Students’ preparation
The school head announced
to the students about the program of hiking
Kilimanjaro. What happened is that almost all students
were excited and were very happy and eager to go. The
exercises were to walk for a long distance about 15km
to 20km two days per week, and then every evening we
had a short run not less then 8 to 10km. Also in our
place there are some mountains called Usambara
Mountains; on Saturdays we were going to hike such
mountains. We did this four times. One of the criteria
that we used to select students is the ability to
participate in such exercise. We began with 250
students, then 90 students then 15 students who seemed
to be eligible. Those who missed this chance were very
sad. After that I talked to the selected students about
the trip and we sent the letters to inform the parents.
The parents again were very happy and supported eagerly
the idea and allowed their kids to go for a hike. Some
of them asked me about who is a sponsor of this
program. I had to explain a little bit about My World.
THE HIKE
The hike began on the 27th
of March. We left from school to Kinapa, Marangu Gate
in Moshi and we spent a night at Ujasiri Camp within
the park. On the 28th of March we began the hike from
the gate of the park after all the processes were done.
We walked for about 4.5km and reached the first hut
called MANDARA. Due to the change of weather we spent a
night there. On 29th of March we walked for about
11.7km and we reached Horombo Hut, which is 3700m above
from sea level. We spent a night there. Here it was too
cold! Then on the 30th we walked for about 8.6km to
Kibo the last hut. We reached there about 5 pm. Here it
is 4700m from the sea level. Then we got food and were
told by our guides to rest and get prepared. We slept
up to 2400hr and at midnight we began climbing to the
peak of Kilimanjaro Mountain. This seemed to be a
difficult point to most of us. First it is very cold.
All of us had never seen snow before, but we saw it
there. When we reached about half way up it was overly
cold to most of us because the temperature began to be
negative. Here it is 5100m from the sea level, but it
was very amazing. At this point some of the students -
about five of them – failed to continue with the climb.
They returned. At 6 in the morning on the 1st of April
we were at GILMANS POINT which is 5681 amsl. Here
students saw blocks of ice and it is very very
cold.After the trip I talked to some of the students
about their experience. Some considered the trip as
very lucky, As one of them puts it:
I had never seen snow before. At kilimanjaro snow to me
was the first thing I admired the most. I also saw some
wazungu (white people) and was able to talk to them. It
is very difficult to climb the mountain, but I did it.
I am very proud for that and when I go back home I am
going to show my mum the certificate I got from
climbing the mountain, I think she will be happy also.
– Hadija, Form III
Another one said that,
When I heard that there is a trip to Kilimanjaro I
thought to do everything possible to make sure that I
got a chance. I just wanted to see it because it is the
most famous mountain in Africa. After climbing I
realized that the mountain is very high because it is
very difficult to climb it. I saw a white girl crying
when climbing it and she told me 'I will never come
back again' for it is too tough to climb it. Thanks to
My World and Viane. - Eduardo Form II
