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Kilimanjaro Dispatches
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July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
July 25, 2009
July 25th - Group departs US to arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport on July 26th.
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
July 27, 2009
Greetings from the Dik Dik Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania!
All of the team members arrived yesterday evening as did all of our luggage! We had a nice dinner last night and everyone slept well with minimal effects from jet-lag. That is a great way to start our trip. We've just finished our first team meeting and everyone is busy sorting gear for the climb. We're all excited and ready to get going. I'll check in again before we leave for the mountain tomorrow morning.
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
July 28, 2009
Hi,
This is Seth checking in on July 28, 2009.
Greetings from Machame Camp on Kilimanjaro. Today we started with an early breakfast at the Dik Dik Hotel. We then made the two hour dive to the National Park gate. The group was all packed ready to go before our scheduled departure time so we started the hike ahead of schedule. This allowed us to take a comfortable pace on the trail. We spent four and a half hours treking through the cloud forest before reaching our camp. Our early departure paid another dividend in that we were fortunate enough to see a troop of monkeys juumping through the forest canopy.
Here at Machame Camp we are just above the forest in the giant heather zone. The summit is obscured by clouds at the moment, but that's typical for the afternoon. We're all hoping for a clearing so that we can get a view of the summit before dark.
Everyone is feeling great. I'll check in tomorrow from the Shira Plateau.
Best wishes, Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
July 29, 2009
Hi, this is Seth checking in from the Shira Plateau. All is well with the group. We left Machame Camp at 8 o'clock this morning and arrived at Shira just before one in the afternoon.
The weather was perfect today and we had excellent views of Kibo, the summit cone, all day. Everyone is enjoying a well deserved rest this afternoon.
I'll check in again tomorrow from Barranco.
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
July 30, 2009
Hi,
This is Seth checking in from Barranco Camp. We had another great day on Kilimanjaro. We left Shira at 8 o'clock this morning under sunny skies and a light breeze. We made excellent time to our high point at 14,900 feet and were able to enjoy a nice lunch break below the Western Breach. Everyone arrived in camp feeling strong after a long day on the trail.
We're all relaxing now before dinner and getting psyched up for the Barranco Wall tomorrow. I'll check in again tomorrow from Karranga Valley.
Best regards,
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
July 31, 2009
Hi,
Another great day on Kilimanjaro. We started a bit later today in order to let the sun hit the Barranco Wall. Our climb went smoothly and we enjoyed great views of the southern ice fields from atop the wall. We've just finished lunch and everyone is relaxing and rehydrating this afternoon. Tomorrow we move to high camp.
I'll check in again from Barafu.
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
August 1, 2009
Hello,
This is Seth checking in from Barafu, our high camp on Kilimanjaro. The group is doing great and we are all excited to go for the summit tonight. The weather has been spectacular and were hoping for it to continue for one more day. I'll check in again tomorrow from Mweka, our last camp on the mountain.
Best Regards,
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
August 2, 2009
Summit Team on Uhuru Peak, August 2, 2009
TEAM SUMMITS!
Seth called in this morning to report the exciting news that the team made the summit of Kilimanjaro. The weather was cold and clear for their summit day hike. They are now back safe at Mweka Camp (10,000 ft). They are getting ready to celebrate their success with dinner and enjoying the oxygen rich air.
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
August 3, 2009
Hi this is Seth checking in from the Dik Dik Hotel. We had a quick walk down the mountain today as everyone was ready to wash the dust off ourselves. Checking out at the Mweka gate went smoothly and the group is happy to be showering up and getting ready for our celebration dinner. The weather was perfect again today and we're hoping for the same when we begin our Safari tomorrow with a trip to Lake Manyara National Park.
All the best,
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
August 4, 2009
Hi from the beautiful Plantation Lodge!
We've had a great day first day on safari. This morning we said goodbye to the team members that are returning to the States and then headed off in
Land Cruisers to Lake Manyara National Park. We had a great time there and saw many animals including elephants, giraffes, zebra, wildebeast, baboons,
hippos and many species of birds. Tomorrow we're hoping to see some of the big cats so we're planning an early start.
