Kilimanjaro 2010 Pictures Page 9


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Click here to return to the General 2010 Piccies Page, or click on one of the links below:
Page 1: 15th August 2010 - Kilimanjaro Approach (7)
Page 2: 16th August 2010 - Karama Lodge and Safari (77)
Page 3: 17th August 2010 - Trek Day 1: Start to Machame Camp (51)
Page 4: 18th August 2010 - Trek Day 2: Machame Camp to Barranco Camp (72)
Page 5: 19th August 2010 - Trek Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (110)
Page 6: 20th and 21st August 2010 - Trek Days 4 and 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp and Shabbat (91)
Page 7: 22nd August 2010 - Trek Day 6: Summit Day (53)
Page 8: 23rd August 2010 - Trek Day 7: Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp (58)
Page 9 (This Page): 24th August 2010 - Trek Day 8: Mweka Camp to Exit (33)
Page 10: 25th August 2010 - Kilimanjaro Exit (10)

Total: 562 Pictures


Photos 24th August 2010 - Trek Day 8: Mweka Camp to Exit (33 Pictures)

LocationAltitude (m / ft)DistanceAltitude Gained / Lost
Mweka Huts3,106m / 10,190ft  
Mweka Gate1,633m / 5,358ft9.1km1,473m / 4,832ft Lost

Descending Through the Montane Cloud Forest to the Mweka Gate

We got up at 5:30AM as planned, and packed everything away. It was goodbye to the tent for the last time as it got packed away to be taken off the mountain. We had breakfast at 6AM as the dawn light brightened, and started walking at about 6:40AM. Light levels were very poor but the forest trail was indeed very pretty. Just five minutes out of Mweka Camp the tree line was abruptly reached, with the giant heathers being swapped for increasingly large trees. Despite the poor light levels I managed to take plenty of pictures, including macros shots of flowers. Challenging in the low light mind you, and a number of them failed to come out or the flash, when used, washed them out too much. Below is a selection of the ones that did come out atleast.

Soon enough we descended into the cloud. From there all the way to the end it was foggy. Before long it started drizzling, and lower down it turned into moderate but persistent rain. So now the true nature of those clouds we saw gathering below us was revealed - rain clouds. Given it is the dry season, this is a good example of Kilimanjaro creating its own weather, and why the montane cloud forest is so lush. The trees on the southern slope were also particularly tall and dense in places. I also noted an increase in birdsong but didn't spot any of them as they were all hidden in the trees and fog. The lower part of the trail was very nice, having recently been refurbished. Every now and then we crossed over a bridge over a trench, which is the old path having been worn into a trench by so many people pounding it over the years. I'm glad they refurbished the trail before we walked it!

Eventually the trail ended and the four wheel drive track started. In contrast to the trail, the track was horrible, with deep ruts and loads of very slippery mud. I very gingerly slip-slid my way down the hill, trying to stay on top of the ruts in the smoother spots. Somehow I managed to avoid going sideways, and after what seemed like an age the Mweka Gate loomed into view through the rainy fog.


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Leaving Mweka Camp early. Round the corner from camp is the tree line and a sudden change from giant heathers to forest trees, all draped with Old Man's Beard. Light levels were poor as we descended into the clouds that we had watched from high above for days. The trees are particularly tall on the South side of the mountain with plenty of sunshine and moisture. Yedidya attempting to climb a vine. Picture taken just before the vine broke sending him crashing to the ground!

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*TODO* Identify Looking across a pictoresque hill side covered in tall trees. An Impatiens Kilimanjari flower. More Impatiens Kilimanjari flowers carpeting the ground. *TODO* Identify

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*TODO* Identify A Gladiolus watsonides flower. An Impatiens pseudoviola flower. Descending past pretty moss covered tree trunks. *TODO* Identify One of the bridges taking the new path over the old worn out (into a trench) path.

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Looking up and down the worn out and overgrown path as we cross the bridge. More moss. We are definitely in the cloud now, and it is starting to rain too. *TODO* Identify Reaching the four wheel drive track to the Mweka Gate, now in heavy rain.

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*TODO* Identify Following a porter along the four wheel drive track in heavy rain. Civilization! We reach the Mweka Gate and the end of the trek. Our gear being packed onto the bus ready to return to Karama Lodge. A delicious farewell meal and drinks being served by the chef from the trek.

Just down the hill from the gate there was a village. Walking there seemed surreal, with bananas growing in the cool damp conditions. Once we had all gathered we watched all our gear get loaded onto a bus while the chef from the trip treated us to one last meal. Then we set off back down to civilisation. Once we got away from the area closest to Kilimanjaro the rain stopped and the sun came out (albeit with 7/8's spreadout cloud cover above). Just another emphasis of the rain being the result of Kilimanjaro's influence on its surroundings. On the way out we passed lots of coffee plantations, seemingly looked after by local school kids. First we dropped David off at the airport. After saying goodbye we went straight back to Karama lodge. I managed to get the same room again that I had on the first two nights of the trip. I had two hours to get a much needed shower and freshen up. It was very nice to remove multiple layers of Kili dust, sweat and tears! It was in my hair and everywhere. But more than worth waiting to get back to civilisation to have a warm cosy shower in a proper hotel room rather than a few bowls of water in a freezing cold tent! I then commenced a repack of all my gear so that my hand luggage now consisted of stuff I needed on the aeroplane rather than gear for a walking daypack.

At 3:30pm I went to meet the others to go out souvenir shopping. We got Tropical Trails to taxi us into Arusha. I struggled to find any souvenirs at all, but I did find some Kilimanjaro coffee in a local supermarket called 'Shoprite'. On returning to Karama Lodge I completed my repack before supper at 8pm. At the end of supper Yedidya presented us each with two certificates in a folder to help us protect them and prevent damage during the journey home. One certificate was from the Tanzania National Parks authority and acknowledged our feat of reaching Uhuru Peak. The other certificate was from Koshertreks. It acknowledged that we not only climbed Kilimanjaro, but kept Kosher and Shabbat in doing so. There were also personal comments for each of us, which Yedidya read out before handing them to us. (Apparently I make model aeroplanes!) He also handed each of us a Koshertreks T-shirt. (See below for scans and photos of the certificates and T-shirt). That completed a very pleasant final evening meal. Eventually we all wandered off to bed, with the plan of having breakfast at 9AM , checking out by 10AM and then hunt for more souvenirs on the way to the airport.


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The Tanzania National Parks certificate certifying my achievement of reaching Uhuru Peak. The Koshertreks certificate. The Koshertreks T-shirt including a zoom in on the logo.

Click here to return to the main Pictures index.
Click here to return to the General 2010 Piccies Page, or click on one of the links below:
Page 1: 15th August 2010 - Kilimanjaro Approach (7)
Page 2: 16th August 2010 - Karama Lodge and Safari (77)
Page 3: 17th August 2010 - Trek Day 1: Start to Machame Camp (51)
Page 4: 18th August 2010 - Trek Day 2: Machame Camp to Barranco Camp (72)
Page 5: 19th August 2010 - Trek Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (110)
Page 6: 20th and 21st August 2010 - Trek Days 4 and 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp and Shabbat (91)
Page 7: 22nd August 2010 - Trek Day 6: Summit Day (53)
Page 8: 23rd August 2010 - Trek Day 7: Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp (58)
Page 9 (This Page): 24th August 2010 - Trek Day 8: Mweka Camp to Exit (33)
Page 10: 25th August 2010 - Kilimanjaro Exit (10)

Total: 562 Pictures