I first see Kilimanjaro from the flight into Tanzania — a shocking sight because it looms above the clouds encircling it. An iconic visible.
As we enter by way of the little city of Moshe in Tanzania from the Kilimanjaro International Airport, I mentally put together myself for the trek forward. At the age of 72, I had skilled laborious to have the ability to climb this mountain. Weight coaching, strolling with a six-kilogram weighted vest and climbing the 2 hills in my metropolis a minimum of twice every week; Tirusulam Hill and St Thomas Mount in Chennai. I additionally swim two kilometres twice every week. All these construct resistance and provide you with a raised coronary heart price ; which is helpful once you climb at an altitude.
Kilimanjaro is the very best single standing mountain in the world that’s not half of a spread. The summits are Stella Point at 5,756m and Uhuru Peak at 5,895m. It can be thought-about to be one of the Seven Summits in Seven Continents.
We are a gaggle of 10 climbers. Six from India (Chennai and Hyderabad), two from Australia and two from Germany. We have a big assist workers of 25. The leaders are Bongo and Afrikaan, whose firm, Kili Worldborn Safaris is accountable for dealing with the logistics of the journey, together with transportation, lodging, meals and trekking preparations. There is the chief information and his assistants, chef and kitchen workers, tent boys, bathroom boys and our private porters who stroll with every of us to information and assist us alongside the path. This has been organized by Arjan Kripal Singh and his firm in India, Get Up And Go!
Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro
| Photo Credit:
Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh
We are pushed to the beginning level on the Londorossi Gate of the Lemosho Route, which is a scenic two-day trek that goes by way of a rain forest. The Lemosho Route crosses the complete Shira Ridge, a plateau that goes from West to East. The climb to the summit and to the final camp takes us eight days of trekking. We have a brand new camp every night time at designated campsites.
We often start at 7am and climb for about 5 to 6 hours every day. The terrain progressively adjustments from tropical rain forest to Arctic zone to alpine desert because the path climbs larger. I usually pause to catch my breath and soak in the beautiful views, brilliant with unique flowers and crops that develop in this harsh terrain.
The trek is difficult. Especially on day three, after we climb from Shira Camp to Moir Hut, and about midway by way of the trek, encounter rain. This makes climbing tough because the stones and rocks turn out to be moist and slippery. Rain water flows down the mountainsides, and moreover being chilly and quite moist, our footwear are drenched. My spirits are down as I climb with cumbersome rain gear on.
Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh
| Photo Credit:
Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh
We keep it up climbing regardless of this, praying all the best way. Fortunately, the climate miraculously clears up and for the following few days we now have superb climate. Sunshine and clear skies every single day after this, and daybreaks and sunsets in the mountains are at all times breathtaking.
The temperatures go right down to the low 10s and 15 levels Celsius as we climb larger. By summit day, it’s is properly under zero and on the higher ranges, nearer to the summit, minus 12 to 14 levels Celsius. On summit climb day, midway up the mountain there are heavy swirling winds and snow and ice on the bottom all the best way to the highest.
We quickly fall right into a routine, waking up at 5am and heading out after breakfast, well-fed with eggs, toast, porridge and fruit, which is a staple.
On day 5 of the trek, we got here to 1 of probably the most difficult components. From the Barranco Camp wanting throughout the ravine is the notorious Barranco Wall, a 900 ft steep cliffside, at an virtually 90-degree angle, that must be climbed. Initially quite intimidated, I realise as I climb, that I’m as much as the problem and truly begin having fun with it. After two and a half hours of regular cautious climbing up the very slender ledges, up a slender twisting path of types, we go the Kissing Rock, which is definitely an enormous rock that juts out forcing us to wedge our well past. Finally, on reaching the highest, we feature on to the Karanga Camp. We have an in a single day keep right here.
Camping
| Photo Credit:
Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh
Connecting after this with the Mweka Trail, there’s a rocky part to trek by way of to the Barafu Camp. This is the camp from the place we’ll make the ultimate climb to the Kilimanjaro Summit – Uhuru Peak. We nonetheless have another camp on our remaining trek down after summiting.
In order to succeed in at day break, we begin to climb at 10pm that night time, with solely headlamps to gentle up the slender mud path. We are warmly layered with thermals and three layers of gear, with down jackets over this. We are carrying rain gear in our backpacks and pray that we’ll not want it! The temperatures are properly under minus 10 and get colder as we climb. We climb steadily with frequent stops to catch our breath and sip water. The air is rarified as we go the 5,000m degree, making respiration tougher. Keeping apace, I’m rewarded with magnificent views of the plains under, the city of Moshe glittering like a jewel field.
The summit
| Photo Credit:
Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh
Very quickly after, there’s probably the most great dawn throughout the horizon. The view lifts my spirits and encourages me to maintain going, though this can be a powerful part with rocky areas to climb over. After a pair of hours of climbing, there’s snow in every single place now even on the slender paths, stepping rigorously, with my private information subsequent to me, able to catch me if I had been to slide. One step at a time, respiration extra laboured now, not trying to see the summit level, that appears so shut. It is dawn now and all of a sudden climbing previous the ultimate part, I’m at Stella Point at 5,756m.
After a pair of pictures, I climb for an additional 40 minutes to Uhuru Peak at 5,895m. It is an exhilarating second to grasp that I’m on the summit of one of probably the most iconic mountains in the world.
Stella level
| Photo Credit:
Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh
Climbing right down to the summit base camp at Barafu Camp takes virtually 12 hours. A fast lunch, then heading down, we take one other 5 hour trek to the final camp; the Mweka Camp. This might be harder than all that I had carried out to date. The steep, tough rocky path wants cautious negotiating, as drained legs might make a misstep right here. We head down safely to Mweka camp, which is ready in a ravishing wooded space.
On the ultimate day we climb right down to the Mweka Gate, that is the final gate, from the place we can be picked up, to be pushed again to the resort for our remaining day in Tanzania. It is a big muddy path full of free stones and steps. We take pleasure in this trek by way of the attractive rain forest on a ten kilometre stony, mud path. It turns into hotter as we go down the mountain, and quickly we’re on the remaining pick-up level at 5,380ft. I’m completely exhausted, however in a state of full exhilaration, as I had achieved what I had got down to do — summit Kilimanjaro.
Vidya Singh is a health fanatic who has accomplished 19 treks in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Peru and Patagonia. She has participated in over eight Masters National Swimming Championships and Pan Indian Masters occasions, successful a number of gold medals.
Published – April 22, 2025 05:05 pm IST
