Day 3: Climb to Machame Gate

MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

Our group will start climbing after registering in the National Park’s Climber Log and eating lunch. They’ll start hiking on a forest road through the rain forest – which is why it’s wet and humid climate where they start climbing. To the right and left of the road are Mount Kilimanjaro’s giant red germs and impatiens. The path will get narrower and steeper as it winds through the rainforest. After another hour of hiking, the landscape will start changing as they enter the moorland zone and approach their first camp. Upon arriving at camp, porters will welcome them with a tent that’s already pitched and hot tea with biscuits. After resting, they’ll debrief about the following day’s climb and eat dinner. If the weather is good, they’ll see a beautiful sunset and catch a glimpse of the first snow-capped peak of Kibo!!

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

Starting elevation 6,000 feet

Ending elevation 9,900 feet

Elevation gain 3,900 feet

Distance hiked 6 miles

Average hiking time 6 to 7 hours

“I believe it is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown. The only true failure would be not to explore at all.”

-Ernest Shackleton

Each of us in our own way has been anticipating this day for a long time. For myself, I started toying with the idea of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro when we visited Tanzania back in 2016. On our way back to the airport to fly home, we ran across Drew Voyles returning to Arusha with a group of climbers. It was almost a year ago that I finally committed to it, having asked my daughter if she would like to go the following summer. She gave an emphatic yes.

And now here we are…driving from Arusha to the Machame Gate: our starting point for our climb. 

I think the hardest thing is to balance expectations for what we will see, feel and experience (which we all naturally have)…with allowing ourselves to experience the present moment for what it is. 

Our first siting of the mountain on the drive is a bit intimidating. We will remember that we will accomplish this together. Pamoja Pamoja! And slowly: one step, one vista, one experience at a time.  Pole pole!

~Mike Hingst