KILIMANJARO 2006: Rongai Route

June saw a small group of us setting off to Tanzania to conquer Kilimanjaro. The expedition also formed part of a fundraising effort for which we raised R7000-00 for Mama Amelia’s AID’s orphanage. The fundraising was done by sponsorship of our mascot and community project’s ambassador Molly who made it to the top of Kilimanjaro on 27 June 2006. A huge thank you for all the contributions. The funds raised were used for purchasing groceries, electricity, gas, raincoats and household cleaning agents to keep the house going through winter.

The expedition for me brought home the reason that mountaineering is truly an adventure. Adventure entailing that there are so many variables beyond our control, and it’s managing them that gives us experience.

Having prepared extensively both mentally and physically, circumstances beyond my control were to have the last say. After thoroughly enjoying the first two days of the trek, the events of day three were to ruin my hopes of summiting. Suffering from severe food poisoning, with a body that felt like it was on fire, I stumbled for six hours across the barren rocky saddle that led up to Kibo hut, not managing to retain any food or liquid the whole while. It was rather a pathetic picture I can assure you, and possibly the hardest test of physical pain I’ve had to endure. I didn’t get to attempt the summit, instead as the rest of my party were watching the sunrise from Gillman’s point I was packing up and heading down the mountain with the porters. So close, but no cigar! Disappointment was immense, and as I was already feeling better an hour into the day I almost wanted to turn around and make another bid for the summit later that night, but that unfortunately was not an option. So the conclusion, I went and climbed, set new personal records for endurance but didn’t get to conquer the mighty Uhuru peak. Some, like the fat arrogant 50 year old’s I met coming back on the plane, may like to write off my experience as a complete failure. As for me, I have a lifetime of exploring still left to do, and not conquering Kili the this time simply means that I have an excuse to go back again next year. This time though, I’ll be doing my own catering.

KILIMANJARO 2005: Machame Route

"You can hear all the stories in the world about Kili, but it is something that you cannot fully grasp without experiencing it. To climb this mountain requires a resolve, a determination to keep going when (at least for me) everything in you screams that it wants to give up. It is within the reach of “ordinary people”, but it is not for the fainthearted. You’ve got to want to get to the top." - Heather Brownell [more]

"Take a short trip, add some beautiful people, mix together with a dash of ethusiasm and eagerness, bake for 6 days in awe inspiring surroundings and you get a recipe to be on TOP OF THE WORLD!!!!! Well done maties!!!!" - Wayne Morgan

"Whilst preparing for Kilimanjaro, I read many articles from people who had experienced the climb and there was one common statement throughout. 'It was the toughest thing I have ever done.' After experiencing it first hand I have to agree. But as exhausted as I was on the summit, I left Kilimanjaro feeling alive and motivated for the next summit." - Eileen Osborne

"The climb had it's ups and downs" - Malachy Condon (Australia is rubbing off on him, too lazy to write)

"To experience Kili, as we fondly nick-name this ageless wonder, is to drink deeply of all that she offers to my soul on the way up to the heavens, from which her crowning crater seems to be just a little bit lower than." - Leandra Lombard [more]

KILIMANJARO 2000: Machame route: Darius Agenbag
"When the sky clears behind Mawenzi and you reach the top of Stella Point, the worst has passed. Suddenly, as always in the tropics the light of dawn rises from the Indian Ocean, and the Tsavo Hills give rise to the bizarre rocky pinnacles. Lower down on the plain, the light announcing the coming day engulfs the light of the full moon; faithful companion of the hours spent groping on the interminable gravels of Mount Kibo. A fairytale world seems within grasp, the sky turning to fire. To the left the steps of the Redmann Glacier climb evenly to the crater. On the edge of the great caldera rise needles and spikes, separated by screes and snowfields. The paunchy Bismark Towers are skirted on an easy slope, then a broad ridge of snow furrowed by kindly crevasses leads to the highest summit - Uhuru Peak".
[Click on pictures to enlarge]

KILIMANJARO : Machame ROUTE: 2002 : Timothy Horn