For our 25th wedding anniversary, my husband (John) and I flew to Tanzania. Our aim was to climb to the Roof of Africa and summit Mount Kilimanjaro.  Just before we left, John cracked a rib, but neither of us wanted to cancel the trip. So climb we did – and summit, with few problems but part two of our trip which involved driving the rutted roads of the Serengeti was a different issue altogether and best saved for another blog.

Here are a collection of photos from our climb up Kilimanjaro.

We climbed the Shira Plateau – Western Breach Route – one that not many people do. It allows you to camp just 800 feet shy of the summit on the final night by the Furtwangler Glacier. It’s incredibly beautiful – though most of us also felt incredibly sick –  nothing drugs couldn’t cure fortunately.

Driving to the trailhead to begin our trek

Warnings before you start the climb

Controlled bedlam and getting organized before setting out

Our porters on Kilimanjaro

The second night's camp - the first was too disgusting for words

Fantastic textured plants

Dramatic skies

Dining tent for cool nights well above treeline

This is what you'll look like, 30 minutes after running the trail - when you're supposed to be taking it slowly

An overnight snowfall, two nights from the summit

On the push to the Crater camp

Looking down to the Crater Camp

An atypical summit shot

Just hours below the summit - back in the land of more oxygen

The Money Dance - at the last camp - after the tips are handed out

The highs of climbing Kilimanjaro

• Our wonderful, kind thoughtful porters
• Traveling through so many ecological zones
• The feeling of elation upon reaching the summit and of course the view from the top
• Unusual plant life along the way
• Excellent food
• Interesting bird life at lower elevations

Bookmark to: