Vitali Maembe joins the CDEA Kilimanjaro climb 2014 (post 4 of 10)

On my latest Mt. Kilimanjaro climb I trekked on the Machame route for the first time. I was accompanied by musician/activist Vitali Maembe. 

Here’s the fourth post of my blog log of the climb 

Saturday 6th September 2014
I ran some errands in Moshi town in the morning and spent most of the day online and responding to emails. After a six-day hike I normally open my inbox to find hundreds of emails to clear. Keeping up with emails during the climb is possible but is a distraction from the climbing experience. Climbing offers me the only time when I can switch off from my daily work routine and to concentrate on relaxation of the mind.

For the first time I can say that the pre-climb briefing did not meet my expectations. The guides showed up late and when they did I was not informed. They contacted Vitali alone and I was unable to offer some pointers that I could provide from my previous experience with first-time climbers.

A pre-climb check during the Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb 2009 with Gerald Hando of Clouds FM, centre, and Notburga Maskini, right. Left is Moutain Guide, Pius William, known also as Yahoo.

 The pre-climb briefing is extremely important because the guides provide crucial advice and check each climber’s gear to ensure that all necessary items are present. Over the years I have helped to remind guides who have overlooked noticing crucial items that have been missed by climbers on my groups.

Next: We begin the trek to the summit

Related post:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2014/11/vitali-maembe-joins-cdea-kilimanjaro.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2014/11/vitali-maembe-joins-cdea-kilimanjaro_20.html

Lusajo Mwaisaka joins the prestigious Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb and those who join me for my non-charity climbs.

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In 2011 I was asked by the Tanzania Tourist Board to lead the Mt. Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb to mark Tanzania's 50th independence anniversary in December of that year. Lusajo Mwaisaka was one of several climbers who joined the climb, reaching the summit on the morning of 9th December, the day of the anniversary.

At the summit, Lusajo Mwaisaka takes a self-portrait.

That was one of the most challenging climbs I had embarked on and I have written about it here.

Lusajo becomes the 16th member of the prestigious Kilimanjaro Club. The new list is:

No.	Name	Nationality	Age	Point Reached*	Summit Date
1.	Madaraka Nyerere	Tanzanian	48	Uhuru Peak	24th August 2008
2.	Le Huyhn	Vietnamese	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	25th August 2008
3.	Markus Geiger	Swiss	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	2009
4.	Gerald Hando	Tanzanian	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	6 October 2009
5.	Notburga Maskini	Tanzanian	49	Stella Point	6 October 2009
6.	Dmitry	Russian(?)	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	13 December 2010
7.	Jaffar Amin	Ugandan	44	Uhuru Peak	13 December 2010
8.	William Rutta	Tanzanian	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	10 December 2010
9.	Mary Kalikawe	Tanzanian	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	10 December 2010
	Steve Kamau	Kenyan	25	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Jim Becket	American	74	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Andrea Wobmann	Swiss	39	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Zulfa Fadhili	Tanzanian	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Jim Whitney	American	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	August Whitney	American	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Lusajo Mwaisaka	Tanzanian	31	Uhuru Peak	9 December 2011

*A climber is awarded a certificate for reaching one of three elevations: Uhuru Peak (5,895 AMSL), Stella Point (5,745 AMSL), or Gillman's Point (5,685 AMSL).

Vitali Maembe joins the CDEA Kilimanjaro climb 2014 (post 3 of 10)

On my latest Mt. Kilimanjaro climb I trekked on the Machame route for the first time. I was accompanied by musician/activist Vitali Maembe. 

Here’s the third post of my blog log of the climb 

Friday 5th September 2I014
Steve Kamau, Zara’s travel consultant, told us that Mama Zara has waived our accommodation charges and that we would only pay for food and drinks. That was welcome news. She has regularly been generous and supportive of my annual charity climbs.

Mama Zara is Zainab Ansell, the Managing Director of Zara Tanzania Adventures, our outfitters for this Kilimanjaro climb. Zara also own Springlands Hotel, where we are staying ahead of our Kilimanjaro climb.

Zainab Ansell.

I had to travel to Arusha for a cash withdrawal because my bank does not have a branch in Moshi and I do not have an ATM card.

Next: Not the best briefing

Related posts:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2014/10/vitali-maembe-joins-cdea-kilimanjaro_16.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2014/11/vitali-maembe-joins-cdea-kilimanjaro_9.html

August Whitney is a member of the Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb and those who join me for my non-charity climbs.

