Just so you know, the snow of Kilimanjaro is constantly melting away. If you want to have your own Kilimanjaro mountaineering experience, maybe you should try while it is still snow capped.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXLbfk0O9cI

Climbing to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro does not mean you are conquering Kilimanjaro. Perhaps it’s more of a feeling that you are conquering your fear year by year, the fear of life, of death, and of love. Some people have had this place in their hearts and bucket lists for many years, but have not managed to put words into action. Saying you are interested in Africa and watching BBC AFRICA hundreds of times is not the same experience as being on the ground here. Unfortunately, many times we lose our sense of curiosity not only in Africa but in many other things especially when it involves exploring the unknown and self. Fortunately, there are always so many interesting people in the world who will break away from the shackles of the norm. They are willing to trek to find the legendary gorillas in the rainforest, not to take a shower for a week and even when battered, are willing to climb the snowy mountains to see the scenery above. 

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqN3dcnz3t0

On January 22, 2017, a group of people who I had known previously arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport. We are excited to discuss the trip, after all, it was the next day. That night, several ladies filled the bathroom. After all, for a week from the next day, for a full 7 days, we wouldn’t be able to take a shower or wash our hair. We took out all the things that could be charged and charged them, everyone tried not to show their tension and fear. Although the night was long, it always passed quickly before a climb. Early the next morning, each of us carried our luggage. In theory, it is better not to bring more than 18 kg of mountaineering luggage. All unnecessary items are reassessed and reduced from bags over and over again until a safe weight is acquired. Because of this lighter load, we had enough energy to walk to the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Before we arrived, we saw groups of zebras adjacent to dead trees. 

Day 1 Glades Starting Point to Big Tree  

Altitude: 2100m-2800m Walking distance: 7 km Walking time: 3-4 hours 

Roadside landscape: tropical alpine rainforest! 

On the first day, the actual hike started in the afternoon, and it was basically used for us to get the hang of the road and line up in the morning. Everyone was excited and expectant. We were stunned by the tiny cabin toilet at Glades Starting Point that we used before setting off. The tropical alpine rainforest was our first stop on that day, the magical plants there were not something that my eyes could recognize, but I knew a few that everyone didn’t. I let everyone try to guess but no one knew any, disappointed and embarrassed that no one had any interest in my plant knowledge, we forged on . We even had a situation later where one of our teammates accidentally got stuck to a plant on the side. She was tangled and in quite a bit of discomfort As a result, she wasn’t able to take even a single step away from the place where she was stuck. Fortunately though, another lady in our team was quite witty and decisively found a way to extract her without much harm save for a little swelling. The first day was not as difficult as it was eventful. The weather in the rain forest is always often wet, so it is necessary to carry waterproof tools daily. 

Day 2 Big Tree to Shira 2 Camp

Altitude: 2895 meters-3810 meters Walking distance: 17 km Walking time: 8-9 hours 

Roadside landscape: Alpine wasteland

The heavy rain the night before gave everyone a hard time. The sleeping bags were drenched wet, thanks to the continuous rainy season in the south. The tent seemed to droop down. In fact, we hoped the tent’s moisture-proof pad would work but it was like a sluggish doorkeeper, barely holding off anything. In the morning, everyone poured themselves large cups of ginger tea since they were afraid of catching colds. In addition, we were fortunate enough to have a good cook who made breakfast to our liking and met our much-required energy needs. Our spirits rose instantly, and we immediately had the courage to conquer the mountain. So we opened up. Lemosho is the most beautiful climbing route to Kilimanjaro. The morning climb there is easy and scenic. The sky was unsurprisingly clear and blue, with the sun’s heat so directly above us, we ended up sweating a lot and those who carried baby towels or sweat towels at my suggestion were quite relieved. The one thing we were afraid of, apart from the impending climb, was getting sunburned. In my case, it turns out that 7 days later, I was not only sunburned, but I also got two black moles. Can you believe it? In short, sunscreen is your best friend on this hike. For those of you who have sinusitis and runny noses like me, a quick tip to remember is to apply sunscreen after wiping your nose with a paper towel or serviette. Otherwise, like me, your skin may end up peeling. After walking all morning, we were extremely hungry at noon. Our chef made a large plate of pasta with beef sauce, which we devoured heartily. One of our teammates had a ‘bright’ idea, he said “It ’s not enough to eat, let ’s cook more! As a result, we did not have much food left. After climbing the mountain, people lost up to 6 pounds. In short, although the scenery was beautiful in the afternoon of the next day, everyone felt that the training was quite fierce. After arriving at the camp, we all just wanted to sleep. I tried to invite anyone to accompany me outside to stargaze, but everyone seemed too tired to though. I ended up sitting alone outside the tent for a long time, listening to the nightlife sounds. I couldn’t believe I finally came to Kilimanjaro and even brought more than 10 people. I remember someone asking me, “If you haven’t been to Kilimanjaro before, would you dare to lead a team?”. I said “ To tell the truth, although I haven’t been there, I have watched her for 7 years, I really feel that she is very familiar, I know she will not hurt me. I went to Tibet a few times, and I went to Gang Rinpoche as well. I know that when I set foot on this land, I belonged to this part. Now, I am part of the mountain, part of Kilimanjaro”. The starry sky on the second night was the most transcendent thing I saw during the whole climb. 