Ngorongoro Crater here we come!
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
August 5, 2009
Hi this is Seth checking in from the Sopa Lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim. We've just finished another great day on safari. The highlights today were definitely the lions, jackals and eagles. But there was plenty more to see for sure. Tomorrow we'll head to Tarangire National Park and Kikoti Camp.
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
August 6, 2009
Hi this is Seth. We've just arrived at Kikoti Camp, our last and most unique safari lodge. It is always my favorite place to stay, and I think that most of the folks on the trip would agree.
Today we toured Tarangire National Park. We saw many animals but Tarangire is known as 'the garden of the elephants' and we literally saw thousands.
Tomorrow we return to the Dik Dik Hotel to clean up, repack and catch our flights back to the US.
That's all for now.
Seth
July 25 - August 8, 2009 Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Seth Waterfall
August 7, 2009
Summit Team on Uhuru Peak, August 2, 2009
Hi this is Seth. This morning we made our way back through Tarangire National Park to the Dik Dik Hotel in Arusha. We had a quick trip today
but we were very fortunate to see a mother lion with three cubs!
They were less than fifty feet from our car and we were able to watch them for about fifteen minutes. It was a great way to end our climb and safari.
Everyone is relaxing here at the hotel and getting ready for our flight out tonight. It's been a great trip but we're all excited to get back home to our friends and family.
USA here we come.
Seth
RMI Guide
-
Seth Waterfall
Climbing Team
Timothy, Conor, Imtiaz, Tim, Cheryl, Darryl, Lee, Will and Michael
Itinerary
Day One: Depart U.S.A. Depending on flight times and connections, travel to Arusha, Tanzania typically takes over 24 hours from the U.S. Most people fly from Amsterdam directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Another option is to fly from London through Nairobi with a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Day Two: Upon your evening arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you are met by your RMI Guide and transferred in our private vehicle to the enchanting Dik Dik Hotel near the town of Arusha. Overnight at the Dik Dik Hotel. (D)
Note: Our transfer times follow the KLM schedule, if you
are arriving on another carrier a private transfer can be
arranged for you at an additional cost.
Day Three: Following the morning team orientation meeting, we spend most of the day organizing and packing all of our gear. We will have some time in the afternoon to relax by the pool and recover from our long flights. Overnight at the Dik Dik Hotel. (B, L, D)
Day Four: Our day begins with a beautiful drive to Kilimanjaro National Park. The starting point of our trek is at the Machame Gate (5,900') where we enter the Park. After registering with the Park Rangers, we begin hiking through the dense forest to the Machame Camp (9,800'), where we spend the first night. Hiking time is approximately 5 - 6 hours. (B, L, D)
Day Five: We continue ascending, headed towards the Shira Plateau at 12,000 feet. After leaving the forest and traveling through the "Giant Heather" zone, we set up camp on a bench overlooking the majestic Great Rift Valley and if the weather is clear enjoy spectacular views of the summit of Kilimanjaro. Hiking time is approximately 4 - 6 hours. (B, L, D)
Day Six: Our day begins with a traverse of the mountain, taking us underneath the Arrow Glacier and Western Breach Wall. We walk among the giant lobelias and groundsels, vegetation that unique to the high altitudes of East Africa. Our camp is set at the base of the great Barranco Wall, a steep canyon emerging from Kilimanjaro's southern side (12,800'). Hiking time is approximately 5 - 6 hours. (B, L, D)
Day Seven: An early departure after breakfast allows us magnificent views as we traverse beneath the Southern Breech Wall. Our traverse takes place at elevations between 13,000 and 14,500 feet. Our camp is situated on the edge of the Karanga Valley nestled below the glaciers of Kilimanjaro. Hiking time is approximately 4 - 5 hours. (B, L, D)
Day Eight: The vegetation gradually disappears as we work our way towards high camp. We establish camp at approximately 15,000 feet near the Barafu hut. After an early dinner and a team meeting to discuss our summit attempt, we retire to our tents in preparation for our summit bid. Hiking time is approximately 4 - 5 hours. (B, L, D)
