August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 22, 2009

August 22nd - Group departs US to arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport on August 23rd.

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 24, 2009

Dispatch 1 - Day Getting Ready

Jambo (hello) from Tanzania!

All is well here at the Dik Dik Hotel, outside of the city of Arusha. We are nestled below Mt. Meru among banana trees and other flora filled with exotic birds and swinging Ververt monkeys. Today was a peaceful day as we recovered from the long flights - we are seven hours ahead of the east coast in the US. We did manage to have a great breakfast and team meeting marking the start of our Kilimanjaro trek and safari! Before heading onto any mountain, it is crucial to have all the necessary clothing and gear items in place to make the journey as safe and enjoyable as possible. After gear check we had a great three-course lunch that filled our bellies for the tour of downtown Arusha. Arusha is the fifth largest city in Tanzania and at the epi center of every city and town here lies a local market, where vendors sell their goods. The smells and odors engulfed the group as we weaved in and out of fresh vegetables and fruit, dodged folks carrying bushells of onions on their heads, and gazed at the piles of dried fish stacked and ready for sale. This was a little different than the supermarkets at home and even the local farmer markets we may get to go to in our own towns! Tonight we finish making any last minute adjustments to our packs and relax the evening away.

Tomorrow we begin our trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro! Stay tuned for more!

Trivia: How did Tanzania get it's name? Which part of Africa is it located?

Talk to you all soon,

Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 25, 2009

Jambo (hello) to all - and a special mambo (what's up?) to the students at Good Sheppard!

Our team is doing well here at Machame Camp - nearly 10,000 feet on Kilimanjaro. We are all excited to have started this trek of a life time up Africa's highest peak. The neat part of climbing the world's highest free-standing volcano is that you experience all of the ecological zones the earth has to offer.

Much of today's hike was through Kilimanjaro's cloud forest. As we treked through the light mist of the clouds we enjoyed unique flora, like the vibrant orange and yellow flower only found here, the Impatiens Kilimanjari. Currently our camp is set in the third ecological zone, the Heath and Moorland zone, just above the cloud forest.

Now it's off to dinner for a fantastic meal prepared by our chef, Francis and the Dik Dik crew. Tomorrow we continue our trek up ancient lava flows...stay tuned!

Trivia: Name the five ecological zones you experience on Kilimanjaro?

Talk to you all soon! Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 26, 2009

Jambo from Shira camp (12,400')!

Our team is doing very well after an exciting day trekking higher on Kili. We are now relaxing in camp amidst the spectacular landscape of the moorland zone. As the giant heathers became smaller, incredible senecios, lobelias, and the tough-as-nails Everlasting flowers began to take over the landscape.

Our move to Shira camp had a welcomed intermission with a sitdown lunch. We feasted on cold cuts, steak, tomato and cucumber salad, with bread, pasta salad, and of course tea and coffee. Now that is fuel for the mountain!

The shira plateau, on which we are camped, was created from lava flows erupting from Kibo peak (the highest peak of Kili). Obsidian rock catches our eye all around camp, albeit dusty, and reminds us of the rapid solidification of the lava that occurred here nearly a half a million years ago.

From camp, looking west we see the caldera and reminents of Kili's Shira peak. Turning to our right and looking northeast, Kibo's huge rock faces and glaciers protrude through the clouds.

We are looking forward to another great night and of course the adventure of tomorrow.

Trivia: Who was the first person to climb kilimanjaro? Where were they from?

Talk to you all soon!

Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 27, 2009

Jambo!

All is salama (fine) and nzuri (good) here at Barranco camp.

Our third day out on Kili proved to be one of the more visually impressive days thus far. The morning was perfectly clear revealing Mt. Meru, the Shira caldera, and Kibo. Hiking due northeast up the Shira plateau the incredible geological and glacial features of Kibo peak grew near.

For many in our team, during the third stretch of our move today became a new high point, 14,900' - way to go! At that point we were standing on a massive lava flow just below a huge landmark called Lava Tower. From this point we began descending to camp.

As we hiked downhill towards our destination we left the alpine desert zone and re-entered the moorland zone. This part of Kilimanjaro hosts many varieties of the senecio plant. Did you know that it takes a giant senecio approximately 25 years to flower!? Once they flower, a new branch begins to grow and the process starts again. We saw many with several flowering branches - almost 200 years old and older!

We are excited and tired after a great day. Our camp is nestled below the steep southern face of the Breach Wall and the less imposing, but still impressive Barranco Wall. A little tea, a hearty meal, and some R&R will ready us for tomorrow.

Trivia: Who were the first two alpinists to climb Kilimanjaro's Breach Wall?

Talk to you all soon!

Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 28, 2009

Jambo!

Hope all at home and the students at Good Shepherd School are doing well!

