Jim Becket, Jaffar Amin, and Andrea Wobmann to climb Kilimanjaro next week

I have been on the road (figure of speech) since yesterday on my way to Moshi for the 4^th annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb. I intended to travel directly from Butiama to Moshi through the Serengeti, but travel through that World Heritage site remains most unpredictable for me. I have ended up in Mwanza and plan to fly to the Kilimanjaro International Airport tomorrow.

There might be less of charity this year because the groundwork for the preparations for the fund raising drive has been inadequate. Before departure towards the summit, scheduled for the 20th September 2011 I will decide whether it will be possible to launch an effective funding appeal or postpone this appeal until the next climb.

The interesting aspect of this year's climb is the decision by a renowned American film director, Jim Becket, to shoot a documentary film during the climb. Jaffar Amin is also joining me to climb again Kilimanjaro this year following our plans during last year's climb to raise more funds for charitable causes.

Jim has decided that the documentary will cover a range of subjects, including the environment and how it affects Lake Victoria and Mount Kilimanjaro. Since Jaffar will also join the climb, Jim wants to explore the past historical relations between Tanzania and Uganda and how these have changed, focusing on what Jaffar and I have done.

Swiss national Andrea Wobmann who has worked as a volunteer in Mwanza is also joining this climb.

Mawenzi peak

On a perfect day Mawenzi, which towers at 5,149m above sea level and is one of Mt. Kilimanjaro's

two peaks, offers the best backdrop for descending from the summit.

I took this photograph on 13th December 2010 (exactly 9 months ago to the minute of this post) during my descent from the summit at Kibo, at 5,895m above sea level.

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_13.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2008/12/the-receeding-snows-of-kilimanjaro.html

It's Kili time!

It's time for Kilimanjaro, again. The mountain, not the lager.

If this bicycle could talk it would complain how I have neglected it for the whole year and only now that I am preparing myself to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro beginning September 20, have I remembered that it exists.

Today, for the second time in 3 days, I rode the bike for a distance of about 5 kilometres around some of Butiama's hilly terrain. It was Yahoo, the Mt. Kilimanjaro guide, who had suggested I buy the bike to help me strengthen my leg muscles.

My visit to one beneficiary of last year's Kilimanjaro climb

During last year’s Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb, I was joined by Mary Kalikawe from Kiroyera Tours and William Rutta of the Bukoba Disabled Assistance Project (BUDAP), a Bukoba-based organization formed in 2005 to provide “…appropriate training and employment in the production of handicrafts and related products” for its members, who are predominantly victims of polio.

BUDAP’s products include traditional drums, and handbags made from traditional African khanga and kitenge cloth.

After the climb I visited Bukoba and BUDAP’s premises near the Bukoba airport. I met some of BUDAP’s members and shared with them stories (only true ones) of the adventures of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

In the photograph, from left to right: Baraka, Ashirafu, Themistocles, the author of this post, and Elias.

If you wish to donate to BUDAP you can contact them through:

Bukoba Disabled Assistance Project (BUDAP)

P.O. Box 485

Bukoba - Tanzania.

www.budap.org

mailbudap@yahoo.com

Tel.+255713568276

Posts related to this one:

http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/06/mary-kalikawe-and-william-rutta-reach_15.html

http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-has-arrived-in-moshi-for.html

http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/01/elifariji-lima-donates-sh15-million-to.html

Travel options to Mt. Kilimanjaro: to hitch a ride across the Serengeti or to fly?

This post, is a continuation of my older posts from my other blog From Butiama and Beyond. Traveling between where I live and the starting point of the Kilimanjaro climb always presents challenges. 

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I arrived in Moshi last night, having failed to cross the Serengeti National Park by car at a cost of 23 US dolllars. Placing reliance on cars that may or may not pass through Ndabaka Gate, the western entrance to the Serengeti National Park, was like playing the lottery.

In the morning I decided to board a bus from Lamadi, the small town close to Ndabaka Gate, for Mwanza from where I took an afternoon flight to Mwanza. In the end I did not see a single wild animal and paid much more than the 23 dollars I budgeted for. But I can still say I crossed the Serengeti - at 5000m above sea level.

And staying at Lamadi gave me an idea about writing a guidebook on budget travel. I stayed at the Nima Delux Guest House for 9,000 shillings (6 US dollars). At Mama Mniko's I ate a meal of rice, beans, and Balala fried fish for 1,300 shillings (0.86 US dollars). Bus fare to Mwanza 3,000 shillings (2 US dollars).

At Mama Mniko's where a plate of food sells for Shs.1,300/-.




Inside my room at Nima Delux Guest House, Lamadi.

Then the final expense item and a reminder that plans do not always unfold as expected, I paid 220,000 shillings (147 US dollars) for the flight from Mwanza to the Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/06/across-serengeti-again.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/06/serengeti-crossing-not-yet-i-settle-for.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/06/through-serengeti-this-time-from.html

Mary Kalikawe and William Rutta reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro: post 4 of 4

Mary Kalikawe is the Managing Director of Kiroyera Consulting, a tourism company based in Bukoba which opened a branch office in Mwanza in 2010. She joined the 3^rd Annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb in December 2010. 

