Kilimanjaro Part 2b

August 21, 2009 (Day 1 on the mountain)

Continued...

About 4 hours through misty, misty jungle terrain. Big trees, ferns. All the while waiting for the gorillas to come out of the mist, or elves or fairies or orcs. It’s a surreal place, my first time in an equatorial jungle, and in the mist an almost silent place except for occasional bird calls and monkey calls. After a pretty, 4 hour easy walk, we get to our first camp, Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree Camp), named for the big tree in the middle. The big tree that is currently occupied by Black and White Colobus Monkeys that obligingly put on a branch jumping show as we walk into camp.

Everything gets set up. We are all in a three man tent. A tight three man tent. Which we will appreciate in higher colder altitudes, but our first night is a battle of where the hell do we put all our gear. We learn. By night 2, most of what can fit outside is outside. Then we go to the dining tent for dinner. Yes, we have a dining tent. This is camping, but we should be civilized after all. We have 2 chefs on this adventure, Isaya and Wenceslaus, and a waiter, Irasto. The best food we eat in Africa will be on the mountain.

Tonight is cold, we are still wrapped in mist, and have been invited in to dinner. But we don’t have any idea what to expect. Soup appears. We think this is dinner. We all have healthy portions and are ready to head out when our waiter informs us more is coming. Then chicken, and incredible veggie sauce and fresh vegetables show up. As we are finishing round two, fresh fruit and avocado appear for dessert. What we will learn is that virtually every meal on the mountain will be three courses, including breakfast. We will not starve or die of spoon disease (what our African friends accuse women who are too skinny of having—spoon disease). We get comfortable and spend a sleepless first night on the mountain listening to monkeys overhead.

Altitude covered today:

Lemosho trailhead 6890 ft.

Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree Camp) 8695 ft.

Photos: Lisa, Anita, and Amy at the trailhead to Lemosho. Heading up the trail.