Tired limbs but spirits high. My Kilimanjaro climb in Tanzania, the highest mountain of continent Africa.
I had been trekking for three days. Without any acclimatization rest day. And without taking diamox. Challenging my physical limits.
Then came the most anxious moments of my climb. I was walking for the last seven hours, arrived at Kibo Hut base camp. Got served my dinner at 5 pm in evening as I had to get up at 10.30 pm, after few hours rest, to get ready for my final ascend at midnight.
Why to climb at midnight? Two reasons. First, to reach at the top of Mt Kilimanjaro to witness the magical sunrise after a climb of around 6 hrs. Second, freezing temperature of night settles the loose scree that facilitates climbers to ascend on steep trail.
I layered my body in multiple warm layers from head to toe, to combat the extreme cold temperature of night, outside. I started my climb at 11 pm from Kibo Hut. With my headlamp on, I followed my guide, step to step, in stark darkness. Just a round ball of light was all that I was clutching to figure out my trail. A slight miss and I would have gone rolling down the mountain, losing my limb or even my life. With my meditative focus on each step I was taking, I inched forward to my destination.
Climb got tougher at 18000 ft onward elevation with minuscule oxygen to breathe in. Even frequent deep breathing was not of much help for my pounding heart. I kept moving very slowly with little pauses in between. I had no idea how much distance I had covered. This I realized when I felt the darkness of night fading a bit. I knew this was dawn. I was so thrilled then. And my guide told me that I was just an hour away from Giliman Point, the top of Mt Kilimanjaro.
But my excitement disappeared suddenly as I felt acute cramps in my stomach. I stopped, sat on a boulder. I was carrying general medicines. I took relevant medicine with hot water I was carrying in flask. Felt little good and paced forward but my stomach reacted weirdly now. I had no idea what happened. I could not move. I was sad thinking I was so close and I was not able to climb further. It appeared I had to be taken back to base camp for medical attention. I am a spiritual person and I believe in invisible force that controls this universe. I always talk to that almighty force when I am sad and have no answers. I conveyed my anguish saying, “I never failed in any endeavors in my life. You always created miracles for me. But this time if you want me to fail I will accept your will with all humility and go back” I told Julius, my guide, to wait for sometime and if my stomach problem did not subside than I will go back. In next few minutes it was a miracle I was experiencing. I felt better and fit enough to move. I was ecstatic, almost shouted in joy.
After further climb of around an hour, the much awaited moment of stepping at Mt Kilimanjaro, arrived in my life. I beamed as I read the glorious words ‘Mount Kilimanjaro’ on a signboard. I had accomplished my feat. I was supremely happy while paying my gratitude to the supreme force that gave me enough strength to live my dream.
But my camera crashed. I lost all my video footage. Only few still photographs taken in separate device could be saved which I used in blog posts and slides video as below.
To know details, read the whole series:
My Kilimanjaro Climb-Green Oasis
My Kilimanjaro Climb-Exotic Moorland
My Kilimanjaro Climb-Alpine Desert
Wow!!! I am absolutely in awe of this amazing feat yiu accomplished! What an amazing and wonderful experience you have been able to do…
Amazing feat for me, indeed.
What a tremendous achievement! Congrats to you for making a dream come true.
Thank you.
It’s so exciting that you made it and your cramping dissipated. God is good! My friend climbed it, too, and it sounds incredible!
Incredible truly.
It looks like a dream to me! I want to visit Kilimanjaro badly. Alas it’s still of my budget
You can do it.
Oh wow. What an achievement. Im so glad that you’re stomach pains went away and you were able to make it to the top. That is something that I would love to do one day.
Achievement beyond words.
I never imagine accomplishing a difficult feat like trekking on a mountain, let alone the tallest mountain in Africa. But one thing for sure, you had a fantastic experience you’ll remember and talk about the rest of your life.
Absolutely so. Achievement to cherish for life.
Wow. That is such an achievement. You must feel so proud and rightly so too! So pleased you were able to accomplish your dream. A very well done
Very proud indeed. Thank you.
That’s quite the accomplishment! I am not sure I’m even capable of such a feat… buyt KUDOS to You!
Thank you Erica.
Congratulations on such an amazing accomplishment! I’m not much of an outdoors person but this sounds fun.
Thank you. Yes this is fun with adventure.
What a dream! A bucket list item for sure. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds so terrific and terrifying at the same time..I am sure you must have had a ton of fun..such a big achievement!
Terrific indeed.
Wow, what an absolutely amazing accomplishment! It must have been such a truly incredible experience.
Incredible experience truly.
You are such adventurous girl. Congratulations on your hard earn achievement and way to go.
Thank you.
Congratulations on such amazing accomplishment, you are truly an inspiration. It is so nice to know your experience, nothing is easy and that sense of victory just makes you forget all the hardships 🙂
Thank you Preet. Yes feeling of victory is beyond words.
Congratulations that is a huge achievement!!! That is such a fantastic experience. You really did a great job.
Thank you Shubhada.
Congratulations this is huge wow you rock job well done.
Thank you.
Not only to be able to experience being in Tanzania but to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. What a true adventure. Love this!
Thank you.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a huge feat to accomplish. I don’t think I would be able to do that at all.
Just a combo of physical fitness and strong will, rest all falls in place. So you can certainly do so.
What an incredible achievement and clearly a truly exhilarating experience. One that you’ll never forget, I’m sure. And I bet it is an adventure you’d relive in a heartbeat!
Absolutely so. I relive this experience endless times in my heart.
Oh wow. What a dream. I admire you so much for this. The hard work that goes into even considering taking on Kilimanjaro must be immense! Well done, and thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you Liz.
Wow congratulations on achieving such a beautiful mountain! Great job!
Thank you.