The Journey starts at Heathrow Airport
Boarding the Kilimanjaro flight at Nairobi
Arrival at Kilimanjaro "International" Airport
Overnight accommodation at Ilboro Safari Lodge at Arusha
Loading up our transport
Sizing up the desirable property opposite hotel for cricket pavilion
Scheduled stop at Forest Gate for payment of fee
The Park Gate
Carrie regeristring - something we had to do at every night's camp
Our chief guide, Joseph (African Walking Company) next to a "rules" notice board
Brian, Carrie and Becky waiting for the "all-clear"
Brian studying another large notice board
The start of the Lemosho Trail. Our porters being loaded up
The start - we had lunch whilst waiting
Walking through the Lemosho Glades rain forest
There were some "downs" within the "ups"
Fireball Lily
A porter relaxing at our first camp
"Big Tree" camp site
Many trees in the rain forest had long strands of lichen hanging from the branches
We saw several different species of Protea on Kilimanjaro
Walking up to the Shira Plateau
Heads down - the way we walked most of the time!
Lunch stop where a couple of ravens were waiting for morsels
Emerging from the rain forest we get our first views of the surrounding area
Inside our mess tent. Carrie topping up her water intake. The rest of us drinking our soup course.
Shira 1 camp site - our two tents with unstable toilet tent.
Some of the plant-life next to the nearby stream
Most of the camp sites are set up close to streams where the kitchen porters obtain water
Thistle
Shira camp site gave us our first views of Kibo, the topmost crater rim of Kilimanjaro
Kibo from the Shira Plateau
A slight detour for acclimatisation
Icicle Tree?
The climb up to Shira Cathedral was partly in clouds
The summit of Shira Cathedral
Shira Cathedral
Our assistant guide, Dickson on the ridge leading to Shira Cathedral
A dead tree on the outskirts of the Shira Plateau
Descending from Shira Cathedral
A few hardy plants grow amongst the Lava rocks and ash
An emergency stretcher close to a heli-pad
Another view of Kibo
Shira 2 or Shira Hut camp site
An abundance of alpine plant-life in sheltered positions
Shira 2 in mist
Looking across the plateau from Shira 2
No comment!
A Giant Lobelia and cairn
Giant Lobelia
Giant Lobelia is unique to Kilimanjaro
View from top
Ian carried water for Becky who needed to drink from the nipple!
Walking across the edge of the plateau, towards the Lava Tower
Water stop on the crater rim of Shira
Kibo gets closer
Ian and Carrie stop for lunch
Becky and Joseph
Ian with hat, sun glasses and braces - all three were essential
Ian and Becky
300 foot Lava Tower
Baranco Camp with the Baranco Wall on right
Thistles, Lobelia and tents
Baranco Camp with Giant Senecio
Full frontal view of the Baranco Wall
Field of Giant Senecio (Giant Groundsel), unique to Kilimanjaro
Joseph drying his jacket
Giant Senecio can grow to 20 feet.
Immature groundsel
Silly hat!
Some of the Baranco Wall is graded at Scambling grade 3
Only one way up. A steady stream of porters overtake slower hikers
Carrie steps aside
Brian stops for a drink
Porters carry all-sorts of items on their heads. Note Dickson carrying two ruc-sacks
Becky at the top of the Wall
Dickson making a mobile phone call
Carrie in the clouds. Mt. Meru on the horizon.
Local plant-life
A classic case of insomnia!
Carrie, not feeling at all well, contemplating her first cup of tea.
Karanga Camp site
Ranger's Hut at Karanga camp site
One of the static porters' toilets at Karanga Camp
General view of Karanga Camp
No comment necessary!
Mist descends at Karanga Camp
Packing up from Karanga
Packing up continued
Porters really enjoying their work!
Carrie feeling a lot better now that the expedition is coming to an end!
Carrie takes water from Dickson's second ruc-sack
Ian clearly pleased that he hasn't needed to shave recently
Base Camp. Barafu campsite on the edge of a very rocky hillside
We leave tonight at midnight for the summit
If I was planning to build a campsite, it wouldn't be here!
Brian obviously looking forward to being woken up at 11pm and told to walk up a steep and very tall hill, at night in deep snow.
......and here he is, at dawn, approaching Stella Point. Unfortunately, Carrie suffered badly with mountain sickness and could not continue past 5000m
The first light of day
The sun rises behind Mawenzi Peak
Joy, as the three of us (and guide) arrive at the crater rim
Stella Point. Just another hour's walk to the summit.
Superb light as the dawn sunlight reaches the snow-covered slopes
Panorama of the ice wall close to the summit
Crater rim looking towards Uhuru Point
Another dawn sunlight view
Approaching the summit
Sun rays over Mawenzi Peak
Joseph happy to see another 3 clients safely to the top
Ian at 19,340 feet
Becky and Ian congratulate each other
Brian and summit porter, Eric reach Uhuru Point
Brian makes it to the summit
The three adventurers conquer Kilimanjaro..... along with 7000 other people each year!
10 minutes at the top and then immediately down again.
Last look at the summit vista on the way down
Brian and Joseph sledge down the mountain together - it was actually easier than walking down!
We arrive back at Base Camp where Carrie and some of the porters welcome us by singing the Kilimanjaro song.
Becky notices that "Cheryl" had been written on her sleeping bag. Was this Cheryl Cole's sleeping bag when she did the Comic Relief climb?
Last glimpse of Kibo peak from Millennium Camp.
The last camp on Day 8 of our trek. The porters sing the Kilimanjaro song once more before lining up for their tips!
It took us 7 days to reach the summit and only 10 hours to walk down again.
Joseph had been a superb guide.
Carrie thanks Dickson for helping her through an ordeal she will not be in a hurry to repeat.
The kitchen porters - Frank, who served our meals (2nd from right)
The way down was quite rocky and muddy, but very straight (the Mweka Route is really only suitable for descending)
From the Mweka ranger's hut the path is very good
An excellent path amongst some dense rain forest
Colubus monkeys in the trees
Safari ants march from one side of the path to the other
Back into civilisation at Mweka
Lunch stop and presentation of our certificates. Also Ian and Brian's first beer for 10 days!
Yes, that's exactly what we had
Ian, after 8 days without shaving
Brian, after 8 days without shaving
