Today was our third day on Mount Kilimanjaro. We got up at 6:30am in the Shira 1 base camp,3,600m elevation, in the freezing cold.
Quickly, we packed all of our stuff and went to breakfast. The porters had already prepared delicious food like they do everyday. At around 8:30 we started our hike to Shira 2 camp.
Today, our track was about 10km and pretty flat. The sun got out very fast and all of us started taking off their fleeces. “Pole, pole” (slowly, slowly) was the motto in order to acclimatise well. We took it slow, taking breaks.
On the hike and in general, everyone got along very well. Me for example, I had many eye opening conversations with people from the other side of the world, and talked to a lot of people I had never talked to before.
Once we got to the camp, the amazing porters had already set up all of our tents and prepared lunch. Some people started to fee the altitude: headaches, nausea or lost their appetites, but the guides do their best to make us feel better. They even taught us a song about Kilimanjaro, their holy mountain. That song is the song that welcomes tourists on the mountain.
Jambo, Jambo Bwana
Habari gani?
Mzuri sana
Wageni, mwakaribishwa
Kilimanjaro, hakuna matata
It roughly translates to:
Hello, hello friend
How are you?
Very well
Visitors, welcome
Kilimanjaro, no worries
“Ubuntu” (I am, because we are) is a phrase that you can feel while hiking as well as at the camp. Everyone helps where he/ she can, to make each not feel as cold or when someone’s not feeling well.
Our hike tomorrow is going to be another 10 km with more elevation than today. I am looking forward to the hike. But for now I am going to keep warm for the cold night.
by Luise