Day 3 Shira 2 to Barranco

Altitude: 3810 meters-3976 meters Walking distance: 10 km Walking time: 8-9 hours

Roadside landscape: semi-desert and alpine desert 

On this morning, everyone was full of confidence and the pace was also great. The experienced knife master walked up front while my teammates and I found our own rules. We walked at our own pace, the accompanying guide would also adjust the speed according to everyone’s rhythm. The first day is similar to a stroll, the second day was a high-temperature hike, and on the third day, we really felt the majesty of the mountains and high altitude. When we reached the Lava Tower ( altitude 4620), we almost felt frozen and defeated. After a long struggle, we finally arrived at the Lava Tower lunch spot. Several of us were exhausted to the point we felt paralyzed. We felt as though we had been baptized in sweat several times. Fortunately, I was in the habit of packing extra clothes, I quickly found a place to change out of my clothes and felt refreshed all at once. We knew how cold it would be above 4600m, although I am not afraid of high altitude, I’m terrified of cold. At noon, several teammates were not in the mood to enjoy anything. Altitude sickness had gradually appeared. Two people vomited directly in the evening and others also had some headaches as well as poor appetite. On the road in the afternoon, I launched my favorite thing to do while climbing the mountain, it is also the best way to practice lung capacity, sing! When I would walk alone through mountains, I would brave it myself while singing. After an afternoon of walking, I was shamelessly hungry again! Fortunately, I restrained myself and sat down on a large tree with a huge shadow that shaded me. At this time, I found that my mobile phone had a signal, and excitedly sent a message to my circle of friends. Finally, I found a handsome guy who couldn’t resist high altitude sickness. The handsome guy is taller, and the oxygen is thinner for him than for me, understandably. The road ahead was still a long way. This was just a small test, isn’t it? The clouds spread, the sunset shone on the peak and the hills were dyed golden, extremely beautiful ~~ despite my hard sell, everyone was still reluctant to come out of the tent. One day of hiking on the plateau burnt out their passion. At this moment, they just wanted to soak in a warm spring or lie on fresh grass and sleep soundly.

Day 4 Barranco to Karanga Camp

Altitude: 3976 meters-3995 meters Walking distance: 5 km Walking time: 4-5 hours 

Roadside landscape: semi-desert and alpine desert 

The steepest wall and the most beautiful fairy mountain scenery, Barranco, which lay in front of the camping ground, was actually jammed packed with people. Therefore, we had to move fast at all times. Going up didn’t feel difficult, you just had to be careful not to be squeezed by others. Slow down when going up, because the altitude rises and the higher you are the more overwhelmed you may feel. There’s an African proverb that says that if you want to go fast, you need to go alone, if you want to go far, you need to go together. The beauty of this road is directly proportional to the hardship and tenacity of it, you can’t have one without the other. We climbed one mountain, then went down and climbed another, before going down three consecutive other mountains.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XMhOIbgmCz4

 My teammates asked me why I chose this road, I Said, “How fun is it, don’t you think this is life? With the ups and downs? I was barely finished speaking before they tried to attack me 🙂 In the afternoon, we arrived at Karanga camp, where we finally saw a clear view of the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was almost 3 o’clock when the coach suggested that everyone go out and practice for 1 hour. The ladies all went with confidence, however, after coming down from practice, they were wrecked. I started to blame myself deeply for overestimating everyone’s physical strength. For the future, the best strategy is to preserve physical strength. Karanga camp was colorful with fireworks at night. At that height, you can see the town of Moshi under the mountain, and the 10,000 lights under the mountain shining on the people returning home. What a homely place to stay. 

Day 5 Karanga to Barafu Hut

Altitude: 3993m-4673m Walking distance: 4 km Walking time: 4-5 hours

Roadside landscape: Alpine desert 

On this morning, the trekking tasks were not very heavy, we needed to accumulate physical strength to complete the summit. Most people are already familiar with the alpine, how their bodies respond, and can find their rhythm well. It seems as though the summit is within sight. The conditions on the mountain are so stringent that there is no way to make a good New Year’s Eve dinner. I brought some fungus from China, soaked it, and fried a large pot with tomatoes and onions. Could this thing actually be eaten? After it was cooked, they told me that it tasted like thick leaves, but it was delicious and increased their resilience. Can you imagine such a simple New Year’s Eve feast? No wine, no drinks, no big fish and meat, we happily had some snacks and nuts and fried fungus along with dinner made by local chefs. This night, there was no Spring Festival Gala, no mahjong, no fireworks, and firecrackers. We had breakfast before the summit, but everyone had a bad appetite despite the fact that the chef prepared drinks and cookies for everyone. Of 11 people and 5 mountain guides, 3 rushed back to bring enough hot water and food and we were ready to go.

