Camelot Kilimanjaro Community Challenge

London to Addis Ababa

Wednesday 6 June

We successfully all met up at the airport, said our good byes, met Darren the Discover Adventure Tour Leader and Katy our trip doctor. We even managed to get all the gifts for the school on the plane!

Addis Abbaba - Kilimanjaro International Airport - Moshi

Thursday 7 June, 5.30pm (3.30pm UK)

We have arrived!

We saw the top of Kilimanjaro from the plane and all scared ourselves looking at it above the clouds!

We are staying in Ameg Lodge: it is lovely, individual little bungalows, a swimming pool, and a fitness centre!  After a light lunch half the group lounged by the pool, Mike P went to the gym (!)  while the rest of us went into Moshi to have a look around. We got totatally swamped by local sellers trying to sell us flip flops, bracelets, and paintings on banana leaves. 

It's warm, but now clouding over, and it's getting dark already.

Tonight we find out about what parts of the community project we will visit tomorrow, and what work we will be doing at the school, exciting!

Moshi, Light in Africa Project

Friday 8 June

We have just finished the first day of our community project work. It was brilliant! We split into two groups and half of us spent the morning at the building site, the other half at the orphanage, then we swapped over.

Light in Aftrica is plannnig to build a whole village of houses for the children, so they can live in a safe environment in small "family units". We are her at the very beginning: making bricks! At the building site we began making the bricks: shovelling, mixing the cement, putting the cement into the brick machine to make each individual brick, bashing each brick into place, then the last job of carrying each brick (over 20 kilos!) to dry in the sun. Hard work, especially in the heat!

Meanwhile another team brought up water from the river in a bucket, which involved a lot team work..."stop, stop, start....stop, stop, left a bit, right a bit, that's it, nice and slow, tighter, GO FOR IT! Which soon degenerated into far too many double entendres!

At the orphanage it was the last day of term, so all the younger children had come over to the older kids orphanage for a day of sports and games, which we all joined in. The children were amazing, so friendly and really nice to each other, they loved our camers, and wearing our hats and sunglasses. Quite an emotional day seeing how little they had, but how happy and kind the children were. In the afternoon we had a huge water fight - kids against the adults - great fun!

Tonight we dined at an Indian restaurant - exhausted after a day's manual labour, but happy to have made a good start on our work. 

Moshi, Light in Africa project

Saturday 9 June

Today was the second day of our project, and we managed to increase our brick production by over 100% What a team! We also managed to finish marking the boundary of the site, plotted the centre of the site using Roman methods (!), brought up many more litres of water, and varnished the benches!

At the orphange a two serious games of football were had, we lost badly both times. Gordon brought the children colouring crayons and pencils which they loved, so we spent the afternoon drawing pictures and playing.

At the end of the day we all piled into the minibus for one last visit: to the baby unit of the orphanage, an emotional end to the day. The babies were well looked after, but the stories of how they were found and rescued were very sad.

Tonight we had our pre-trek briefing back at the hotel, everyone is half excited and half apprehensive for tomorrow. We are a stong team already so hopes are high for a successful climb, taking each day as it comes and reaching the summit slowly but surely.

Machame route

Sunday 10 June 

Today we started the climb!  We walked for 6 hours in total through the rainforest with our local guide, Alex.  It went well and the group stuck together throughout, spurring each other on.  We played an epic game of 'I spy' which lasted for 4 hours!  Must be a new world record! 

We set up camp at 3000m and had some lovely food prepared for us, which was much needed! This was the first time some of the group had been camping and they all did really well.  

Shira Plateau

Monday 11 June 

Today we walked for approximately 5 hours.  The scenery and landscape is ever changing and today we trekked through moorland.  It is now beginning to get colder as we climb higher up the mountain.  Tonight we will be camping at 3800m.

Messages from the climbers:

'Wish you were here and we were where you are!'
Everyone

Christopher, do your project!
Andrew

To the May girls - I haven't seen a lion yet.  Half way up.  have a lovely time in Devon.  Love Daddy
Robert

Zoe, have a great few days in Ed!  This is quite tough but doing well.
Lots of love Deeps xxxxx
Deeps

Hi Everyone
Up here in Africa it's so amazing at the moment.  I'm at 4000m in the mountains.  So cold but a good experience so far.  We are all doing well.  
See you soon x
Samir

Come and get me!
Darcie, Hollie and Emma - I love you!
Marc

Midgie - Good luck with your A-levels!
Ruth

Lava Tower

Tuesday 12 June  

We are now at 4600m and we have been encountering very rocky terrain.  It has been a lovely day and the sky is completely blue and the summit is now in full view.  We have also walked past the Lava Tower, which was quite a sight to behold!

 Mike says hi!

 Raj says hi to Rabi and Drhui!

Darren, Tour Leader - I can't believe they brought Gallahad out of retirement and brought him on the trip.  He has shown he has a lot of balls!   

Great Barranco Wall

Wednesday 13 June  

Everyone is doing brilliantly and thinking about the big push to the summit tomorrow. We're very proud of everyone. An amazing achievment so far.

 Messages from the climbers:

 'Woke up this morning at 6am to stunning views of snow capped Kili. Wehave to climb for at least 24 of the next 30 hours but, despite this, spirits are high.'
Marius

'By the end of yesterday I didn't think I could carry on. But after a good night's sleep I was ok. And I'm so glad I did as the views have been breathtaking. Cannot wait to go for the summit. Hello to everyone . This will be something to tell Splodge! Love to you all.'
Mike T

'Can't believe its Day 4andI'm still here. Its been amazing and I feel the best. Brilliant people and porters making the whole thing incredible.'
Jules

'Kili is awesome. Keep your fingers crossed for us all. Hi to allmy friends, my team, and Camelot. Ravi, Bhruv and Nita, miss you guys'
Raj

'Day 4 on the mountain and I seem to have opened a portable massage parlour! Plenty of clients. Haven't lapsed into coma yet. Not bad for the oldest!'
David H

'Hey all. Still going along ok. The views are simply amazing. Summit day tonight / tommorrow. Lots of love.'
Michael Mander

'Hello. Day 4 and legs still holding up, just! Absolutely knackered, just hope I have enough chocolate leftfor the final push. Hope you are all well, see you soon. Love Suzy.'
Suzanne Braithwaite

'To Kathy, Christopher, Robert and Mum. Day 4! Enjoying the challengevery much. Both well. Scenery wonderful. Legs holding up. Still hopeful but becoming very difficult. All my love.'
Andrew

'Love to Josh, Sarah, Angela and M and D. All the Lees, Osgoods and Halls, and the BDG team.'
Matt O

'I've been suffering a bit from altitude sickness. But should be ok to push for the summit. I'm looking forward to seeing you on Sunday'
Gordon

The Summit!

Thursday 14 June

 21 out of 27 of us reached the top today!   Absolutely incredible views.  All very tired but we are all hanging on in there.  Bit more walking to the next camp and then sleep!