Our
first "stop" in the Equator hotel: Kilimanjaro beer
- what else..?...although we soon switched to the slightly
heavier "Safari's". |
Part of the crew
just before we depart from the Nature Beauties office in
Arusha. |
We
decided to take the Machame route which is a tented route
rather than the slightly busier Marangu route which uses huts. This
is the first camp close to Machame hut at 3100 m.
The first day we ascended from 1600 m. |
Day 2 takes us way
up north to the Shira hut area at 3840 m. As can be spotted,
the landscape is getting more barren by the hour. |
The
next day we took a climb to 4800 m. for acclimatization. Lava
Tower (in the picture) is the highest point and from there we
descended again to 3900 m. |
How
do you mean "dry season"..? Although (admitted) this
was one of the very scarce light showers that occurred (uhhh,
to tell you the truth actual "showers" have not been
spotted at all during the first week.... J... |
Not only beautiful nature but also pleasant company: we met
Magalit and Laurence on the mountain and also during our
safari |
Wake
up, there is a steep climb from Barranco camp over the
"Breach wall" at 4250 m. (if you look well - in the
enlargement) you should be able to see the dots climbing to
the top of the Breach wall. |
A
nice view to the target of the week: Uhuru Peak at the crater
edge of the Kilimanjaro. |
And
a spectacular view over the clouds at Mount Meru (Barranco hut
can also be spotted in the lower left corner) |
The
last camp (Barafu) where we departed at midnight for the
"summit day". As you might have gathered I cheated
with this picture cause I took it at the descend from the top
(since obviously this is not midnight...) |
Made
it!
Plenty of blood sweat and
tears have been shed though to reach the summit. Thanks
especially to guide Jonas who "talked me up" . |
Just in time to
see the sunrise - beautifull!
|
Only
minutes later the light is changed and garuantees another
beautifull view to the Kersten and Decken (picture) glaciers. |
After
6 hours ascent, a brief half hour at the top, 2½ hours
descent to the Barafu camp, a quick (?) rest, we further
descend for 3 hours to the camp near Mweka huts where we found
a little luxure and....booze (!)..that is - if you have
brought enough money (....)
The whole group which brought us at the top. |
A
(we thought) well deserved break at Moivaro Lodge |
Part
2, the safari to Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Conservatory and
the Serengeti and Tarangire national parks.. |
The
diversity of animals is unbelievable, in the beginning
everything is new and all animals are picture targets soon to
be replaced by remarks like "Hey Look, another group of
elephants" and such. Picture taken in Lake Manyara. |
Pretty
big, ehhh! |
Impala:
"Okay, snap quickly - I won't pose for long...." |
Baboon:
"Don't move, I said, this is the last one" |
"Mind
if I continue eating?" |
Hippo:"Wanna
join us in the water?"
. |
"Stay close to me Dombo" |
Overview
in Lake Manyara: Grant gazelle's and Flamingo's. |
Smallest "gazelle-like" animal: Dik-dik
|
Flamingo's at Ngorongoro |
Thomsons gazelle: "I'm sure there was something to eat
somewehere around here..." |
Hyeana: "Wait until I'm finished - you Jackal" |
"What's cooking, Bruno?"
(our cook) |
Vultures in the Serengeti |
"Fancy a bite?" |
"That's funny - a pink elephant you said?" |
Jackal puppies |
"My husband is the King, you hear!" |
"Really, you wanta take my picture...?" |
|
"Yeah - what?"
|
|
