Day 3 - Day 1 OF THE CLIMB!! - 23rd August

The Kilimanjaro National Park sign!

Jambo! Today we began our ascent of Kilimanjaro!!! We arrived at Machame Gate and then checked in and waited a while, and then we got a lovely lunch of sandwiches, soup, chicken and muffins! It was funny because while we waited for our lunch we saw one of the cheeky monkeys steal 2 muffins from our table! Which we thought was cute but I imagine it was probably not too appreciated by the chef!

Us at the 'Starting Point' sign!!
(Photo courtesy of Rory Orrell)

We then had a long wait while the guides organised all the stuff they were carrying - so naturally we took a lot of pictures with the Kilimanjaro National Park sign, so people definitely knew we were here! After lots of pictures we finally set off at about 1.30pm (to then stop again, and take another picture with another sign!) - which was important though, it was the starting point, and everything starts somewhere so it's best to get a picture of it!

George, Paul (one of our guides!)
and Simon

It was such beautiful scenery setting off through the rainforest, we saw some black and white Colobus monkeys jumping through the trees, it was bizarre because they just looked like skunks jumping around - which is kind of crazy! All the trees and vines were amazing - I just had to keep reminding myself to LOOK UP!! I just kept staring at where I was putting my trekking poles - which was really annoying!

We were all excited to see the "toilets" along the route (a.k.a. a hole in the floor in a hut!) Just for some shelter to pee in! Slightly more luxurious than squatting behind a bush!

We walked very 'pole pole' (slowly, slowly) because of my rubbish joints, so had some time to talk to the guides - we met Dennis, Paul, Ronald and Nixon - who are all amazing people. They've climbed the mountain hundreds of times and it's just so interesting to talk to them!! The strength they must all have is insane!

I learnt how to say 'my name is Molly' - Nina Etwa Molly (probably not spelt like that, but kinda pronounced like that!) and also to say 'Boa' when someone says 'Mambo?' - it's kind of the colloquial way to say 'how are you?' and Boa is 'good'.

The views along the walk were so beautiful (which I know I've already said, but THEY WERE!) especially as we looked back at where we'd been, at all the trees and just how far we'd already come! As we approached camp, the scenery gradually changed to desert terrain/scrubland - And it was equally as beautiful and I look forward to seeing more tomorrow!

It was so exciting to finally see camp after about 5 hours trekking and to get our tents! (I get to share with Simon, yey!) Then we went for another delicious meal - the soup was SO GOOD!! And I even ate battered fish!!! (which is saying something, cause I don't like battered fish...)

Now we've settled down in our sleeping bags before another early start again tomorrow! So, La La Salama!!!!