Entries from Kilimanjaro

We left the garden-like grounds of Barranco Camp at 8 this morning and got busy with the Barranco Wall.  There was the usual traffic jam on the tricky parts as several hundred porters and climbers took turns climbing short walls and traversing tight spots.  But we made good progress up and after two hours we popped out on top of the wall and were rewarded with a magnificent view of Kibo’s towering south face. We celebrated with tea and snacks before continuing on another couple of hours to Karanga Camp.  It was another afternoon of alternately resting and eating at camp.  We all enjoyed sunset and moonrise from this new vantage point on the mountain.

RMI Guide Dave Hahn

Today was a big one, all the way from 12,600 to 15,200.  Breaking a number of records in the process. 

We set out from Shira at 8 AM up gently rising slopes. We marched through Juniper shrubs and sage-like plants until the plants were finished near 15K.  Our high point for the day -Lava Tower- was the perfect place to take an extended lunch break. Then it was down two thousand feet, back to where the plants thrive in the Barranco Valley. We cruised through Lobelias and Senecios endemic to Kilimanjaro.  All told it was about seven hours on the trail for our gang today with 6 of the 10 climbers having shattered their previous high-altitude records.

RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team

Shira Plateau, 12,600 ft.  After a calm night at 10,000 ft, we woke to see Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s central peak, shining in the clear morning air.  Below, there was still a sea of clouds but that wasn’t bothering us.  We got walking uphill at 8 AM and started climbing up a giant stairmaster of rock through a short forest of Heather.  Before long we’d crested a ridge which we then followed in toward Kibo.  Finally, we made a turn to the west, putting our hands on rock to get up some blocky sections.  We turned a last corner and found ourselves on the Shira Plateau and we strolled into our new camp a few minutes later.  It was then an easy afternoon of resting, eating and playing games.  The team is primed to watch the sun set out beyond Mt Meru, the 15,000 ft volcano on our western horizon.

- RMI Guide Dave Hahn and Team

Day one on Kilimanjaro!  We left the comfort of Rivertrees Inn at 8 AM under cloudy skies.  The bus ride to the Machame Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park took about two hours.  It then took us fully ninety minutes to jump through the administrative hoops of completing the permitting process and getting admitted to the park. But then we were off.  Twelve climbers and fifty one local staff.  We were still under cloud cover and then sometimes in the clouds, but it never actually rained as we worked steadily uphill in the rainforest.  The team made it up 4000 vertical feet to 10K in 5 hrs and twenty minutes. All were happy to come into a fully built camp and to take tea and dinner in a spacious dining tent. Tomorrow is another big day, perhaps we’ll even get to see the mountain.

- RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team

As promised, we got to work today, packing and prepping for Mount Kilimanjaro.  After a great breakfast at Rivertrees Inn, sitting outside under cloudy skies, our team of 12 got to know each other a little while we discussed the climb and how to get ready for it.  Next came a gear check to ensure that climbers weren’t bringing either too much or too little on our week-long expedition.  Folks then used the afternoon to get packs and duffels ready. 

We enjoyed a great dinner together, received the last missing bits of luggage from the airlines and then turned in, ready to get on the bus tomorrow and get walking. 

Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
 

Our Kilimanjaro climb began taking shape today. The entire twelve person team assembled -as scheduled- in Usa River, Tanzania at the Rivertrees Inn. Not all of the luggage followed the team to the assembly point, but we’re optimistic for tomorrow. Tomorrow is when we’ll get serious about planning and packing for the mountain, tonight it was enough to get together in one place. First priority now is sleep after the gargantuan transcontinental flights that got us here. 

Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn

Hello everyone,

Today we headed to Tarangire National Park know for its abundant animals and plentiful elephants, and it did not disappoint. Not sure how many elephants we saw, probably several hundred at the least. It wouldn’t seem like we could get tired of seeing elephants, but there were so many that eventually we had to keep driving so we could see other animals.

There were lots of giraffes, impalas, zebras, wildebeest and many others. 

One of the highlights was seeing a Cheetah in the distance relaxing in the shade.

We are spending our last night here in Africa at Nyikani Camp, which has beautiful tented rooms with screen windows to allow the sounds of the African night in. If you’ve ever heard of glamping, that’s what we are doing.

Everyone is doing great and hoping to see a few more big cats on our way out tomorrow. Then it will be back to our main lodge near Arusha for a quick shower before catching our evening flights home.

I’ve asked the team to come up with just word the best sums up their experience, and here are our answers.

Camaraderie 

Perseverance

Enrichment

Humbling

precision

Blessed

Enlightening

Wild

Spectacular

Inspiring

Come join us for an adventure sometime!

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the safari crew

Safari Day 2

Today we visited the famous Ngorongoro Crater, considered by some to be the 8th wonder of the world. The crater is roughly100 square miles and is home to roughly 30,000 mammals that have taken up residence. We hit the road early with hopes of catching a few of the big cats before the heat of the day sent them in search of shade.

There were many sightings today of hyenas, jackles, ostrich, and countless other birds. We manage to see quite a few lions including one large male up close.

The team also managed to see four Black Rhinos.

We have just finished another wonderful meal here at the Plantation Lodge and the team is off to bed after a long, but very rewarding day on safari.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the safari crew

Close encounters of an Elephant-kind

Our first day on safari brought us to Lake Manyara National Park. The team spent about four hours driving around the park on a “game drive” where we saw hundreds of baboons, Vervet monkeys, Blue monkeys and lots of exotic birds, Impalas, hippos and elephants so close we could have touched them. Nothing dangerous, but wow was it surreal to see these massive mammals up close.

Everyone had a great day and enjoyed just relaxing while taking in the views.

We are currently staying at the beautiful Plantation Lodge just outside Karatu.

The team just finished a wonderful meal and are off to bed as we are headed out early tomorrow hoping to see some big cats!

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Safari crew!

Today we started our day at 6:30 refreshed after a much needed nights sleep, we had breakfast, then hit the trail one last time. It took just under 3 hours to reach the park gate where the team had lunch and said our final goodbyes to our amazing crew that took such great care of us on the mountain. 

We finished the little celebration by handing out their well deserved tips and then hopped aboard our awaiting bus for the ride back to the lodge. 

Finally we are all safe and sound, cleaner, and smelling fresh after an exciting 7 day journey up and down Kilimanjaro. 
Stayed tuned, Safari starts tomorrow!

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew