Adventure with a purpose: The Cause: #trek4hunger2015 The Challenge: Mt Kilimanjaro Day 5 - The charity: Meals on Wheels South Africa


7th October 2015: Day 5 Wednesday: Mawenzi Tarn Camp - Kobo Hut Altitude: 4335m to 4750m


Itinerary - Rongai Route:
we cross the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo Campsite. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent.

I woke up a bit early to try and catch another spectacular Kilimanjaro sunrise. 
The sun was way below the clouds and hidden. It looked like bad weather was coming in as rolling mist started to sweep into camp creating a chilly and eerie mountain landscape.



A sense of urgency seemed to be seen and felt amongst the porters and guides - something was up!





what appeared to be a light drizzle had started to fall
we had our breakfasts and made our way back to our tents.


While getting ready suddenly lots of excited shouting echoed through the camp - sleet - light snow was falling - all of us live in Johannesburg, South Africa so even a small amount of snow will create waves of excitement and suddenly we all became children. We made up fast and had to get going before some really serious snow started to fall - we still had a long way to go! 
We made our way quickly along the saddle as the weather started to close in and you can see fatigue and the cold was starting to set in. It was freezing and there was a sense of urgency to get to our next camp and seek shelter!
From a distance we could see this white object against the desert like terrain. we had a lot of fun trying to guess what is was and never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be a plane wreck!
According to IOL News 10 Nov 2008 an aircraft crashed on Kilimanjaro  which claimed the lives of four tourists and left the pilot seriously injured. The plane a Kenyan-registered 6- Seater Cessna 206 crashed near Mawenzi Peak. 4 330 m above sea level.
By the time we arrived at our summit base came snow was falling and temperatures had dropped.
The black mud ("lava soil" mixing with the snow was really making our boots dirty!

Looking at the white landscape I was both excited and nervous at our summit attempt in a few hours.
When we arrived 2 people were being carried down barely conscious by porters into the huts. Watching the people coming down off the mountain from their summit bid was a little sobering to what lay ahead for us in a few hours.
Our tents were still wet from our last camp and the weather was freezing and miserable, so we opted to pay in a bit and stay in the much warmer and drier huts.

 It was seriously cold!! Myself and Brent!

 Brent!
 Cheryl and I - we were all packed and drying clothing out - the nerves!
 eating our lunch in our cozy hut - was bliss to be warm
 below our comfortable and warm bunk beds we slept on before our summit attempt
B2 our fantastic head cook who also came along as an extra guide and summited with us only to come back down earlier to cook our breakfast. The man is a machine!


#BucketListOdyssey
Adventure With a Purpose™
The Team Zodwa Project ™
Member: FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa)
Member: Vincent de Paul Victory Park (St Charles Catholic Church)
Photo Credits: Kim Williams Copyright
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Warmest
Kim Williams | Adventurer | Founder The Team Zodwa Project  & Adventure with a purpose | Finalist Johnny Walker/Sunday Times Nation’s Greatest Hero Award | #Reachoutbeahero &  #Adventurewithapurpose & #Trek4Hunger Ambassador  |Brand Ambassador Eatfresh SA| Public Speaker|Facilitator| Outstanding Founders list @MagnificHQ |Outstanding People List @GirlsRunThings | Blogger| Fizzical National Everyday Hero Winner| Amateur Photographer| Aspiring Author | ALS Paramedic
Email kimwilliams@vodamail.co.za | Websitewww.adventurekim.com & www.teamzodwa.co.za
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