Watch the Snow of Kilimanjaro in the World Series----Climb Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa (1)

Ahead, what he could see was as majestic and majestic as the whole world, and incredibly white in the sun, was the square top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

------Hemingway "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" (The Snows of Kilimanjaro), 1936

Mount Kilimanjaro, 5895 meters above sea level, Located in central Africa, at the equator, it is not only the highest peak in Africa, but also the highest independent mountain in the world, and one of the highest volcanoes in the world. It is also the most popular of the seven highest peaks in the world. More than 25,000 climbers come here every year, and about half of them can reach the top. From the scorching equatorial heat to the year-round snow-covered mountaintops, this is a true "ice and fire" journey. In order to promote local economic development and provide more job opportunities for local guides and porters, Kilimanjaro National Park stipulates that every climber must use the services of a local mountaineering company and hire a qualified guide. Independent climbing is prohibited .

There are more than ten climbing routes on Kilimanjaro ***, and there are seven main climbing routes. The actual time spent on the mountain is one week. The seven routes are: Marangu route, Machame route, Lemosho route, more difficult Umbwe route, Shira route, Northern Circuit and Rongai route, as well as dedicated downhill routes. Mweka route. The Lemosho route we chose is a relatively new route with relatively few people, making it the most scenic route. This route has a longer hiking distance and allows you to enjoy more scenery while acclimating to the altitude. In the first half of the route, you can climb to the top of Mount Shira, which is 3,872 meters above sea level, one of the three volcanoes that make up Kilimanjaro. The second half of the route also passes by Lava Tower, which is 4,700 meters above sea level. The two high points we passed one after another on the way were very helpful in adapting to the altitude, so the success rate of climbing to the summit was very high. This route is tent camping throughout.

The best climbing season in Kilimanjaro is the cold and dry months from June to October (the climate is drier in August and September, so you don’t need to be disturbed by rain), or it is full of green but The rainy season is from December to March of the following year. Considering that June to October is the most crowded time on Mount Kilimanjaro, and summer is the best climbing season in BC, for those of us living in Vancouver, the time period from December to March is the most popular. Good. The climb to the summit starts in the middle of the night. It is recommended to go on a full moon night with strong light and good visibility to increase the success rate of summiting. Astronomy enthusiasts can consider a starry night.

After the climb, go on a grassland safari (i.e. animal watching trip) in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area in Sannia ) is essential. Grassland safari activities can be participated in all year round, but the best time is in January and February during the animal migration period. If you are lucky, you can see the famous Africa Big Five, namely elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, lions, and leopards. Among them, elephants and buffaloes can be seen, and lions have a greater chance of seeing them, while rhinos and leopards Leopard depends on character. Other herbivores such as giraffes, zebras, antelopes, wildebeests, ostriches, monkeys, wild boars, hippos, etc. are abundant. If you are not a photography enthusiast, 3-5 days of grassland safari is enough. During the grassland safari, you can also visit the Maasai tribe living on the grassland and experience the unique exotic culture of the primitive tribe.

The cost of mountaineering services for this trip is approximately US$1,500 per person, including airport transfers, 2 nights' accommodation in Moshi, round trip between Moshi and the mountain gate, all meals and lodging on the mountain, an average of 2 to 3 people with one guide, 3 porters per person, 8 days of camp fees, license fees, basic insurance, etc., which is what we call an all-inclusive price. Based on the number of days on the mountain, it’s about $200 per person per day. The average cost of a full safari in a cabin hotel or tent hotel is almost US$300 per day, which is also an all-inclusive price.

Day 1 Moshi Town - Lemosho Mountain Gate (2250 meters) - Mkubwa Camp (2650 meters)

After two transfers in Calgary and Amsterdam, more than 20 hours later , a group of 12 people from North American Outdoors finally arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport and arrived at Moshi, the closest city to Kilimanjaro. The town of Moshi has 3G network coverage, and free Wi-Fi is also available in the hotel. Local mobile phone SIM cards cost less than 10 US dollars and contain 2GB ~ 3GB of data, and communication costs are not expensive. But the time in the mountains is basically isolated from the world.

After joining up with the local mountaineering company, we formed a large team of 50 people, which can be described as a mighty one. Everyone's eyes are full of anticipation and excitement, and they are all eager to try. I don’t know which porter sang the "Song of Kilimanjaro" first:

Jambo, Jambo Bwana, (Hello, hello sir,)

Habari gani, (How are you ,)

Mzuri sana. (very fine.)

Wageni, mwakaribishwa, (Foreigners, you're welcome,)

Kilimanjaro, (to Kilimanjaro, )

Hakuna Matata. (there is no problem.)

The simple, primitive and heartfelt dance of the African brothers is really addictive and makes you want to leave. Their enthusiasm and ability to sing and dance infect every one of us who are about to rush to Kilimanjaro, accompanying us on the joyful journey and also on accepting severe tests.

