mount kilimanjaro: Mt Kilimanjaro [15/12/07]

In the morning, we took a Landrover to Kilimanjaro National Park to begin our hike. The road was bumpy beyond description. We stopped at the Ranger Station to register before continuing our journey to the starting point of our hike. Halfway during our journey, the Landrover got stuck in the mud (result of a heavy downpour the day before). So aik keong and I got down with our guides to help push the vehicle out of the mud. And as the Landrover freed itself from the mud, the rotating wheels sent huge chunks of mud raining down on us. Bummer… what a muddy start.

That's Tien acting studious early in the morning. =P

Our Land-rover

View of Mt Kilimanjaro from the highway

Not exactly a very comfy ride i would say

After what seemed like ages, we finally arrived at the Ranger Station to register our hike and to meet the rest of the hiking support crew.

The entrance of Mt Kilimanjaro

Points to remember!

Our porters. They guy in light blue is our head guide Happyson.

After registering and some preparation on the part of the porters, we were on our journey again to the starting point of the hike. I remembered that the road was really muddy and there were times when the landrover seemed to be out of control in the mud. But thank God that the driver was really skillful to always get the vehicle on track instead of sliding uncontrollably on the slippery terrain. At the start point, an inventory check was performed.

Can you spot the mud stains on me?

It was a relatively short hike through the rainforest to the first campsite. It did get a bit boring at times due to the fact that we were beneath the canopies of the lush rainforest vegetation and there weren't that much of a view at such low altitude covered by the greens. FInally we did reached the first campsite (which i've forgotten what was the name)