This has been a trip full of celebrations for our team. Tonight marks the third (and final) high altitude birthday party! First for Shannon, then Janet, and today Joe...that's a lot of cake! And today is a double whammy, because finally...finally...Shannon and Laura Lynn have their luggage! The Dik Dik crew rocked getting the bags up to our new camp and in time for a great spaghetti lunch. The team also appreciates the new clean look for the ladies ;)

Our team is trekking along just great, tackling the altitude and terrain with style! The first stretch had us negotiate the Barranco Wall smoothly as porters skipped by us with loads balanced upon their heads. Once on top of the Barranco Wall we traversed further to the northeast on our way to the Karanga Valley, where our camp is located just above. Most of today's journey kept us higher in the alpine desert / upper moorland zone.

Now we are relaxing with yet another peaceful afternoon to further acclimatize for our summit attempt in two days. As long as the ravens don't fly away with our duffle bags, we'll be salama!

Trivia: What type of volcano is Kilimanjaro?

Talk to you all soon!

Dave and the Kili Krazies

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 29, 2009

Jambo!

Our team is all well here at Barafu Camp, high camp for our attempt to summit Kilimanjaro. Our tents are tucked into a series of small platforms in a wind protected part of the ridge. Clouds move quietly just overhead with periods of sunshine and blue sky.

The move from Karanga Camp up to high camp is short - three hours of walking - but can be challenging given the jump in altitude. But our team styled it and are now resting peacefully at 15,150'!

This afternoon will be occupied with lots of rest, a great lunch, and preparation for the summit push. It is hard to rest in your tent when you are surrounded by amazing scenery, but we'll try.

We are looking forward to a safe, challenging, and enjoyable trek to Uhuru Peak tomorrow morning. No matter what our high point is, it has been an incredible adventure on Africa's highest mountain.

We'll hopefully call you tomorrow morning (our time) while standing on top of 'The Roof of Africa.'

Trivia: How badly do we want a hot shower?

Talk to you all soon!

Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 30, 2009 - Summit!

(Message from 8/29/09 10:45 p.m. PST / 8/30/09 8:45 a.m. Kilimanjaro Time)

Hey everyone. This is Dave on top of Kilimanjaro with our crew. We're all doing really well. It's pretty much calm, clear, and beautiful. I don't think it can get any better than this up here on the summit. The crew climbed great today. We're excited to be heading down. Just want to say thank you to all of our friends and family for following the dispatches and for thoughts and prayers. We really appreciate it. We'll be in touch once we descend off of the Roof of Africa!

Take care

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 30, 2009

Jambo from a happy, tired crew!

We are safely down at Mweka Camp after an incredible day on Kilimanjaro. It's hard to believe, as we munch on fresh popcorn, sip coffee, and play cards, just this morning we stood on the Roof of Africa. Congratulations to our team on a job well done.

As we rose from our slumber late Saturday night, the clouds disappeared revealing Kilimanjaro's Kibo Peak in all its massive glory. Under starry skies we scarfed down 'breakfast,' packed up our packs with all the essentials and headed out for a 'liesurely' stroll up one of the seven summits.

What many believe to be just a hike, attaining Kili's Uhuru Peak is anything but 'liesurely'. A true test of both physical endurance and mental toughness, even for those with mountaineering experience. Our crew accepted this challenge and achieved our goal in style!

As we trekked higher into thinner air, our attention was caught by a magnificent sunrise accentuating the jagged spires of Mawenzi off to the east. A windless, clear morning ushered us to Stella Point, the low side of Kibo's Crater. From here we slowly made our way west towards Uhuru, which means freedom in Swahili. Once Tanzania gained full independence from the British in the early 60s, a national climbing expedition renamed the high point after a successful summit.

Leaving the crater on our descent we were fortunate to have the clouds stay low, which made for great views. Back at high camp, we unwillingly, but responsibly, passed up naps so as to continue the descent to our current camp in the thick air of 10,000'.

We are all looking forward to another great meal tonight and even more for those hot showers tomorrow! As we leave the slopes of Kilimanjaro our bodies and souls are filled with countless stories, photos, and new friendships.

Trivia: Of Kili's three vents (kibo, shira, mawenzi) which one was the second to become dormant of volcanic activity?

Talk to you all soon!

Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

August 31, 2009

Jambo!!

Our team is doing well now that we all have had our showers! This morning our well rested bodies fueled up with french toast, fruit, and the ever present coffee and tea! Our local team of guides, cooks, camp crew, and porters treated us to a local song and dance praising Kilimanjaro.

The last section of the hike out brought us through the cloud forest once again. Giant tree ferns, large concentrations of Impatiens Kilimanjariss, and thick vegetation made for a scenic few hours. Some were fortunate to see a troop of Colobus monkeys high up near the canopy of the forest!

A wonderful celebratory meal of fondu awaits as we conclude this portion of the trip. Thank you for all who followed Janet, Alan, LauraLynn, Shannon, Greg, Brian, Joe, Brad, Melissa, and Dan's adventure on Kilimanjaro!

Stay tuned for part II, the safari...

Trivia: How did Kilimanjaro get it's name?

Talk to you all soon,

Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

September 1, 2009

Jambo from the beautiful Plantation Lodge!

As we parted ways from Greg, Brian, and Dan this morning (they had enough of us) eight of us piled in the Land Cruisers and headed west. Our travels brought us to a more rural part of Tanzania where several National Parks and Conservation Areas lie.

