Africa Itinerary.... or at least what I know right now

Sorting gear for the trip

Well, tis the day before flying and all through the house… it’s total chaos!  Oops, guess I blew that rhyme.  LOL  So, I have my tickets and main treks locked down.  I am finalizing packing.  Unfortunately I need somewhat different gear for each trek.  So I’ll see how much I can pare down here in a moment.  It did occur to me that I should provide what I have of an itinerary.  It is scant at the moment as I have about 2 weeks to plan once I get to Africa.  So here goes:

Fly out early morning 12/30 arriving 29 hours later in Entebbe, Uganda at 23:00.  I booked an air BnB for the night.  The next day I may remain in Entebbe or move up to Kampala, I am not sure yet.  On Tuesday the 2^nd, I need to be in Kampala to pay for the trek to Mt Stanley.  I’ll probably spend the night there and head to the starting point on the 3^rd.  I am thinking I’ll take a bus rather than hire a car or fly.  That will be an all day trip.  Here are the details on the 1^st climb:

The trek to Margherita peak departs on 5th January 2018.  I am joining a group of 4 other folks I have never met. 

Day  1.  (Jan 5^th)  At Trekkers hostel kilembe the base camp at 1450 meters. briefing from the guides and start the trek to sleep at Sine Camp 2596 meters following a height gain of 1146 meters.

Day  2. Hike to Mutinda camp at 3688 meters, 7km 6 to 7 hrs of walking giving you a height gain of 1092 metres. in the afternoon at Mutinda one may wish to climb up Mutinda look out at 3975 metres of which apart from offering breathtaking views and it gives you good acclimatization since you would be continuing higher to the summit at 5109m 

Day 3. Hike to Bugata camp at 4100 meters, 6.93km 4 to 6hours of walking with a height gain of 412 meters through the valley of amazingly unique beautiful plant species, streams and waterfalls while we head to Bugata camp at 4100 meters. the trek gets tougher and exhausting with the steep ridges,mud and boggy sections, high steps but the rewards are enormously beautiful.

Day 4. Hike to Hunwick’s camp at 3974 meters, via Bamwanjara pass at 4450meters having excellent views of the main peaks whilst the trek.  6 to 10hrs of walking

Day 5. Hike to Margherita camp at 4485 meters, passing down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation, climbing through Scoot Elliot pass to Margherita camp. 3 to 5 hrs 

Day 6. Wake up at 2:00am and have an early breakfast and setoff to climb Mt Stanley going through its glaciers to the summit of Margherita peak at 5109metres 3.5km, 5 to 7 hours. After the summit we will descend  down to Hunwicks camp at 3974 meters for the night. This is the longest day.4 to 6hours

Day 7. Descend down to Kiharo camp at 3640 meters through Oliver’s pass . overnight at Kiharo camp set in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation  7 to 10hrs of walking

Day 8. Descend down down hill past the moss covered rocks along rivers and beautiful forests back to the basecamp in Kilembe,13km 7 to 9hrs of walking Debrief and refresh.

I will head back to Kampala on the 13^th.  From the 14^th to the 24^th I have some planning to do.  I am going to visit Zanzibar and possibly go on a safari or two.  Uganda is a great place to see Gorillas and Kenya is fantastic for big game and the savanna.  After bouncing around East Africa for a bit I have to be in Moshi, Tanzania on the 24^th.  My Kilimanjaro trek begins the following day.  Here is the itinerary:

Day 1 : 25^th Jan : Northern Circuit route

Lemosho Trailhead (2,000m/6,600ft) to Big Tree Camp (2,800m/9,100ft)  

Elevation Gain:  800 metres / 2,500 feet

This morning you will drive from Moshi to the Londorossi gate, taking approximately 3 hours.   Here you will complete entry formalities. From Londorossi your drive continues for around 1 hour to the Lemosho trailhead along a 4WD track. Upon arrival at the trailhead you will eat lunch and then commence trekking through lush undisturbed forest where you may be lucky enough to see Colobus monkeys.  The path undulates, steeply in places, to arrive at the first camp after 3-4 hours of trekking.  Overnight at Big Tree Camp (Mti Mkubwa Camp).

Day 2 : 26^th Jan : Northern Circuit route

Big Tree Camp (2,800m/9,100ft) to Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,500ft)

Elevation Gain:  700 metres / 2,400 feet

Today your trek will begin in the forest; however you will soon leave this ecosystem behind taking a steep track into a zone of giant heather and volcanic rock.  This is a full day ascending through the lush rolling hills below the Shira Plateau.  Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. It is filled with the lava flow from Kibo and its rim has eroded and been blasted away by weather and volcanic action.  Finally the trail begins to ease as you reach the edge of the plateau.  You will camp at Shira One after 5-6 hours of trekking. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is incredible.

Day 3 : 27^th Jan : Northern Circuit route

Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,500ft) to Shira 2 Camp (3,800m/12,500ft)

Elevation Gain:  300 metres / 1,000 feet

Your third day on the mountain consists of a trek across the Shira Plateau with an optional climb to Shira Cathedral (3,880m).  Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.  The day finishes with a gradual climb to Shira 2 Camp.  Trekking time without the optional excursion is approximately 3 hours.  Including the optional acclimatisation to the peak of Shira Cathedral will add approximately 1 hour.

