Kilimanjaro trek - Day 1

After a goods nights sleep in Protea Aishi Hotel, Machame Gate.  We gathered in reception with our holdalls and rucksacks to check that the weight of each holdall was less than the maximum 13kg limit.  I had struggled to reduce the weight of my bag down to this but after removal of practically all of my snacks and Iso Energy food supplements my bag finally passed the inspection.

Our group was a diverse bunch ranging from ages 20 through to 78; 8 women and 21 men from all over the UK.  Marathon runners; triathletes and seasoned charity trekkers mixing in with complete novices.  Our leader was Ritchie along with Jo from Discovery Adventure, supported by 'Daktari' Joe and Macmillan 'Boss Lady' Sarah.  Ahsante Tours provided the African support staff for our trek led by Chief Guide Whitey.

With all bags approved we boarded mini buses for the transfer to Machame Gate, Kilimanjaro the starting point for our trek.



Machame Gate Kilimanjaro



























Formalities completed we started our trek at 9.05am. 

The initial path was wide, flat, well trodden brown earth which narrowed and steepened as we progressed further into the rain forest. 
I had expected the rain forest to be teaming with wildlife and noisy chatter, in fact, we only saw a couple of Colubus Monkeys and the occasional bird during the entire days trek and the forest was surprisingly quiet.  I had also expected it to be very hot and sticky, actually it was pleasantly warm/cool and not at all humid.




Rain Forest path




























Leader Ritchie was keen to make sure that we learned the essential lesson for a successful climb of Kilimanjaro early, that is, 'pole pole kama kobe' or 'slowly slowly like a tortoise'.  "If you can hear yourself breathe you are walking too fast".  The test was whether you can sing and walk at the same time.  The 'song' he chose was a blast from my past, the first single I ever bought, 'Ernie the fastest milkman in the West'!

We took rest/tush in the bush stops every hour or so and had a packed lunch break at 1.00pm which consisted of a carbohydrate rich and 'tasty' soft tortilla stuffed with chips and gristle; mini banana; chocolate bar and fruit juice drink.


Lunch on a log


















As we gradually climbed higher out of the rain forest the trees became stumpier and at 4.00pm we rounded a corner to be presented with our first camp in a clearing.  A selection of two man tents "at the end of their season with dodgy zips"; three toilet tents that would prove to have equally dodgy zips as the week progressed; three dinner tents complete with 33 fold up stools and trestle dinner tables plus the kitchen and porters tents.  All of the tents/equipment/food/holdalls and parafanalia had been carried up the mountain on porters heads & backs; camp erected and set up and a steaming hot and plentiful dinner cooked by a band of efficient, cheerful and hardworking African support staff in the time it had taken us to walk through the forest. AMAZING!



'Home'





















Tea and popcorn was ready in the dinner tents on our arrival.  We then went to our tents to sort out our sleeping arrangements.
At 5.30pm everyone gathered for a welcome meeting and introductions to the African support staff and guides.  We had our first taste of a welcome Whitey style - wonderful atmospheric singing and dancing 'Jambo, Jambo Poa.....Habari?  Azuri sana....' etc. etc. and so it went on....for ages.  Apologies to Ritchie but it kicked poor old Ernie into the dust!



Soooooo Niiiiiiiice!



Dinner of piping hot cucumber soup (much to Garys displeasure - cucumbers are the only thing he is allergic to);  plentiful rice, peas, spinach and fried chicken (?)  [If it was indeed chicken it was the scrawniest looking bird I'd ever seen!]; followed by hot chocolate.

Lisa and I retired to our tent by 7.15pm.  I optimistically hoped for a good first nights sleep.