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Kilimanjaro, 5895 m

keber126. 07. 2011 20:40:26

Today marks exactly one year since I experienced the sunrise at the top of this highest African mountain in Tanzania. I took a seven-day trek on the Machame - Mweka route, which crosses the southern and southeastern slopes and is considered the most scenic route on Kilimanjaro, and moreover, due to the altitude profile of the route, it is very suitable for acclimatization to an altitude of almost 6000 meters. Unlike many mass, fully organized treks, I preferred to take an agency in Tanzania run by a Slovene woman.

The route starts at 1900 meters above sea level and through various altitude camps in five days (can also be in three, but the success rate of the ascent is much less likely) we arrive at the last, highest one, at 4600 meters. At midnight of the sixth, hardest day, the last 1300 meters ascent to the summit begins, where it's about -15 degrees with moderately strong wind and it is reached in 6-8 hours, depending on our abilities. The view, landscape, and feelings are incredible. Then follows the descent to the valley at about 1600 m, where we arrive in the morning of the next day.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Start of the path at Machame Gate

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Path through the rainforest

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m The rainforest recedes towards the first camp at 3000 m

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m The first camp is more or less in the fog

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m However, at night the summit of Kilimanjaro is finally visible, which is very rarely seen from the valley

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m On the path a paradise for lovers of mountain flowers, which are not remotely similar to ours

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m When we arrive at the second camp at 3800 m, the mists have already receded, now very good protection against high-altitude sun is mandatory

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Jackdaws, but much larger, ours steal crumbs, these steal whole sandwiches

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Evening in Shira camp with fantastic colors, Mount Meru (4566 m) in the background, about 80 km away

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m On the third day we climb to the pass at 4600 m for acclimatization. A large number of porters is standard

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m We arrive right at the foot of the southern slope of Mount Kibo (this is one of the three mountains in the Kilimanjaro range)

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Glaciers are still there, but not as many anymore

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m We descend to the third camp, Baranco, at 3900 meters

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Here we encounter unusual trees that grow only on these and some other mountains in the distant surroundings, all at around 4000 m

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m From the third camp there is a really impressive view of the south wall, whose summit is still about 2000 m higher

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m The evening colors are also unrepeatable

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m The fourth day begins with an ascent over a roughly 300-meter-high wall, the only slightly more technically demanding part of the tour, but not difficult for an average mountaineer.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Now we turn to the eastern side of the mountain, the sun at midday is extremely strong and without a hat, long-sleeved shirt and strong sunscreen very dangerous.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m In the fourth camp at 3950 m (the path from the previous one rises and falls) you get water for washing for the last time, as there is no more ahead.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m On the fifth day we climb to the last camp before the summit push. Kilimanjaro also has windows.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m The path is not particularly long or very interesting, but it is an important acclimatization day.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m In Barafu camp, 4600 m, we go to sleep around six in the evening.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m At midnight towards the summit. After five and a half hours at the crater rim, another hour of very slow walking to the summit 200 m higher.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Sunrise at the equator is quite a fast affair.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Finally exhausted on the summit. Then soon back down, unfortunately not much time for lounging around, and the conditions don't allow it either.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Shadow of Kilimanjaro cast on the African plains, Mount Meru and the full moon setting that lit our entire night path

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Glaciers at the summit are still quite large, unfortunately the present path does not run along their base

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Mount Mawenzi to the east, accessible only to mountaineers, this time much lower.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m View into the interior of the gigantic crater, approx. 300 m lower

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Our camp from the previous evening is still far, but the very long scree slope with fine sand brings it much closer time-wise

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m To this hill the path led for long and strenuous 6 and a half hours.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Midday the summit of Kilimanjaro often wraps in clouds, that's the reason almost everyone starts to the top in the middle of the night. Well, the equatorial sun above 5000 m above sea level is anything but friendly.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m The same afternoon we descend to the last camp at 3200 m altitude (that means 1300 m ascent and 2700 m descent in one single day)

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Finally back to the bathroom.

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Early the next morning another four-hour descent to the valley, due to acclimatization to high altitude I feel light as a bird in lower elevations

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m Rescue vehicle for accident victims

Kilimanjaro, 5895 m My team, without which I wouldn't have reached where I wanted for 4 years already.

