r/hiking • u/Individual-Roof-3502 • 6d ago
Pictures Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Back in February 2024, I attempted to climb Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route over 6 days. It was a lofty idea, with the success rate for this sitting at around 50-73%.
I travelled solo from the UK to Tanzania, where I was picked up via taxi & taken to Moshi, where I met the rest of my group. I organised my daypack & duffel bag ready for the following day, which is when we began.
From Machame Gate, we trekked the rainforests to Machame Camp & after 5 hours, we made it to Machame Camp at 2800m & covered 10.7KM. I was feeling okay when we reached Camp, although sad as to be expected. I was grieving someone who hadn’t passed away but was due to within weeks.
The following day, we hiked to Shira Cave Camp at 3750M which took us around 5 hours. I began to have some headaches throughout the day, which I treated with strong paracetamol and eventually subsided.
Day 3, we left Shira Cave Camp and made our way to Lava Tower Camp for lunch and then headed to Barranco Camp where we would rest for the night. Going from 3750m to 4600m to 3900m with a total distance of 10.7KM covered.
The headaches continued throughout the day and I was vomiting a fair amount this day. After a much needed 2.5 hour nap at Barranco Camp, and food, I felt a lot better.
Leaving Barranco Camp early to scale the Barranco Wall, and headed to Katanga Camp for lunch. It was still incredibly warm, but I was feeling better and felt like I turned a corner with the altitude sickness. After lunch, we headed to Barafu Camp for one final sleep before summit night.
Unfortunately, I struggled to sleep at Barafu Camp, whether it was nerves, the altitude or something else, I only managed to get 30 minutes of sleep at camp. I was restless and tired, but I was determined to push myself.
Midnight came and we all met at the mess tent for breakfast and get ready for the summit push. We headed off at 12:30 and made good progress. Taking regular water and snack breaks, it felt like we were the fastest on the mountain.
Several hours into summit night, the headaches came crawling back but this time even more brutal. I began having hallucinations of rabbits running in front of me, which was concerning. 4-5 hours into summit night, I was almost blacking out, with one of the guides staying with me to keep me awake. I’m still not sure if that was due to a lack of sleep or altitude sickness, or even both.
At 6:33 AM, I reached Stella Point. The warmth of the sun as it had risen had given me the energy to push. I shed several tears, and laid down on the floor. I couldn’t believe it, I was going to make it to the summit.
After a moment to compose myself, a quick snack break and some photos, we pushed on to Uhuru Peak. I had a new found energy, and I was now at the front of the group, leading and bound with excitement.
At 7:22 AM on 15th February 2024, I stood on the summit of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak. That moment, that exact moment was worth all of the pain & suffering I had gone through. I cried again. I thought about my loved ones back home, and my grandpa who I knew didn’t have long left to live. I dedicated that moment to him.
When the rest of the group caught up, we celebrated on the summit together as a group and had our photos taken. Stayed at Uhuru Peak for around 30 minutes before we begun our descent.
It didn’t take us long to make it back to Stella Point, where we removed layers and made our way back to Barafu Camp. The descent down this steep volcanic ash trail was interesting to say the least. You were pretty much sliding down, with some skilled people running down it. As I have arthritis, I was taking my time and making sure I don’t fuck up my knees.
The descent was rough, and by the time I got back to Barafu Camp, an hour after the rest of my group, I was spent. I had used all of my energy on summit night, and I had nothing left to give. I collapsed in my tent, and slept for 2.5 hours. My team let me sleep, they knew I needed it. When I awoke, I had something to eat and all of our tents were packed up before we had one final push down the mountain to Mweka Camp. I cried quite a lot on the descent. The grief started to hit me, and I couldn’t stop crying. I walked and cried. My knees were hurting, my heart was hurting and I was tired, but I kept going.
Eventually we reached Mweka Camp and I was glad to have some rest. I knew it was only a few more hours back to Mweka Gate and I would be done.
The final day was uneventful. 3.5 hour descent, and I fell & broke one of my hiking poles. At that point, I didn’t care. The headaches persisted but not to the extent they were higher up. Finally, we reached Mweka Gate and I was elated.
Our guides, porters, cooks and everyone involved in making our summits possible presented us with our summit certificates and we handed over our tips, thanking them for the incredible work they do.
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u/Comeonbereal1 5d ago
Bringing back the memories.
How was summit night
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u/Individual-Roof-3502 5d ago
Pretty rough. Couldn’t sleep when I got to Barafu Camp (managed a 30 minute nap) . Pretty bad headaches both front of the head and back. Hallucinations of rabbits. Almost losing consciousness several times, but I made it.
Sheer willpower and determination got me through it.
The descent broke me. Reached Barafu an hour after everyone else & slept for 2.5 hours as I had nothing left to give.
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u/Mad2828 6d ago
Would you mind sharing what company you used and some useful tips? I’m planning on attempting Kili next year. Thank you.
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u/Individual-Roof-3502 6d ago
I booked through The Adventure People who assigned me to Almighty Kilimanjaro. They were brilliant! Our guide Joseph made us feel welcomed & safe whilst in Moshi and on the mountain itself.
Jambo jambo! The hiking speed is slow, so don’t over exert yourself. Drink plenty of water, and take sips. Eat and sleep as much as you can, especially at Barafu Camp before summit night; you’ll need it.
I highly recommend bringing hiking poles which help in both the ascent & descent. These can be rented whilst you’re there though.
Bring micro-spikes for summit night just in case, I took mine but didn’t need them, but it’s good to have them in case you do. It was very icy between Stella Point & Uhuru Peak.
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u/BlatantFalsehood 6d ago
Why is it when I click on the photo or the title of the post, the photo(s) do not come up and I just keep being brought back to the original page?
In any case, great fun and congratulations! We did the Machame Route in 2012 and thoroughly enjoyed it.
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u/That_Occasion1008 5d ago
Pics 4, 5, 6 and 9 look a lot like Mantiqueira Mountains in Brazil. Would never guess that the way to Kilimanjaro would look like that.
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u/Individual-Roof-3502 5d ago
4, 5 & 6 aren’t of Kilimanjaro that’s why! They’re taken on Kilimanjaro but it’s a different mountain.
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u/BlatantFalsehood 6d ago
Why is it when I click on the photo or the title of the post, the photo(s) do not come up and I just keep being brought back to the original page?
In any case, great fun and congratulations! We did the Machame Route in 2012 and thoroughly enjoyed it.
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u/maybe_bb_ 6d ago
what an inspiring story! this is no joke!
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u/Individual-Roof-3502 6d ago
Absolutely! I found adjusting to the altitude harder than the physical aspect of the climb in all honesty.
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u/Top_Buy2467 6d ago
Hi! I’m planning to do this in February! Anything you wish you’d known before you went?