My Kilimanjaro Climbing Experience: Summit Journey & Essential Tips (Part 3)

Climbing Adventure: Conquering the Mountain

D1[📸]🌄 January 25th – Summit Day Begins!
My alarm buzzed before dawn—5 a.m. couldn’t come soon enough! After a refreshing shower and double-checking my gear, I still had time to savor a leisurely breakfast. Right on schedule at 8 a.m., my guide arrived to whisk me away to the mountain gate. The off-season perk?

A VIP experience with just me, my guide, and our driver forming the ultimate trekking trio! While my guide handled registration, I enjoyed lunch, imagining the chef and porters already hard at work preparing our basecamp.

🌧️ 11:40 a.m. marked the start of my rainforest adventure. Africa’s emerald jungle unfolded before me, breathtakingly pristine without a single scrap of litter. But the skies had other plans—what began as a light drizzle soon became a torrential downpour. My flimsy rain gear surrendered immediately (little did I know this would be the first of many damp surprises, including my poor sleeping bag’s unfortunate swim in the porter’s soaked pack).

⛺ By 4:55 p.m., victory! We conquered the first leg: Machame Gate (1,820m) to Machame Camp (2,835m), a challenging 10.74 km initiation. As a camping newbie, everything fascinated me—from the bustling campsite to the luxury of nearby private facilities (sadly, not for our group).

D2[📸]🌤️ January 26th – Into the Clouds
“Prepare for more moody weather,” my guide warned as we set off at 8 a.m. sharp. The trail from Machame Camp (2,835m) to Shira Cave Camp (3,750m) tested our endurance—4.95 km transformed into a five-hour vertical challenge. Post-lunch power nap? Essential. The afternoon brought a bonus acclimatization hike (1.65 km round trip) with panoramic views that took my breath away—and not just from the altitude!

✨ Looking back, this golden day spoiled us—rain only visited during meals and nighttime, leaving our trek gloriously dry. Our strategically distant campsite location gifted us with something priceless: complete silence under a blanket of stars…