Day 4 : 28^th Jan : Northern Circuit route

Shira 2 Camp (3,800m/12,500ft) to Moir Hut (4,200m/13,800ft) via Lava Tower (4,550m/14,900ft) (optional)

Elevation Gain:  750 metres / 2,400 feet (maximum)

Elevation Loss:  350 metres / 1,150 feet (maximum)

Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of high desert en route to Moir Hut.  If time and fitness allow it would be beneficial to ascend via the Lava Tower as this is a great opportunity to acclimatise. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours.  This tower is a 300 foot high volcanic plug.  If time and energy allow, you can scramble to the top of Lava Tower for fabulous panoramic views.  From Lava Tower head North West beginning your circuit of Kibo, the almighty summit cone of Mount Kilimanjaro.  Moir Hut Camp is an isolated and seldom used camp affording views over the Shira Plateau.  Trekking time approximately 5-7 hours.  An alternative to this route would be to take a gentle ascent across the alpine desert to Moir Hut in the morning and then spend the afternoon on a guided trek of the nearby Lent Group, a series of wind eroded parasite cones and ridges from whose upper slopes you can gaze down to the

plains of Kenya in the north.

Day 5 : 29^th Jan : Northern Circuit route

Moir Hut Camp (4,200m/13,800ft) to Buffalo/Pofu Camp (4,020m/13,200ft)

Elevation Loss:  180 metres / 590 feet

Begin the morning trek heading out of the moorland and into the stark alpine desert, on a steep ridge off the main trail, beginning your venture on the Northern Circuit Route.  If you chose not to explore the Lent Group yesterday, take a short detour to the top of Little Lent Hill (3,375m/14,350ft) in the morning before regaining the trail to Buffalo Camp.  The total trekking time today is approximately 5 – 7 hours. 

Day 6 : 30^th Jan : Northern Circuit route

Buffalo/Pofu Camp (4,020m/13,200ft) to Third Cave Camp (3,870m/12,700ft)

Elevation Loss:  150 metres / 500 feet

Proceed onward through valleys and over ridges through the alpine desert and moorland, continuing your circuit to the east.  This rarely travelled route allows you to enjoy the vast mountain wilderness in peace. Trekking time today is 5 - 7 hours.

Day 7 : 31^st Jan : Northern Circuit route

Third Cave Camp (3,870m/12,700ft) to School Huts (4,750m/15,600ft) Elevation Gain:  880 metres / 2,890 feet

Climb steadily to reach the Saddle, a lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. From here, continue upwards to reach School Hut Campsite in the early afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for summit day, which will begin in the early hours of tomorrow morning.  Trekking time approximately 4-5 hours today.

Day 8 : 01^st Jan : Northern Circuit route

School Huts (4,750m/15,600ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft) to Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft)

Around midnight, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. For the next six to eight hours, hike by the light of your flashlight. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day and therefore you will want clothing for both extremes. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Gilman's Point.  The hike from Gilman's to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude however makes the hike long and tiring.  After summit celebrations you will descend to Kibo Huts.  From the summit the descent will take you straight down to Mweka Hut, with lunch served on the way.  This part of the descent takes about 6 hours.  Later in the evening enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Beer and soda may be available for purchase at Mweka Hut, the only place it is available on this route.

Day 9 : 02^nd Jan : Northern Circuit route

Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m/6,000ft)

Elevation Loss:  1,280 metres / 4,220 feet

Descend straight to the gate through lush forest (2-3 hours), looking for monkeys along the way.  Return to Moshi from Mweka Village.

Once back in Moshi I can poke around and relax till the night of the 4^th.  I depart late on the 4^th and arrive back at my least favorite airport just before 1 PM on the 5^th.

All Packed and ready to go!

OK, time to finish packing!

Trip to East Africa

Well, I have been out of work for three weeks now.  It’s strange.  Mostly it’s strange because I don’t feel the least anxiety about it.  But hey, grand adventure awaits.  As I write this one of my good friends is in Jordan, after visiting Morocco and Egypt.  Another close friend is in Australia.  I am feeling a bit behind the power curve.  But that all changes, soon enough.  I bought airfare to Entebbe today.  I am heading to Uganda to climb Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley.  I originally planned to visit Africa because I’d be out of work in the winter and in bad need of a vacation.  It seemed to me a logical choice as I haven’t been to Africa yet.  I wasn’t sure what I wanted to see there…. But I have always thought I’d end up climbing Kilimanjaro.  So I looked into climbs on Kili.  I decided I wanted to do the Northern Route as it is about the least traveled path to the summit.  No one seemed to be running it in Dec or Jan.  Then I stumbled on one outfitter that already has 2 folks doing that trip.  So I asked to join them.  That got me to looking at other mountains.  Mt Kenya looks like fun.  Meru looks fun…. But then I learned about the Rwenzori mountains in Uganda.  They look amazing.  And one of the peaks is quite technical, over 5,100 meters elevation and I can claim to have climbed in both Uganda and the DRC as it straddles the border.  What is not to love?! 

Now I have a week or so to sort out the rest of the trip, pack, prep and jump into the abyss.  In between these climbs I’ll have a dozen days that I still need to plan.  I am thinking I should see Zanzibar and probably Kenya.  Life is best lived as an adventure!  I shall post as I am able.  Merry Christmas!!