Mount Kilimanjaro. The iconic “Roof of Africa”. It’s a mountain so well-known and popular that it’s an item on most people’s bucket lists, seemingly whether they’re into hiking and going up mountains or not. That’s the draw Kilimanjaro has. And it drew me in for sure.
During 2019, I began to budget and plan for taking on the once in a lifetime trek in 2020. However, the Covid-19 pandemic soon kicked those plans into the long grass, along with lots of other plans. Kili still loomed large in my mind though as the next big mountain I wanted to take on, and in October 2022 I finally was able to make the trip happen.
I climbed via the stunning Machame route following this itinerary;
Day 1 – Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Day 2 – Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Day 3 – Shira Camp to Barranco Camp
Day 4 – Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Day 5 – Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Day 6 – Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak, and down to Mweka Camp
Day 7 – Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Here is my Kilimanjaro experience through the lens of my camera.
Day 1 – The starting gateStarry skys above on the first nightDay 2 – Stunning views looking back over the trail early on in the dayThrough the forestThe challenge aheadMount Meru rising above the cloudsInto the haunted mistArrival at Shira CampAnother starry night at Shira CampDay 3 – setting off from Shira CampThe incredible porters on the moveUhuru callingHeading up to the Lava TowerArrival at Lava Tower, getting battered by the windLava TowerBack on the moveThe famous Senecio treesA glimpse of the end goal through the cloudsaaaand another starry night, at Barranco CampDay 4 – early morning views from campTraffic on the Barranco WallBuilding Kilimanjaro 2.0Big up Trek2Kili for an amazing experience, booked via Much Better AdventuresKaranga CampA stunning sunset at KarangaDay 5 – Another stunning view to wake up toThe path aheadArrival at Barafu Camp, next stop UhuruDay 6 – Well on the way to the summit with the sun getting ready to joinHere comes the sunStella Point, almost thereMission CompleteViews from the summitThe Heim Glacier hanging on in thereAfrica waking upAfter a long descent, arriving at Mweka CampDay 7 – The whole gang on our last morning togetherOne last look back, crazy to think we had been stood up there just 24 hours earlierReady to set offThe final stretchA well earned beer in Zanzibar the following day
