This September I was delighted to return to Tanzania, with my eye's set on a long-intended challenge - climbing Kilimanjaro, and raising some money for Upendo in the process.
I was additionally excited about the prospect of being accompanied by three of my best friends, who had never before visited Upendo, or seen the incredible sites of Tanzania, and of the prospect of introducing them to the kids and showing them around.
The entire trip was fantastic, and we raised around £750 for Upendo, which has been a hugely helpful contribution to boarding fees. It's hard to find words (or phrases for that matter) to do justice to describing the Kilimanjaro climb, but 'incredible, exhausting, unimaginably-cold, hard, awe-inspiring and sometimes enjoyable' are a few.
Climbing for most of the first day is through lush rainforest. It's warm and there's monkeys - but it doesn't last!
Camp on the first evening is at 3000m, at the limit of the rainforest - and the summit looms into view for the first time. It looks close but it's 4 days climb yet.
Day 2 was a steep 800m that took us high above the forest
And soon above the clouds too
Sunset brought the first real taste of Kili's chill
The summit peaks out above the clouds at the end of the third day. The glaciers look (and feel!) a lot closer
The next day starts with a steep climb in biting cold. It never warmed up again this side of the summit!
I wouldn't have sat there
A last look at the summit before starting the final ascent. No more photos till the top...The climb was far too hard and my hands were far too cold to take anymore!!!
At the top
The ice cliffs (which are rapidly retreating)
Roads only go as high at 1800m on Kili, so any injuries need to be evacuated on one of these. It took us two solid days to get back down from the summit, so I imagine it would be a pretty uncomfortably journey down!
Back down and celebrating! It took a team of 16: two guides and 14 porters to get us and our equipment to the top and back!