‘THE DREAM TEAM’ - ‘DID IT’
Kilimanjaro climb for Charity
by Champak Mistry
Namaste All
I am the Secretary of SPA (UK) Loughborough Branch and
below is my account of my challenge with my 3 brothers-in-
law and banevi that we endured in Nairobi and Tanzania in
September 2017.
11 years ago, I travelled to the Andes in Peru and then onto
Machu Picchu at the age of 40, and then 4 years ago with
companion Jasuben (Sandesh Editor now) from London we
successfully completed The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge in
wet and slippery weather conditions. I have also on several
occasions climbed Snowdon.
My 3 brothers-in-laws; Balubhai and Navinbhai from Rugby,
Kishorbhai from New Zealand (ex-Rugby), Arvind banevi
from Hull and I decided to take up the challenge to climb the
highest mountain in Africa - Kilimanjaro.
We started our trek at 1,850m (6,000ft). To begin with we
walked at “POLE- POLE” pace pronounced (POLAY POLAY)
in Swahili meaning SLOWLY SLOWLY as instructed by our
main guide Martin. We walked for 4 hours (4km) through
the forest trails to our first campsite MTI MKUBWA CAMP at
elevation of 2,650m (8,100ft).
Day 5 - After breakfast we continued our climb. The trail
gradually steepened and entered the giant heather moorland
zone. After several stream crossings we continued over the
Shira Ridge pass to reach the SHIRA 1 CAMP at 3,610m and
Our trip was 2-fold; firstly, to climb Kilimanjaro and secondly onto the SHIRA 2 CAMP at elevation of 3,850m (12,600ft)
to accompany my 3 brothers-in-law from Rugby to visit where we finally arrived after walking for 13 hours (24km).
Nairobi, Kenya where they were born. It has been 50 years
since they left their birthplace, so we decided to revisit to
trace back their memories of Africa and meet up with the
Shah family they have not seen since leaving Kenya in 1967.
Day 6 - From Shira Plateau we continued our journey
Eastwards up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak
of KIBO (one of the highest peaks). The next part of the
journey entailed walking through the Alpine Desert towards
Day 1 & 2 - We arrived in Nairobi and began to familiarise the ‘LAVA TOWER’ at an elevation of 4,600m (15,250ft).
ourselves with the locals. We visited the Westland area We then passed the ARROW GLACIER and headed down
where the majority of the Hindu community lived. We met up to BARANCO CAMP at elevation of 3,900m (12,675ft) after
with the Shah family which gave us the opportunity to bring walking for 6 hours (10km). We came back to this level to
back the memories of the old times in Nairobi. acclimatise our bodies to prepare for the summit day.
Day 3 - We took a long bus journey from Nairobi to Arusha Day 7 - After breakfast we continued on a steep ridge up
and then onto Moshi to our Kilimanjaro Cran e hotel. On the Baranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and to the junction
route we crossed the border from Kenya into Tanzania and which connects with the Mweka Trail. Again, walking through
captured the views and sites of the barren countryside, Alpine Desert zone, we marched onto KARANGA CAMP at
passing the Masai Mara tribes with their herds. We also saw 3,995m (13,070ft) after walking for 4 hours (6km).
elephants, giraffes and wilder beasts in their natural habitat.
Day 8 - After a freezing night in our tents we woke up to
Day 4 - After meeting our 3 main guides, Martin, Patrick and frosty ground. We started our climb to the next camp
Leonard, 25 crew members, including the porters and cooks, completing the South Circuit which offered views of the
we left the hotel to travel to Londorosi Gate at an elevation summit from different angles. We eventually arrived at
of 2,250m in the Kilimanjaro National Park. The whole team BARAFU CAMP at 4,673m (15,280ft) after walking for 4
welcomed us by singing a local Kilimanjaro song. We all hours (4km). We settled down, rested, enjoyed our dinner
danced before starting the epic Lemosho trek. and prepared ourselves for the summit day.
“JAMBO JAMBO BWANA HABARIGANI MZURI SANA WAGENI Day 9 - Despite my oxygen level of only 53% we began our
MWAKARIBISHWA KILIMANJARO HAKUNA MATATA” final climb to the summit at 5am between the REBMANN
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vol. 42 | Prajapati Sandesh 2017