Mount Kenya

This is the hotel which looks much better than it actually is ...

First day (Monday) ... travel to Mount Kenya National Park

1st camp Moses Camp, then on to MacKinders Camp, then Point Lenana & Karmi ... finally the climb begins...

4200m Shiptons Camp

19th July ... on way back down to civilisation... lots of bad weather so cut the climb short!

Day of rest in Kenya sorting out kit and then flying home ...

Day 12 - Kenya

Very scary trip on the bus to Nairobi! Scariest part of the trip so far!!! And it seems they don’t accept Dollar traveller’s cheques so off to sort out some money tomorrow before starting the climb up Mount Kenya!!

Not sure about the electricity in Kenya ...

Day 11

Back to Meru and hotel  - feel much better after shower and beer.

Have you seen this man?? (6 days on Kilimanjaro)

Leaving for Kenya 6am tomorrow for more excitement!

Days 9 and 10 again ...

Very early start to get to high camp was an extremely cold night.

Our camp at 3940m

View of kili from mid way point

Left Arrow Camp at 2am for final ascent to climb western breach. Very cold, lots of ice reached final breach wall at 8am and summit at 10am – exhausted but definitely worth every step!

From the exhilaration of reaching the summit we made our way round the crater rim back to the edge of the forest.

Days 6 to 10

Day 6 - Jeep ride to foot of Kilimanjaro at 1400m. Trek through dense jungle with porters carrying equipment. Finish at 3000m.
Day 7 - Climb to Baranco Hut 5 hours 3940m. All good - coping with altitude and heat!
Day 8 - Acclimatisation day - short walk up to 4200m. Very dusty and in need of a shower. Early start tomorrow to get to high camp will be a very cold night!
Day 9 - Climb to Arrow hut beneath Breach wall 4800m - no mobile signal so details to follow ...

Day 10

Summit day - no mobile signal  ... hope we made it - will post more on Thursday or Friday!!

Days 3, 4 and 5

Day 3 - Trek up Mt Meru

Day 4 - Continue to summit of Mt Meru

Good day - left hut at 1am and made it to the top of Mt Meru (4860m) at 7am. Although I hit a brick wall at 4000m. Got back to hut at midnight.

Day 5 - Back at hotel

Long, relaxing walk back to Moshi and back to the hotel (pic). Tomorrow we begin ascent of Kilimanjaro!!

Days 1 and 2

Day 1 - Long day ... not much sleep! Good flight and interesting drive to the hotel in old 4 wheel drive!!

Off to Mount Meru tomorrow!

Day 2 - On way up Mount Meru (2500m) have seen zebras, water buffalo and lots of monkeys!

This is my view...

Count down is over!

At long last the travel date is here!

Packing finally done ... no idea how I managed to get everything in!!

Nigel is driving us to the airport ... pick up time 12.30 tomorrow morning! Next time you hear from me I'll be in Tanzania!!

Wish me luck!

2 weeks to go ...

Last of the climbing gear has turned up – the big slings! So that’s all the equipment ready for Kenya. Travel visas have been collected.

Just recovering from all the jabs – especially yellow fever!!!! One more to go!

Have now got the Tanzania visas just got to get the Kenya one completed!

3 weeks to go ...

It's now 3 weeks until we set off on our adventure to Africa, climbing Kilimanjaro and then on to the North face of Mount Kenya.