“Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro mlima mrefu sana.
Na Mawenzi, Na Mawenzi, Na Mawenzi
Na Mawenzi mlima mrefu sana.
Ewe nyoka, ewe nyoka, ewe nyoka
Ewe nyoka mbona wanizunguka.”
Roughly translated:
“Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain.
Na Mawenzi, Na Mawenzi, Na Mawenzi
Na Mawenzi is the highest mountain.
Snakes, snakes, snakes
Snakes are rotating around me.”
Two of our guides taught us the above song today. Mawenzi is the second peak on Kili. The “snakes” line refers to how the winding trails up Kili resemble snakes.
We have arrived at our second campsite. It was a long day today. We hiked for almost seven hours, and my legs are feeling it a bit. It was supposed to be shorter, but we went up a hill called Cathedral for acclimatization purposes. We looked down into a valley, but we couldn’t really see it because it was completely filled with clouds. It was like being at the top of the world!
It’s gotten chilly now. It feels like the temperature just dropped about ten degrees. Basically, the temperature is like this: sun=warm, no sun=cold! And it gets quite cold at night. I have three layers on now and will probably need more soon. It’s beautiful here, though...the mountain always in view before us. The night sky is amazing as well - no city lights in the way, just clear star-filled skies.
I’m getting used to being constantly dirty. You wash your hands with water or sanitizer or wipes and within two minutes you are filthy again! It’s pretty much caked into my skin! Clothes are completely dirty after a few hours. Yikes!
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| the top of the mountain, always in view |
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| taking a break on the trail |
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| the view from Cathedral Hill |
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| valley of clouds |
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| valley of clouds |
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| porters coming up the trail |
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