(+6)

urarrr26. 07. 2011 21:37:03

Cheers....Yes congratulations...

Did you look for local porters, or did you come already arranged with agency. Namely I plan to go there in winter on my own. Or park entrance is supposedly 100$ daily which includes cook and porter. Or 30$ daily in total solo mode.. Is water up there freely available, or can you buy it....Does this hold. I know other safaris max 100$ per day, don't know exactly this one. Anyway please some info...

keber127. 07. 2011 17:30:03

Unfortunately it's not as cheap as you might think given African economic standards. Last year Kilimanjaro park entrance was about 110$ per day, that includes entrance for support staff. But you have to hire staff separately, and alone I think you have nothing to do in the park. Water is only in unmarked streams, which are relatively close to camps, but not everywhere. And for a European it's not drinkable without boiling. No huts in alpine sense, drinks (beer, coke, bottled water) sold only at the last one, no food anywhere. Although I saw hundreds of hikers, I didn't see a single one doing the route solo. Just with sandwiches, cans and energy bars no one will see Kili summit.

My 7-day trek cost about 1500 dollars + tips for personnel (that's about 10-15% of total price). Some don't give anything, but I don't think that's right, anyway (at least for me it was) they work max for your comfort, paid quite poorly, especially regular porters. Otherwise agency organizes everything (guiding, tenting, cooking food, personal gear (your backpack, winter clothes, good boots, warm winter sleeping bag) you just have to have with you.

Classic safaris with organization average 200 dollars per day if camping. Better ones much more expensive. And more expensive in future, park fees raised every few years, since more people can afford it. You can't imagine how many Slovenian students you meet on such things, which were exclusively domain of rich just a decade or two ago.

(+3)

pinkerton27. 07. 2011 18:27:43

Probably true, Kili is getting more expensive and hasn't been cheap for a long time. Already 15 years ago I paid 500 usd for a week on the mountain, guide mandatory every few people, and about one porter per person. That's how they manage to casually employ locals. I think solo was possible too, although I didn't meet anyone, but it was supposedly with lots of bureaucracy, permits and much higher daily fee than other trekkers, because they figure they might have to rescue you, which all goes on foot there, no helicopter up there mrk pogled

Lunca27. 07. 2011 18:38:32

insane keber1... do you have more photos published somewhere?

Bird of prey23. 02. 2012 14:04:28

Nice pictures and description, with the help of which one gets an approximate idea about the ascent to Kilimanjaro.

I would ask you for info about that agency in Tanzania.

Thanks and regards,

Sebastjan

keber123. 02. 2012 14:16:46

Here:
http://www.pure-afro.com

Recommend 7-day tour, which is practically guaranteed summit success. Faster and somewhat cheaper shortcuts can end fatiguingly a few hundred meters lower, which would really be a shame.

(+1)

keber123. 02. 2012 14:35:58

Maybe some other pictures:

View on the summit from about 80 km distance.

And from a bit closer - as if there was a big storm there.

(+4)

julius2. 04. 2012 20:38:54

Friends are organizing a trip to Kilimanjaro this August. Since they have a couple of spots left, they asked me to help fill the empty spots.
If you're interested, contact me via ZS, so I can send you their offer and program. It looks very interesting. Worth inquiring.

marchy3. 04. 2012 21:38:04

Keber, bravo, bravo, hey you're a star, sincere congratulations for this feat, you know, I envy you a bit, but still you pulled it off well, once again bravo for your courage !!! m.

(+1)

julius5. 04. 2012 21:48:57

Some newer pictures.

