Journey to the roof of AFRICA
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a feeling of warmth and relief that the night is almost over and a new day is dawning. But just when we think we’ve reached Gimans Point at 5,685m we’re faced with a final 200m scramble over large boulders before reaching the summit. The view as the sun rises through the clouds is the very reason many thousands of people have endured this epic ascent and it is a moment in time that will remain with our group forever. At this point with the human gas tank already running on empty, one more decision has to be made – do we have enough energy left to continue an additional 2 ½ kms around the volcanic crater and an additional ascent of 210m to Uhuru Peak, the true summit and Roof of Africa? Having come this far, we naturally decide to plough on and after one final push we arrive at our ultimate destination. It’s an emotional experience for all involved and one that will never be forgotten but we don’t have time to hang around for long and after the photographs have been taken we begin our descent. Seventeen hours after leaving Kibo Hut we finally arrive back at Horumbo Hut and the comfort of warm sleeping bags as the magnitude of our achievements sets in before the deepest of sleeps engulfs us all.
Day 6 We eventually get back to where we started out, at Marangu Park Gate, exactly six days after our departure, buoyed by a huge collective feeling of accomplishment that is hard to describe. Our backs ache, we have sore feet, tired legs and weary heads but we wouldn’t change it for the world. We started out as 19 strangers, representing more than a dozen different nationalities, but ended our epic journey as lifelong friends who have shared in a life-changing experience that will stay with us forever. n
25Kgs of kit carried by porters Getting 19 relatively inexperienced individuals to the top of a mountain presents a massive logistical challenge and we certainly couldn’t have done it without the help of our highly skilled crew. Our trekking support team consisted of 40 people, comprising two head guides, plus cooks, waiters, support guides and last but certainly not least the porters, the unsung heroes who each carried 25kgs of packs containing food, water, cooking equipment and the 15kgs personal kit bags of each of the 19 challengers.
5,895m Kilimanjaro is an iconic mountain set against the beautiful backdrop of the African plains and rising to a height of 5,895m. Hans Meyer was the first person to reach the summit in 1889.