Tanzania
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Our flight from Moshi to the island of Zanzibar, formerly an important trading post bridging Africa and the Middle East, was just over an hour long. We spent a couple of quiet days on the beach, still recuperating from the Kilimanjaro climb. Since I was the only one of us who wasn’t going back to … Continue reading
Former slave market, Zanzibar
After Kili, the four of us flew to Zanzibar where we visited the former slave market and Anglican church. Zanzibar was once home to a massive slave trade. From here, most slaves were transported either to Madagascar to work on French sugar plantations or to Middle Eastern countries like Oman. Slaves were kept in tiny … Continue reading
Mt. Kilimanjaro
For your viewing pleasure, a Kilimanjaro trailer!
Kilimanjaro, day 8
Start: Mweka Hut; 3,100 meters End: Gate; 1,700 meters Hiking time: 2:00 It was a short, downhill hike to reach the gate and we said our goodbyes to Kilimanjaro. We had seen an exuberant Italian family a couple of times over the past week. They were always in good spirits, even when our … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro, day 7
Start: Barafu Base Camp; 4,680 meters End: Mweka Hut; 3,100 meters Hiking time: 2:25 We got up from our post-summit naps to have lunch and then hit the trail once more. We had another fifteen hundred meters to descend before the day was done. It was a steady and steep downhill hike that took … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro summit!
Start: Barafu Base Camp; 4,620 meters Summit: Uhuru peak; 5,895 meters Ascent time: 6:20 Descent time: 2:00 At 11:30 pm, the four of us stumbled out of our tents, had a snack, and were on our way towards the highest point in Africa. The moon was out but it was still unbelievably dark and, … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro, day 6
Start: Karanga Valley; 3,930 meters End: Barafu Base Camp; 4,620 meters Hiking time: 2:50 I opened the tent flap this morning fully expecting to see frost covering the ground. Instead I found myself looking upon a silent sea of clouds with pink crests and blue shadows so impressive that I mumbled an instinctive, “Wow,” … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro, day 5
Start: Baronko; 4,000 meters End: Karanga Valley; 3,930 meters Hiking time: 3:50 Another cold morning, this time because Baronko Wall cast a huge shadow over our entire campsite. In fact, Baronko Wall was our first obstacle. For well over an hour, we made our way up the wall, using two hands to steady ourselves … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro, day 4
Start: Shira 2; 3,850 meters Midpoint: Lava Tower; 4,600 meters End: Baronko; 4,000 meters Hiking time Shira 2 to Lava Tower: 3:27 Hiking time Lava Tower to Baronko: 1:20 It’s getting much colder every morning! The good news is my sleeping bag is keeping me generally warm enough at night but that makes it … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro, day 3
Start: Shira 1; 3,600 meters End: Shira 2; 3,850 meters Hiking time: 3:25 What a cold morning! We awoke to find our tents and the ground covered in frost. It was hard to coax myself out of my sleeping bag, but I made it to breakfast and the sky was bright and clear by … Continue reading