Teacher: Mr. Brian Sterr,
24
Boys: Likandapa Hassani, 17; Mambo Abdala, 19;
Ramadhani N. Saidi, 15
Girls: Shamira Ali, 19; Ziada Ahmadi, 17; Zaituni S.
Ajabu, 17; Fatuma Saidi, 16; Paulina Sylvester, 16
The students were chosen based on essays they wrote
about HIV/AIDS. Originally there was another teacher
planning to accompany us, but due to unavoidable
circumstances he was unable to come. The students then
brainstormed some different fund-raising options. We
showed soccer matches on the school TV, charging
admission. We also planted a large vegetable garden and
sold the vegetables. We also bought many kilograms of
maize, with the intent to sell it after the price went
up. In addition to the projects, we also decided to run
3 days a week. These runs ranged between 3 and 6 miles.
Our trip was planned for the end of November.
We started our trip from Tandahimba on the 16th of
November. We got on the bus from Tandahimba to Dar es
Salaam via Mtwara. We arrived in Dar around 9pm and
spent the night in the bus station. The following
morning we got on the bus to Marangu, where the gate to
Kilimanjaro National Park is located. We arrived in
Marangu at about 3:30pm and were met by Ms. Emma Moye,
who had arranged guides for us. They took us to the
house where we would be staying, a 10 minute walk from
the park gate.
On the 18th we went into Moshi town and met with Joel
Boutin of MyWorld. After meeting with him we went to
the market to buy used clothes for the kids as the
climate in Tandahimba is hot and humid, considerably
different from the sub-zero temperatures on
Kilimanjaro. We bought sweaters, pants, and socks for
each student. We also stocked up on some other
supplies, like flashlights, for the climb. Backpacks,
boots, hats, sleeping bags, and rain gear were borrowed
from Ms. Emma Moye (from gear stored at the Marangu
Teachers' College).
On the 19th we embarked on our voyage from (6400ft),
winding our way up the mountain through the lower
forest region to reach Mandara hut (8900ft). The
students were tired. They were not used to hiking up
hills, as the surrounding areas in Tandahimba are quite
flat. They also weren't used to carrying backpacks. We
relaxed at the Mandara hut and also walked up to the
Maundi Crater and back. We spent much of our free time
the next few days playing "Last Card," a Tanzanian
version of Uno using a standard deck of cards.
On the 20th we continued up to Horombo hut (12300ft)
through the Moorland region, noting the change in
environment as the altitude increased. We reached
Horombo hut and a few of the students were quite tired
at this point. The next day was spent at Horombo hut to
acclimatize. We didn't do much, since the weather was a
little wet. We did make a short trip up the hill to the
zebra rocks.
On the 22nd we headed up to the last set of cabins at
Kibo hut (15500ft) located in the alpine desert region.
At this point many of the students were starting to
feel the effects of the high altitude. After arriving
at 2pm, resting a bit, and eating, we turned in early.
At 11pm we woke up and had a bit of tea and then began
the ascent to the summit at midnight.
Ramadhani decided to wait for us at the Kibo hut. We
started out and one by one the students dropped off and
returned with the guides to Kibo hut. Many of them made
it at least half-way, but were suffering from nausea,
dizziness, headaches, vomiting, etc. They all went as
far as they possibly could and gave it their all. I
don't think a single one of them is disappointed in how
far they made it. Mambo and Likandapa made it to
Gilman's Point, a mere 600 feet below the summit.
Shamira and I made it all the way to the summit at
Uhuru Peak (19400ft) at 6:30am. After reaching the
summit, where, unfortunately, the clouds prevented us
from seeing much, we headed back down to Kibo hut. I
reached the hut at about 9am. After having a bit to eat
and resting for a couple hours, we packed up our gear
and headed down to Horombo hut. At this point the
weather decided to change a bit. It was snowing at Kibo
hut, but that quickly turned to rain as we descended
and we were thoroughly soaked by the time we reached
Horombo hut. At least the rain caught us on the way
down rather than the way up.
We finished the descent the next day, hiking down from
Horombo hut, past Mandara hut, to the house in Marangu
where we stayed at the beginning of our trip.
On the 25th, we hopped on the bus to Dar es Salaam.
After arriving in Dar on Saturday evening, the next
possible tickets back to Tandahimba were for the
following Wednesday. So we spent 3 days in Dar at the
house of some relatives of my counterpart. Then on the
29th we got on the bus to Tandahimba, arriving on the
afternoon of the 30th.
My students were quite exhausted, but had experienced
so much in such a short time that I am sure they were
still processing it for days. They had an unforgettable
time and really enjoyed their trip and will enjoy
telling their classmates about it once school starts up
again in January.