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August Whitney becomes the 15th member of the Kilimanjaro Club and was on the September 2011 climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro, my fourth.

He was the youngest of the more than ten climbers on that climb, although I have not been able to get his age todate.

August Whitney, right, takes a pause with Jaffar Amin, left, on the second day of the September 2011 climb.

Here is the updated list of the members of the Kilimanjaro Club:

No.	Name	Nationality	Age	Point Reached*	Summit Date
1.	Madaraka Nyerere	Tanzanian	48	Uhuru Peak	24th August 2008
2.	Le Huyhn	Vietnamese	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	25th August 2008
3.	Markus Geiger	Swiss	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	2009
4.	Gerald Hando	Tanzanian	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	6 October 2009
5.	Notburga Maskini	Tanzanian	49	Stella Point	6 October 2009
6.	Dmitry	Russian(?)	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	13 December 2010
7.	Jaffar Amin	Ugandan	44	Uhuru Peak	13 December 2010
8.	William Rutta	Tanzanian	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	10 December 2010
9.	Mary Kalikawe	Tanzanian	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	10 December 2010
	Steve Kamau	Kenyan	25	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Jim Becket	American	74	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Andrea Wobmann	Swiss	39	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Zulfa Fadhili	Tanzanian	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	Jim Whitney	American	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011
	August Whitney	American	Unknown	Uhuru Peak	26 September 2011

*A climber is awarded a certificate for reaching one of three elevations: Uhuru Peak (5,895 AMSL), Stella Point (5,745 AMSL), or Gillman's Point (5,685 AMSL).

Vitali Maembe joins the CDEA Kilimanjaro Climb 2014 (post 2 of 10)

On my latest Mt. Kilimanjaro climb I trekked on the Machame route for the first time. I was accompanied by musician/activist Vitali Maembe.

Here’s the second post of my blog log of the climb

Thursday 4th September 2014
I left early to attend the CDEA Kilimanjaro Climb 2014 press conference. The press conference went well with most of the major print and broadcast media represented.

I was also glad that Naamala Samson, the Project Coordinator (Advocacy) for CDEA, finally managed to get a baseball cap to fit my XXL head. Well, maybe just XL head.

At this morning’s press conference Vitali impressed us with his thought-provoking lyrics when he sang Vuma. He teaches traditional dance in Bagamoyo, owns a band, and does charity work including the sponsoring of the education of children which will cost him ten million shillings this year in school fees alone.

In the early evening, on our way to Moshi, we flew to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Next: An act of generosity

Related posts:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2014/09/vitali-maembe-joins-cdea-kilimanjaro.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2014/11/vitali-maembe-joins-cdea-kilimanjaro.html

Vitali Maembe joins the CDEA Kilimanjaro Climb 2014 (post 1 of 10)

On my latest Mt. Kilimanjaro climb I trekked on the Machame route for the first time. I was accompanied by musician/activist Vitali Maembe.

Here's my blog log of the climb.

Wednesday 3 September 2014

I rushed through some last-minute errands before taking a bodaboda (motorcycle) taxi to Nyamisisi where I became worried I might not catch a bus in time to arrive in Mwanza in time for my Dar flight.

But I was relieved when 25 minutes later a new BATCO Coach bus pulled in and I was given the very first seat of the bus, a seat I never choose. To my relief, though, the driver drove at my preferred speed. Slow for most passengers; perfect for me.

I caught the plane to Dar on time and was looking forward to attending a press conference tomorrow organised by Culture and Development East Africa (CDEA) to publicize our fundraising climb with Vitali Maembe.

Next: The press conference

Related post:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2014/10/vitali-maembe-joins-cdea-kilimanjaro_16.html

I have just completed another Kilimanjaro climb with Vitali Maembe

I have just completed my ninth climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro with Tanzanian musician Vitali Maembe.

The objective of the just-ended climb is to raise funds for a local NGO, Culture and Development East Africa (CDEA) for CDEA's projects targeted at raising the skills and capacities of local artists. More details on CDEA and how to donate here.

Climbing Africa's highest mountain with a musician was a unique experience. Vitali carried his guitar all along and up to the summit, which we reached on the morning of 11th September 2014.

When we reached Mweka gate and before we drove to Moshi, he pulled out his guitar and entartained some of the guides and porters with one of his songs.

At Mweka gate, Vitali Maembe concludes our climb with a few songs in front of an audience of guides and porters.

I will post the climb log on this blog soon.