KILIMANJARO day 4

Pausing for breath on the climb to the 4550-metre ridge in the background.  On what is to be a short day, the ridge crest will be the highest point, before a descent to Horombo campsite - at a mere 3700 metres - gives our rather weary bodies a chance to recuperate at the lower altitude.

Atop the ridge, posing shamelessly, leaning heavily on my trekking poles and trying hard to breathe.

Etsuko watches clouds forming on Kibo as porters overtake, heading for the next camp.

Mawenzi forms a backdrop to the barren moonscape of the 'saddle'; the high-altitude plain that lies between Mawenzi and Kibo.

Refuelling.

Civilisation!  Porters stumble the final few yards into the busiest camp on the mountain at Horombo.  Here, there are facilities undreamt of on the Kenyan side of the mountain we've travelled from: toilets you can sit on (just on the porcelain rim, mind, as there are no toilet seats); sinks with taps that dribble glacier water; a mobile phone signal (intermittent, only functioning in high winds outside the tent at 3am); green plants; thick air.  What excitement!  The Tanzanian town of Moshi lies out of sight below the clouds, but we know there are burgers down there!  And showers!

For easily the best written guide to Kilimanjaro:



Kilimanjaro DAY 5

Thankyou to Team Kilimanjaro , the very friendly, knowledgeable and efficient company that arranged our trek.  They have the best guides on the mountain.