time.
Had a great lunch of some great chicken with some stewed vegetables and some fresh vegetables with some french fries. Both of us just mixed it all together and it was very delicious.
The camp is a very busy location as some groups sat for lunch and then continued on. This is also the camp where porters have to take water up to the next camp and then come back down for the night.
I grabbed my Kobo inside against a rock to just read for a bit in a semi lounge position. If you’re not hiking, you’re laying down or you’re sitting in a very uncomfortable chair to eat. Back into the tent and we both fell asleep for an hour and a bit.
Four porters hiked buckets up to the next camp as there’s no water up there. So they need an extra three hours of hiking just so we could have water up there tomorrow.
Up to the bathroom and then sit outside. So many ravens flying around. In some ways it’s quite boring just sitting here cause there’s no real comfortable place to sit. It is beautiful, but you’re also trying to stay away from the elements as you’re exhausted from the day. It’s been a long somewhat boring day. Nothing much to do but lay around. I’m not motivated at all to do much. Tried reading but then I just got more tired. Listened to an audio book with PL. Heard the 4th helicopter this trip.
Got up to walk around camp to try to get some energy back. It did make me feel better.
PL had push-up competitions with the porters and Paul. PL is in his element.
It’s a pretty incredible sunset above the clouds like this. It’s going to be a chilly night.
Had a good dinner of sweet potato soup, again delicious. Meat and veggies and rice. Tough for me to keep eating.
Both in bed by 8 PM.