(+2)

mojcas6. 04. 2012 07:22:00

Looks great! If we exclude the difficulty of the route due to altitude difference, what is the ascent like otherwise? Is there any climbing or difficult sections? On the pictures it all looks quite easy.

julius6. 04. 2012 08:14:24

Yes, it is really as great as it looks in the pictures. To the Kibu camp (hut) at 4750 there is an almost 2 meter wide, nicely maintained path. Along the path there are arranged rest areas (benches, tables and toilets. Porters serve food and drink there. Of course each for their own group.
From the Kibu hut the slope of the path increases a bit. The difficulty of the path, if looking for a comparison at home, is less than on the path to Grintovec K.B.-K.S.-Grintovec).
In short-no climbing, no difficult sections, no need for crampons ...
Best regards Julius

(+2)

bperc6. 04. 2012 09:23:05

What's the price like? How much did you approximately spend, if it's not a secret nasmeh

nisa6. 04. 2012 09:30:05

Julius, were you maybe on Kili in December 2010? The pictures look familiar, especially the third (Bushmen) and fifth (little goat for dinner). Otherwise, I agree with Keber. The more time you take for acclimatization, the more chances you have to conquer the summit.

Best regards

zippo6. 04. 2012 13:29:34

Without five grand € which you can forget, it's a waste to think about Kili!
Plane, parks, safaris, entrance to Kili park, porters, guides and all other costs because you go there only once and therefore also to Serengeti, Ngorongoro or Masai Mara and everything that goes with it. Maybe you do an ascent of Mt. Meru for acclimatization or even combine with Mt. Kenya, which is already a tougher story. Just Kili for some altitude record is completely pointless to push

(+2)

keber16. 04. 2012 16:42:07

Five thousand is quite an exaggerated figure, unless you're going luxury, return flight to Nairobi can be got for 500 to 600 euros (with buying at least 4 months in advance).
7-day Kili and 6-day safari including tips + transport from Nairobi to Arusha and four nights in hostel (that's already 16 or 17 days together) cost me less than 2400 €.

(+2)

julius6. 04. 2012 16:44:39

Bperc,
the price for such a lark is 2425 EUR. Add to that another 50$ for the entry visa to Tanzania. The price includes everything zippo mentioned, except additional acclimatization on Mt. Meru or Mt. Kenya.
Kilimanjaro or Serengeti beer (both are excellent, souvenirs, cards and more is up to the individual. My wife and I together didn't spend as much as zippo claims.

(+3)

zippo7. 04. 2012 12:45:36

As much as one wants to see, that's true, but it's not cheap at all. You have to know that prices are constantly rising, entrance fees are raised substantially, not just 10% or something, you need fresh data. Kili is unique and there you see climbers from all over the world, interest is tremendous and locals act more commercially year by year. Up the mountain only as many can go as there are paid beds in huts or tents, no more, otherwise wait an extra day or two, as we had to. I had no special luxury, but I added up all costs, what I took from home and brought back, people often omit that, so also what I spent on Maasai masks and ebony figurines, and more. It did take somewhat longer than usual scratching on volcanic ash, 23 days, we also included Serengeti, Masai Mara, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Mt. Meru and ended with diving in Zanzibar (private accommodation, not hotel).

Bobaje7. 04. 2012 21:15:30

http://grs-ratece.weebly.com/kilimanjaro-2002.html

urarrr8. 04. 2012 00:12:44

zippo

actually anyone can spend as much as they want. Well, for me it was flight and visa guarded apartment for 8 days...

round trip flight 360
visa 40
yellow fever hepatitis vaccine approx 80
guarded apartment with AC and pool 60
electricity in apartment 50
safari 90 dollars per eu...one day 600 km

no mistake. in the apartment there was a guard once a day who patrolled the apartment.

then calculate how much everything was... extra week would be another 100 eu for apartment with electricity worth...

that same driver would take me to Tanzanian border and back for 100 dollars...

from there I was arranged with agency that takes me from Kenyan-Tanzanian border for 1000 to Kili summit and back to border....

due to lack of vacation I canceled the ascent....

I think it can still be done for about that price.....prices in euros except what I wrote are dollars....

true that colleague has acquaintances in Kenya...say half liter vodka in tavern at police station cost approx 3 euros...don't know exactly but can upload pics because I photographed the price list...

of course if smart guys around agencies then such thing three times more expensive

also with us ascent on Mont Blanc with guides closer to 1000 than 500 eu. if go solo then get through for 150 to 200 eu.

ah. Kenya was over 4 years ago.

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Kilimanjaro, 5895 m