Kilimanjaro - our last lunch on top of Africa.
We arrived at clearing in the trees to have our last meal as a group on the mountain. The porters had laid out the chairs and tables out in the open so we could soak up the sun. We took a look around and discovered signs of civilization with various out buildings and a loo lying on its side.
Khabo then arrived in her chariot the famous "kili ambo" and was now well rested but still running a fever. We had managed to get some antibiotics for her and they were helping!! she still could not see very well but was in really good spirits.
The food was delicious and Thomas and his band of merry men had prepared the most amazing meals for us during the entire trip. Lots of pasta and my new favourite was cucumber soup. When you climb a lot you appreciate what effort and miracles it take to prepare such amazing meals. During the trip we grew to love the busy patterns on the table cloth, our plastic chairs and green mess tent. It was were we regrouped, prayed and chatted excitedly about our days adventure!!
once lunch was over we were rewarded with a little ceremony. This was both a privilege and a fitting ending to our adventure we had just experienced. the porters had taught us ladies their song and we soon joined in and the mountain and hills soon echoed the beautiful happy singing of a job well done!
This was also the time when we as the climbers could thank our guides and porters. We were to also hand out the porters tips and they were delighted at what was given. The ceremony was also a thank you to all of us for our generosity. Crazy when you thing that without these amazing and incredible human beings none of us would have been standing on the top of Kilimanjaro. Salute!!
of course as South African ladies we could not resist but Khabo and I got the other two ladies to join in as we did our traditional Zulu Gumboot dance, much to the delight of the Tanzanians!!
Then the group photographs which bought lots of laughter and giggles watching Sean and Rachel make the 10 second dash to be included in the shot!!
Once this was all done we made our way through the rain forest for the last time taking in the sounds of the birds and the amazing flowers.
We made our way down to the gate where we had to sign out, bought a few memorabilia and hopped onto our trusty bus and headed of the mountain through villages at the foothills of Kilimanjaro.
As we were traveling through pockets of people where cheering us along, congratulating us on our achievements or so we thought with our hearts bursting with pride feeling like rockstars!. It was very funny when we found out an election had just taken place and the locals were celebrating victory and their exuberant joy and dancing in the streets had nothing to do with our feat!
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