Day 6 Barafu Hut to Uhuru Peak to Barafu then Mweka Camp

Altitude: 4673 meters-5895-4673-3068 Trekking distance: 22 km Walking time: 14-16 hours 

Roadside landscape: high mountain desert-jungle

High mountain rainforest Africa has been my dream for many years, and reaching Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, is a challenge I finally realized on that day. At 00:05 am on January 28, 2017, local time, each of us was fully equipped. We took our headlights and followed the guide as we exited Barafu, and embarked on our first journey of the New Year. This was a different beginning to the New Year that we all want to give ourselves. The process of reaching the summit is not easy at all. My teammates were in a state. Altitude sickness brings not only physical but also psychological issues and fears. Our teammates gradually divided into three teams, there were two girls in the back. I was always worried that they would not reach the summit, but they really surprised mean and reintroduced me to the meaning of travel. Many people think that travel should be 100% pleasant, I think this is nonsense! Travel should help you experience the authenticity of other cultures and places. Who said there should be no challenge, no pain, how else will there be gain? On the last day at the summit, each of us had a headlight. We could only see an inch of the road ahead and used the footsteps of those in front of us. The world at this time seemed pitch dark save for the few stars above our heads. Our headlights shone the way as our gasps accompanied our firm footsteps as we headed towards the top of the mountain. The temperature gradually got colder. 

Drinking hot water and maintaining a steady pace needed to be continually ensured to ease the climb. I brought three layers of hats, and two pairs of gloves, and I wore two pairs of thick hiking socks, but I still felt so cold I couldn’t think. When it was time to rest, we didn’t get much sleep at first, but due to the lack of oxygen, we found ourselves feeling extremely drowsy. In order to catch the sunrise, however, we had no choice but to hike at this time. At the Stella campsite around 5670 meters, when the sky was gradually rendered red, the sun rose slowly and we could see the peaks of the distant mountains looming over the sea of clouds. The earth below seemed to wake up as the sky lit up enough for us to see our friends’ faces, at that moment, I almost cried. When you leave the Stella camp, altitude sickness may make you suffer at every step. However, this is quite the self-challenge as only persistence allows you to take the next step. Chilly strong winds and lack of oxygen may make you want to give up this difficult journey, however, I know everyone can reach Uhuru Peak! Finally, at 7 o’clock in the morning, we reached Uhuru Peak, the highest peak at 5895 meters. Unexpectedly, there was neither thick snow nor tall and majestic images. Our mood was ecstatic and we proceeded to start taking pictures. If you want to take a shirtless photo at the top, we got you! Here’s a photo of one of our clients who commemorated his climb below. After we took the photo, we couldn’t wait for the two girls who got altitude sickness, Lucy and Emily. Our guide suggested that head down, otherwise, other people would start having similar reactions. As we walked down, a few figures appeared in the distance. Looking closer, it was actually the two girls. I hugged them all at once and almost cried again. I think the high Elevation was particularly exciting as this was the third we were crying. Lucy told me that Emily vomited all the way but still insisted on making it up all the way to the top. Even the guide was astonished! It seems mind over matter really is a fact. Once we got to Barafu camp, Emily was still in a bad state. She wanted to descend the mountain immediately. So, she took the unforgettable Kilimanjaro Taxi, which was protected by 4 guys all the way down the mountain. When we were done with lunch at Barafu Camp, we packed up our luggage and continued down to Mweka Camp. This journey is extremely strenuous, without each other, we feel that every step downward makes our thighs tremble. In any case, we had no choice as we need to get to Mweka Camp to rest. At night, without chatter, everyone fell asleep in peace. 

Day 7 Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Altitude: 3068-1640 meters Walking distance: 10 km Walking time: 3-4 hours

Roadside Landscape: Jungle–Alpine Rainforest

On the last day, I finally changed out of my thick clothes since we entered the rain forest again. The plants and animals were abundant once more. We were shaking all the way down the mountain, got our certificate, and ended our mountaineering journey. Just so you know, the snow of Kilimanjaro is constantly melting away. If you want to have your own Kilimanjaro mountaineering experience, maybe you should try it while it is still snow-capped. You may even consider joining one of our mountaineering groups organized by Bobu Africa. Overcome your inner fear, maybe, you can do better than me. 

Activity intensity: high-intensity, medium and low risk

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66o1M9XDAIQ