Elifariji Lima donates Sh.1.5 million to the recent Kilimanjaro charity climb

Mr. Elifariji Lima has donated a total of Sh.1,500,000/- to the recently concluded Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb. Of the amount, one million shillings goes to the Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School and Shs.500,000/- goes to Bukoba Disabled Assistance Group (Budap).

A woman offloads part of the consignment of cement donated by Elifariji Lima after the 2008 Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb

Mr. Lima also donated cement for construction of students' dormitories following the first Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb in 2008.

Current donors to Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School (CEWGSS):
1. Tanzania Gatsby Trust - Shs.500,000/-
2. Dina Mrango - Shs.100,000/-
3. Notburga Maskini - Shs.100,000/-
4. Elifariji K. Lima - Shs.1,000,000/-

Current donors to Budap:

1. Notburga Maskini - Shs.100,000/-
2. Elifariji K. Lima - Shs.500,000/-

Total donations to CEWGSS: Shs.1,700,000/-
Total donations to Budap: Shs.600,000/-

If you wish to donate, please follow the instructions on the following link:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-has-arrived-in-moshi-for.html

Post related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-donation-to-kilimanjaro-charity.html

The Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb 2010 (post 5 of 12)

This is the fifth of twelve posts on the December 2010 Mt. Kilimanjaro climb. 

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Monday 6 December, 2010
The two other members on this year's climb, Mary Kalikawe of Kiroyera Tours and William Rutta of Bukoba Disabled Assistance Group (Budap), who arrived from Arusha today, joined me and Jaffar Amin at Kahawa House for a press conference to publicize the climb. I did not see the articles that emerged from the press conference although someone mentioned seeing the news reports.

After the press conference at Kahawa House, L-R, Mary Kalikawe, Madaraka Nyerere, Jaffar Amin, and William Rutta

After the press conference we crossed over to the open cafe' opposite Kahawa House for coffee and later dispersed. Mary and William begin their climb tomorrow on the 6-day Marangu route while Jaffar and I will embark on the Lemosho 8-day route. I asked them to check their handset in boxes for text messages so that we could communicate during the climb.

Next: The first day of the climb. 

Post related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/01/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_13.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/01/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro.html

The Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb 2010 (post 4 of 12)

Sunday 5 December 2010
In the morning I moved to the Springlands Hotel, the hotel I have used for the two past annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro charity climbs.

Kibo and Mawenzi peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro, seen from Springlands Hotel in Moshi.

Later I went to the Kilimanjaro International Airport to meet Jaffar Amin who was arriving in the afternoon. He told me he was looking forward to the climb, although he mentioned his concern about his knee joints and mentioned a need for a massage, which he promptly received after he arrived at the hotel.

From the hotel, when the clouds cleared, we saw a clear view of Kilimanjaro, its two peaks Kibo and Mawenzi rising imposingly towards the sky.

Next: The other climbers, Mary Kalikawe and William Rutta, arrive in Moshi

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/01/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_2.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/01/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_17.html

The Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb 2010 (post 3 of 12)

This is the third of twelve posts on the December 2010 Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.

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Saturday 4 December 2010
Yesterday, on my way back from a one-day visit to Tanga, I caught a glimpse of both peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi, with Mawenzi partly covered by clouds.

Approaching Himo, I saw Kilimanjaro's two peaks at a distance.

There is always a tinge of excitement when I see the mountain prior to a climb.

As I waited for the restoration of electricity to complete a newspaper article, I visited an equipment rental shop to pass the time and chat. This is where last year's assistant mountain guide, Ben, works as a shop assistant.

"Aren't you climbing Kilimanjaro anymore?" I asked him.

He said he is taking time off, adding: "Si mlima uko?" [Isn't the mountain still there?]

This is a variation of a saying that employees of clearing and forwarding companies have been heard saying in Dar es Salaam: "As long as the sea has not dried up, there is always a means of making money."

I talked to the shop manager of my intention to buy climbing gear to avoid the annual equipment rental costs. He told me they regularly buy equipment from climbers who after ascending from Kilimanjaro decide to sell some of their equipment. At other times, he said, guides and porters offer for sale items that are given to them by climbers. In fact, he told me, that same morning a porter had offered a sleeping bag for sale for Shs.25,000/-. The manager said they rent sleeping bags for $US20 per trip.

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-donation-to-kilimanjaro-charity.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/01/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_13.html

Another donation to Kilimanjaro charity climb received from Notburga Maskini

After donating Shs.100,000/- to the Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Seconday School, Notburga Maskini has donated another Shs.100,000/- to Bukoba Disabled Assistance Project (Budap).

She is the first donor to donate to Budap, and the first to donate to both beneficiaries of this year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

Notburga Maskini

Current donors to Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School (CEWGSS):
1. Tanzania Gatsby Trust - Shs.500,000/-
2. Dina Mrango - Shs.100,000/-
3. Notburga Maskini - Shs.100,000/-

Current donors to Budap:

1. Notburga Maskini - Shs.100,000/-

Total donations to CEWGSS: Shs.700,000/-
Total donations to Budap: Shs.100,000/-

If you wish to donate, please follow the instructions on the following link:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-has-arrived-in-moshi-for.html

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/01/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_2.html

The Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb 2010 (post 2 of 12)

This is the second of twelve posts on the December 2010 Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.

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Tuesday 30 November 2010As soon I boarded a Nairobi-bound bus at Makutano on my way to Moshi, I was caught in a draft from the open bus windows and as I put on a jacket I realized I forgot to pack a heavy coat that is suitable for wearing at lower altitudes during the Kilimanjaro climb. I had a whole year to plan this year’s climb, and I forgot crucial wear! I sent a text message home asking someone to find a way to send the raincoat and another jacket I left behind, and I settled into my seat for a comfortable ride to Nairobi and to Moshi. I wished.

It wasn't comfortable.

After I sent the initial message I realized I also forgot a raincoat that is indispensable for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with the rainy season just about to start. I sent a second text message.

The Nairobi route to Arusha is uneventful, but lengthy. I would like those who object to a better road through the Serengeti as a comfortable alternative and shorter route for residents of Tanzania’s Mara region to try the Nairobi option once in a while and reflect on why Mara residents prefer a better road through the Serengeti.

The route and the outcome: Makutano – Nairobi: approximately 6 hours; transit time at Nairobi: 7 hours; Nairobi – Moshi (9 hours, if the bus does not break down.) Unfortunately, the bus did break down, twice. On reaching the Arusha terminal, there was a delay of more than an hour while the bus underwent some repairs of a burst hydraulic pipe.

We resumed the trip towards Moshi and half an hour before reaching Moshi, the bus broke down again and I reflected on the company’s motto: Connecting East Africa. Not today, I thought. Not today.

The first breakdown at Arusha.

I got off the bus and hopped onto an Arusha – Moshi commuter bus and reached Moshi and checked into a modest clean hotel on the first floor of the building that has a rental shop for mountain climbing gear.

Next: In Moshi

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-donation-received-from-notburga.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-donation-to-kilimanjaro-charity.html

Another donation received from Notburga Maskini

Notburga Maskini, a member of the Kilimanjaro Club, who was on last year's charity climb, has donated Sh.100,000/- to the Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School, one of the beneficiaries of this year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

Notburga Maskini

Current donors to Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School (CEWGSS):
1. Tanzania Gatsby Trust - Shs.500,000/-
2. Dina Mrango - Shs.100,000/-
3. Notburga Maskini - Shs.100,000/-

Total donations to CEWGSS: Shs.700,000/-.

If you wish to donate, please follow the instructions on the following link:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-has-arrived-in-moshi-for.html

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_28.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro.html