While I set off from the west with Jaffar Amin from Londrossi Gate on 7th December 2010 on the Lemosho route, Mary and William Rutta also set off from the east from Marangu Gate on the Machame route. 

In this fourth and final post she shares her experience of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Mary Kalikawe

The guides are well trained to handle climbers. Considering how tired they themselves are at that point, it is commendable how they keep up the words of encouragement with the sole aim of getting you to reach your ultimate goal, Uhuru Peak. The guide constantly talks to you out of falling asleep on the steep slopes telling you it is most dangerous and could be fatal.

Coming to the financial price of an individual climbing the mountain, I must say it is a formidable challenge for ordinary Tanzanians to get the thrills of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. Putting together my air fare from Mwanza, the fees paid to the tour operator, hotel and food in Moshi, tips and cost of mountain gear I come to a whooping 1 million shillings. Consider that this is for a Tanzanian who pays only a negligible rate of only Shs. 1,500 daily park fees to the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. The rest is for the guides, porters for whom you have to have at least five, accommodation, food and transfers from Moshi to the mountain gate.

There are many ways of saying you reached the Summit. William Rutta sports a t-shirt with the message.

Kilimanjaro is not for the faint-hearted nor is it for a Tanzanian with an average income. It is still early, we are still requesting contributions to BUDAP and to Chief Wanzagi’s Girls School. Payments are to be made directly to the accounts of the two beneficiaries.

Account Name: BUDAP, Ac. No. 027201092625 Bank: National Bank of Commerce (NBC), Bukoba Branch, and to Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls’ Secondary School Ac. No. 030201191529, Bank: National Bank of Commerce (NBC), Musoma Branch.

Do make a donation if you can. It will go a long way towards meeting our fundraising goals for the Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climbing 2010.

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/06/mary-kalikawe-and-william-rutta-reach_16.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/06/mary-kalikawe-and-william-rutta-reach_14.html

Mary Kalikawe and William Rutta reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro: post 3 of 4

Mary Kalikawe is the Managing Director of Kiroyera Consulting, a tourism company based in Bukoba which opened a branch office in Mwanza in 2010. She joined the 3^rd Annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb in December 2010. 

While I set off from the west with Jaffar Amin from Londrossi Gate on 7th December 2010 on the Lemosho route, Mary and William Rutta also set off from the east from Marangu Gate on the Machame route. 

In this third of four posts she shares her experience of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Mary Kalikawe

Mount Kilimanjaro climbing was very haaard!! While Jaffar and Madaraka climbed on the Lemosho route, I and William used the Marangu route, the narrow heavily-trodden path between that goes through the Horombo and Mandara Huts. I had left the gruesome climb behind and felt pain in my legs and thighs but smelling ‘triumph’ and longing to tell the whole world about my success in reaching the almost “unreachable” Uhuru Peak at my age of beyond forty!

On the steep slopes during the night climb to the summit, the mountain guides and porters who had been with us during the climb on previous days hugged me to avert a fatal fall backwards on the steep slopes down the mountain. Their jackets stunk of sweat. Mind you, we had been without bathing for five days. I guess I too was not smelling of roses. We continued through the night and after seven hours of excessive endurance beyond what I could ever imagine was within my capability, we had reached Gilman's Point!

At Gilman's Point: One down, one to go.

Gilman’s Point is the first point on the peak that is 200m lower than Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Kilimanjaro and of the whole of Africa. From that point I still had another three hours of climbing to get to Uhuru Peak. Those who saw my slow pace did not believe I could come this far! Scores of people who began with us at midnight had turned back due to fatigue, bad weather, and sheer fear.

The question ‘why am I torturing?’ myself kept ringing in my head. There are many possible answers. For one thing, the panorama at Gilman's point is a reward worth exerting for. The glaciers in the foreground of the deep crater valleys, the snow covered rugged surfaces and, above all, the much needed cup of tea served by my mountain guide Deo were all energy infusing.

At this point I made the decision to reach Uhuru peak for enjoying the glory of it. The contributions to BUDAP and Chief Edward Wanzagi’s School did not demand that I get up to Uhuru Peak. Gilman’s Point was a lot more than enough. But the guide, in disbelief, but seeing my renewed energy and enthusiasm to proceed said it will be an hour to Stella Point, two hours to Uhuru peak.

Finally, I reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the African continent.

I did it! And got a milliard accolades of congratulations but my guide was the brunt of a thousand complaints over factors he could not control: Why was the Uhuru peak signboard so far? Why do we still have to climb, didn’t you say we are almost there? And so on, and so forth.

William Rutta at the summit.

Next: Excellent guides, but forbidding cost

Other posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/06/mary-kalikawe-and-william-rutta-reach_15.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/06/mary-kalikawe-and-william-rutta-reach.html