Day Nine: Summit Day on Kilimanjaro! Today we ascend to the Roof of Africa at 19,340 feet! We will get an early alpine start, planning to arrive at the crater rim by sunrise. We continue hiking along the crater rim, and in one more hour find ourselves standing on the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak. After a short summit celebration and photo session, we start the descent back to high camp. We will pack our camp and continue descending to Mweka Camp, which is located down in the lush forests at 10,000 feet. Hiking time is approximately 12 - 14 hours. (B, L, D)
Day Ten: After a much needed night's rest the team continues the descent down through the forest, finishing our trek at the Mweka Gate. After we load up the gear, our bus takes us back to the Dik Dik Hotel to rest and celebrate. Hiking time is approximately 3 - 4 hours. (B, L, D)
Safari:
For the next four days we explore the wilds of Africa in "pop-top" Land Rovers driven by professional safari guides. The ecosystems we visit are home to herds of wildebeest, zebra, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, cape buffalo, topi and gazelles, as well as their predators like lions, cheetahs and the elusive leopards. Each day we awake to witness the spectacular African sunrise while enjoying a cup of fresh Kenyan tea or coffee, before embarking on our wildlife game drive. During our drives we may witness a lion's kill, follow a cheetah or watch a pack of hyena on the chase. On one of our days we plan to visit a Maasai village. Evenings are spent relaxing, sharing stories, or just listening to sounds of the African night in luxurious tented camps situated in the African bush.
Day Eleven: Lake Manyara National Park. After breakfast we leave the Dik Dik Hotel and drive to Lake Manyara National Park. This Park, located about 75 miles east of Arusha, sits right at the base of the Eastern Great Rift Escarpment-a truly dramatic setting! Although small compared other game reserves, this 125 square mile Park has a year round water supply that supports numerous animals. The close proximity of a variety of distinct vegetation zones is a perfect environment for viewing all sorts of animals. In the lush forests, we will see troops of baboons and blue monkeys. While traveling along the shoreline of Lake Manyara, we can see the large number of elephant, hippo and some of the 450 species of birds that call this area home. If we are lucky, we might even be able to spot a tree climbing lion. We have lunch overlooking the Lake before driving to our first safari lodge. (B, L, D)
Day Twelve: Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. Today we head for the Ngorongoro Crater. Often referred to as the "eighth wonder of the world", this is the largest unbroken and unflooded caldera in the world. It is home to more than 30,000 mammals, and offers some of the best game viewing opportunities in Tanzania. The reputation it has earned as one of the world's most unique ecosystems and premier game viewing areas is well deserved. We spend all day exploring the unforgettable crater floor before returning to our lodge. (B, L, D)
Day Thirteen: Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is home to more elephants per square mile than anywhere else in the world. This Park boasts the highest concentration of wildlife during the dry season of any area in Tanzania outside the Serengeti/Ngorongoro ecosystem. It is well known for it's river valley, wetlands, gently rolling hills, rocky outcrops, acacia woodlands and numerous baobabs (the upside down tree). We enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush before driving to our second safari camp, Kikoti Camp. This secluded luxury tented camp is located on a ridge with incredible views overlooking the Tarangire National Park. (B, L, D)
Day Fourteen: After breakfast, we reluctantly leave our stunning safari camp and drive back through Tarangire National Park as we make our way back to Arusha. En route we can stop at a local market to purchase any last minute souvenirs. We check into the Dik Dik Hotel for the afternoon, giving us plenty of time to clean up and repack our bags. After an early dinner, we are transferred to the airport for our evening flights. (B, L, D)
Day Fifteen: Continued flights and arrival to U.S.
Key: B, L, D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.