According to the rhythm of Africa, we bought the supplies and set off. It was almost dark. After walking for two hours in the tropical rain forest to reach the Mti Mkubwa camp, I was so excited and sleepless all night.

Day 2 Mkubwa Camp (2650 meters) -? Shira1 Camp (3610 meters)

I got up at around six o'clock in the morning. The porter had prepared warm water for washing, and Breakfast is also rich in hot coffee, chocolate, bread, fried eggs, jam, and dark rice cereal, which is made from millet flour and various other unknown ingredients. Although it is difficult to swallow, it is rich in nutrients. It is served with mustard or mustard. Brown sugar is both salty and sweet. It not only replenishes energy but also replenishes moisture. It is actually a powerful weapon against altitude sickness during mountain climbing.

After five hours of traveling eight kilometers, we arrived at Shira 1 camp at almost 2 p.m. and officially entered the high-altitude area. In the evening, the clouds and fog gradually dispersed, and Kilimanjaro finally revealed its mysterious veil, tall, beautiful and desirable. The snow-capped mountaintops sparkled with the splendor of the setting sun. The snow of Kilimanjaro, can I hold you and fly to the clouds?

We had to wait a long time for dinner. Perhaps the high altitude had dulled our tongues. Perhaps the chef was afraid that there would be insufficient food in the next few days, so he added more water to the soup. The main course arrived belatedly. Looking at the food that was served, the carnivores were a little disappointed.

We had to wait a long time for dinner. Perhaps the high altitude had dulled our tongues. Perhaps the chef was afraid that there would be insufficient food in the next few days, so he added more water to the soup. Looking at the food that was served, the carnivores were a little disappointed.

It’s also remarkable to think carefully about the chefs in these mountaineering collaborations: they are faced with diners who have the pickiest appetites because of their height. Every day, they have to prepare the limited ingredients carried on the mountain in various ways, and they also strictly follow the appetizers when serving them. , main course and dessert with indispensable professionalism. The main course is usually spaghetti with meat sauce and rice with meat sauce. The meat is not easy to keep fresh, so it disappears after two days, and is replaced by British fried fish and chicken. It's just that the fish is like a submarine that has been aboard for several months, and the chicken has been sunbathing too much. In the last few days, we almost ran out of food and ammunition. The meat dishes disappeared en masse, and the French vegetable stew (ratatouille) appeared, taking turns to accompany rice, noodles, and potatoes as the main course. Some teammates complained that the green and red peppers were stewed too badly. I thought to myself that you can't understand the true meaning of "stewed indiscriminately"! The reason why there are no cucumbers or vegetable leaves in the cucumber soup comes from the heat. In the kitchen tent on the top of the mountain, two local chefs with dusty faces and smoky faces were guarding a pot of cucumber soup with dull eyes. Outside the tent, a group of hungry mountain people were jumping up and down in impatience, or looking at each other. Close your arms and cover your belly tightly, or make instant noodles to solve the problem...

Day 3 Shira 1 Camp (3610 meters) - Shira 2 Camp (3850 meters)

Shira Plateau It is basically a flat road and belongs to the plateau meadow area. It is dry, cold and windy, and most of the vegetation is very short. Looking around, there are clumps of dark green grass everywhere, with small white and yellow flowers blooming among the grass. Dark brown volcanic rocks are scattered on the ground, like walking on a desolate moon.

After crossing the plateau, instead of continuing along the mountainside, we headed straight to the right for Cathedral Point, the highest peak of the Shira Plateau. This section has a very steep climb, climbing on black volcanic rocks. Put away the stick and use your hands and feet together. Arrive at the peak of Cathedral Point at noon, 3872 meters above sea level.

There were clouds and mist overhead, and soon it started to rain. We walked to the campground at 2 pm and walked ten kilometers in five hours. Maybe they were traveling a little faster on the road, but after arriving at the camp, some people began to experience symptoms of high fever, including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and rapid heartbeat. The main climbing routes in Kilimanjaro are not technically difficult. It is just a "mountain that keeps going up." As long as the season is chosen appropriately and there is no unexpected bad weather, most people who are in good health and have been properly prepared and trained can do it. Can reach the top. The biggest difficulty in climbing to the top is not physical fitness, but the adaptation to high altitude. The most important thing is to control the speed of ascent, walk high and sleep low, etc., to give the body enough time to adapt to the change in altitude. You should also drink enough water during hiking, at least 4 liters per day. The dry environment in the mountains will take away a lot of water from your body with every breath you take. Drink more water to prevent the blood from becoming sticky, thus ensuring the oxygen supply capacity of the blood. People who are not allergic to drugs can also take appropriate special drugs to help relieve mountain symptoms, such as Diamox.

We rested at the camp in the afternoon. In the evening, the clouds and fog gradually dispersed, and we saw Kilimanjaro under the sun from the camp, getting closer to it.