October 2, 2019

Great climb, great success, and now it’s time or a great safari. The Kili team is Serengeti bound and will likely have seen a good chunk of what the East African safari experience has to offer by the time their first day is over. How can they be in anything other than great spirits?  Travel Tip – don’t climb Kilimanjaro and not allow a couple of day for safari.  3 nights is about perfect!

Let’s see what Harry and team have to say about their first day of game viewing.

Phil Ershler

September 30, 2019

IMG senior guide Harry Hamlin called on the sat phone from Mweka Camp (about 11,000 feet) to report that the Kili team had finished their descent and were all doing well, and that they had a perfect day for their climb to the Roof of Africa!  They started climbing at midnight and hit Stella Point (the crater rim) just as the sun was coming up.   Then, they continued on around the rim of the crater to the tippy tippy top, at Uhuru Peak.  Their descent went smoothly back down to Barafu where they had a nice rest and got packed up before continuing on down to the thick air at Mweka.

Tomorrow they will finish their descent down through the forest to the Mweka Gate where they will pay off the porters and get picked up for the drive down to the hotel in Moshi for a late lunch, showers and some beers (maybe not in that order).  In the evening the team will have a well-earned celebration dinner with their Chagga guides, and then the next morning they will be off to Serengeti for the safari.

Well done team!

Eric Simonson

September 29, 2019

Harry Hamlin reports that the team is ready to go for their summit bid!  They had a nice hike up to Barafu Camp today, at about 15,000 feet.  As planned, they got there in time for lunch and then had all afternoon to get packed and then get horizontal (lie down for rest!).  After an early dinner they were heading to bed, in preparation for starting the climb at midnight.  With a little luck, they should reach the summit right after sunrise and then have the remainder of the day to descend to the thick air down at Mweka Camp (about 11,000 feet)!  Harry says everyone is doing well and the weather looks to be cooperating.  Best wishes for the team on their big day tomorrow!

Eric Simonson

September 28, 2019

IMG guide Harry Hamlin reports that the team had another good day today, in and out of the clouds but no rain.  They started with a stiff climb up the Barranco Wall  (actually just a steep trail, where you need to use your hands in a

couple places).  Once out of the Great Barranco, they traversed below the Southern Glaciers of Kili, up and down through some interesting terrain, to the Karanga Camp.  This is a very spectacular part of the climb and was always one of my favorite days of the trip.  The Karanga Camp is about the same elevation as Barranco (both around 13,000 ft) so it’s a perfect day for acclimatization.   Everyone is doing well and they are looking forward to climbing up to Barafu Camp tomorrow.  The plan will be to get an early start so they can arrive there by lunchtime and have all afternoon to rest and prepare for the summit climb starting tomorrow night.  So far so good!

Eric Simonson