Our first stop was Lake Manyara National Park (LMNP). Just around 330 square kilometers, LMNP is one of the smaller parks, but this time of year there is a higher concentration of animals in the park. We were not disappointed! From baboons to giraffe our morning was full of excitement. As we hung out the roof tops for maximum viewing, we witnessed a pride of lions, an allusive species in this particular park.

Our evening was spent exploring the incredible features of the Plantation Lodge from the gardens to the wine cellar complete with a glass ceiling revealing the bar above. Laughs and stories were shared over dinner before retiring to our quarters. Rest is needed for the adventures tomorrow in the Ngorongoro Crater ...stay tuned!

Trivia: Why are there more animals thoughout Lake Manyara National Park during this time of year?

Talk to you all soon!

Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

September 2, 2009

Jambo!

There are very few places in the world that can leave one speechless. Ngorongoro Crater is one such place. Imagine taking a place like Crater Lake in Oregon or Lake Tahoe in California, draining it, fill it with diverse habitats, like marshes, woods, and plains and then fill it with 25,000 animals of hundreds of different species...whew.

As we descened 1500' to the floor of the world's largest caldera, we began to feel the pulse of life all around us. The crater floor hosts many permanent animals and many migratory species. The highlight was to see one of the rare black rhinos and multiple prides of lion.

It was beautiful sunny day high above the crater floor. Another great lunch was served as hippos lounged submerged close by. A satisfied group elected to begin the drive out and visit a local Maasai village. It is not every day you can witness a culture still following certain traditions practiced for hundreds of years. But there are glimpses of western influence as the chief pulls from underneath his bright red traditional cloak a cell phone - so we can call him the next time we stop by.

Another great day game viewing, experiencing the incredible culture, and of the relaxing ambience of the Plantation Lodge.

Trivia: How many pounds of food does an adult elephant consume everyday!?

Talk to you all soon!

Dave and crew

* Due to poor satellite connection dispatches from 8/31 to 9/2 arrived on 9/2/09.

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

September 3, 2009

Jambo from Kikoti Camp!

What a day in Tarangire National Park! After somewhat reluctantly leaving the beautiful Plantation Lodge we headed south for another day of game viewing. But first we had to test our bargaining skills at a local shop on the way.

Team bargaining expert, Janet, made headway on several blankets with her husband, Al, demonstrating the fortitude of the family. All the while team McQueen showed there muscle as Shannon and LauraLynn proved you don't mess with the gals from D.C. Joe layed low, praticing his Swahili with local school children until they ran away in fear of twenty more questions instead of pencils or candy. We're sure those guys are still wondering what hit their store this morning.

The day continued to get hot and sunny, so we stopped to find shade and indulge with yet another grilled lunch in the bush. With zebra munching away at their own snack, we enjoyed the scenery, company, and cuisine. As we headed further into the park more and more animals showed their face. Still missing the allusive leopard to complete our 'big 5' our eyes were steady on the surrounding landscape. Then...a family of giraffes. But wait! Two lions come creeping on by...definitely intent with finding dinner, but thankfully not a giraffe steak. Soon after we are cruising further and come up on a group of impala antelope. Something seems unusual with them...is it us..."look to your right!" our safari driver Michael says quitely but with excitement. We see about 50 yards away a leopard making his way to its favorite tree perch. Our driver hits the gas and we charge towards the tree eager to get a closer look...we opted on leaving the steel cage behind, so we sat vulnerable in our Land Cruiser with only DEET spray for defense. But what a view of this adult leopard laying in the tree not more than 20 feet away. Breathtaking!

So now we are about to head out for an evening sunset and cocktail from a view point close to our lodge. This will help take our minds off the fact this is our last night in Africa. What a trip it has been and we are all excited to share our pictures, stories, and video with friends and family.

Trivia: What 4 animals, with the leopard, make up Africa's big 5?

Talk to you all soon,

Dave and crew

August 22 - September 5, 2009
Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Lead Guide: Dave Conlan

September 4, 2009

Our group is well and making last preparations for our long journey home to family and friends. As we made our way back to the Arusha region a few hours were spent game viewing in Tarangire National Park. A cooler, overcast morning made for enjoyable viewing conditions. We saw plenty more elephant and zebra and stopped to observe two lion lounging in the tall grass below an acacia tree.

After a couple stops to further fill our luggage with trinkets and memorabilia, we headed for our base this entire trip, the Dik Dik hotel. Some of us stopped on the way and visited Kaaya, a local with a huge heart and passion to help those in need. A safari guide turned entrepreneur, he started and runs the orphanage and Peace Matunda School. It is amazing to see the good Peace Matunda does for the local community. Check out there mission at Peace Matunda School

Now a full moon will sit brightly over Tanzania as we pile into our jet to take us home. In just a few hours (more like 30 something) we will be transported from this beautiful culture, people, and country back to our own beautiful culture, people, and country. Many new memories, souvenirs, and friendships will be brought home with us to share.

Thanks to all who followed our journey in Tanzania climbing Kilimanjaro and witnessing all this land has to offer!

Trivia: Out of the 40 or so speecies of antelope, which one is the smallest? Largest?

Talk to you all soon,

Dave and crew