Things you should know before taking on the Kilimanjaro challenge

Dar es Salaam. December 5-9 this year, a team of 200 people, including 11 ambassadors representing Tanzania in different countries, led officials from public and private institutions as well as journalists in climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.

The officials, who took part in scaling the highest mountain in Africa came from the Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa), Kilimanjaro National Parks Authority (Kinapa), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT), the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) ) and journalists from public and private media.

The Tanzanian ambassadors who participated in the exercise include Dr Asha Rose Migiro (England); Aziz Mlima (Uganda); Caroline Chipeta (The Netherlands) and Grace Martin (Sweden).

Others are Ramadhan Dau (Malaysia); Alex Kallua (Israel); Silima Kombo Haji (Sudan); Mahmoud Thabit Kombo (Italy); Jill Maleko (Burundi); Ally Jabir Mwadini (Saudi Arabia) and Adelardus Kilangi (Brazil).

The main goal of climbing the mountain, which is one of the highest mountains in the world, was to raise the national flag on the mountain to celebrate 61 years of Tanganyika’s independence, which is marked every December 9.

As one of the journalists who joined the expedition and ended up at the Kibo station, I was able to focus on five things to learn and consider for a person intending to climb the mountain for the first time.

No baths allowed

One such thing is that climbers are not allowed to take a bath while on the mountain

During our six days of scaling the mountain, we were not allowed to take a bath except that we were advised to wipe ourselves with water only or wash some parts of the body.

This is despite the availability of warm water services provided in small basins wherever there is a camp for mountain climbers.

Unaware of that prohibition, I bathed to reduce fatigue while I was in my tent at Mandara camp.

The guide, Harrison Akyoo, warned me not to repeat that as exposure will lead to freezing.

“You should just wipe yourself. After that, make sure you apply a lot of curd oil to prevent yourself from the cold,” Mr Akyoo insisted.

Health challenges

As mountain climbers, we were informed about the possibility of experiencing health challenges while scaling the mountain including headaches, stomachaches, dizziness, nausea and fatigue, challenges of which many of us encountered.

However, we were required to provide information when we encounter any challenge so that we can get help.

Speaking about those challenges, Dr Nassor Matuzya says they are due to the cold weather on Mt Kilimanjaro.

“That’s why some climbers lack oxygen, especially for those with other health complications that reduce the efficiency of the heart performance,” he says.

“However, anyone can climb Mt Kilimanjaro and I once met a disabled white man at Uhuru Peak. You will be helped according to your issue and that is why it is insisted that climbers not hide the problems they face,” he added.

Dr Matuzya says that even people suffering from high blood pressure are climbing the mountain after getting instructions from doctors, but the change in weather is what causes some not to reach the mountain peak.

Speaking more professionally, Dr Othman Kiloloma says that when a person climbs the mountain, the amount of oxygen in the air decreases.

So, he expresses that an ordinary person who does not exercise and lives in the plains has less ability to carry that air in red blood cells (hemoglobin).

“This condition causes dizziness and headaches because the level of oxygen reaching the brain decreases,” says Dr Kiloloma.

Face current weather conditions 

It usually gets colder as you climb the mountain, so it is recommended that some tea should be available all the time in camp for the climbers to drink.

However, there is a time when you may feel very hot, but such a condition disappears within a very short time.

The journey from Mandara camp to Horombo that took place on the second day was very difficult as some climbers ended half-way, although most of us reached the camp.

After enough rest, on the third day we visited the Zebra area, where the body is prepared to climbing the mountain.

This is because the climate of the area is similar to that of the mountain peak, according to Tanapa’s officer, Mr Mohammed Kiganja.

That was a day many leaders including Tanzania’s Ambassador to England, Dr Asha Rose Migiro and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Eliamani Sedoyeka were cheerful and full of enthusiasm, believing they will be able to reach the mountain peak.

At 9 a.m. on the fourth day, we started the 11-hour journey from Horombo to Kibo where the climbers remembered the advice of the chairman of the Tanapa board, who wanted the climbers to respect Mt Kilimanjaro.

“Don’t imitate anyone, climb the mountain to the best of your ability and with a slow pace that will get you to the top,” he said before the participants started the journey.

For her part, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Pindi Chana, urged us to take care of the natural resources we inherited so that we can pass them on to future generations.

Love among the climbers was unique

The journey to Kibo was more difficult, but with the help of mountain climbing guides we managed to reach the area.

Many people on Mount Kibo had to breathe with the help of special cylinders with oxygen due to the weather with ice falling most of the time.

Here is where I wore six different clothes including socks, gloves and a hat to protect myself from the cold but they did not help me either.

In climbing the mountain, no one walks past another on the way without knowing their condition, those who are sick will be looked at with a special care and sometimes the guides would volunteer to carry and feed them and even to help clothe climbers who happen to be tired.

The journey to the peak takes place at night

The journey to the Uhuru Peak takes place at night and the distance from Kibo to Uhuru Peak is more than eight hours.

The first stop after leaving Kibo is called Gilman, an area that many fail to cross and hence being brought back down with the help of trolleys.

A climber who succeeds in crossing the area enters Stella station and finally reaches the Uhuru Peak.

On that day 101 people managed to reach Gilman’s and some managed to reach the top. Kinapa says the number of people reaching the top is increasing every year.

I stopped at Kibo where I continued to breathe using an oxygen cylinder until the next morning when a guide named Victor came and advised me to go down to Horombo to get much better.

We were received at Marangu Kilimanjaro Regional by Nurdin Babu and retired CDF Waitara on the sixth day who explained that the history of taking the national flag to the Uhuru Peak started in 2008.

“Earlier, we did not have the procedure of taking the national flag there as on Tanganyika’s Independence Day, December 9, 1961, Alexander Nyirenda took he Uhuru Torch to the Mountain Peak, later Sarakikya (Mirisho, retired General) climbed the mountain with TPDF officers until 2007 when Sarakikya and I had the idea of taking the national flag there as I was about to retire,” said Waitara.