Ilboru Safari Lodge – 29th February
Even in the knowledge that there was a proper bed, fresh food and even a shower waiting at the end of toady there was still an air of reluctance as we said our final farewells and grabbed our rucksacks.
The walk out was slated for six hours, first taking us out of the low scrub of the moorland zone and back into the rainforest before finally reaching the gate and signing the register for one last time.
Initially the track was steep and rocky, not a great combination on tired legs but with a more relaxed schedule everyone was able to go at their own pace from those of us steaming ahead at the front to those taking a more leisurely (exhausted) amble at the back!
A quick stop at the Mweka Hut (and a very welcome Mars Bar) and motivated by the prospect of a cold beer (Kilimanjaro of course) we plunged into the deep rainforest.
Once again the sheer variety and saturation of the plant life took our breaths away and almost as a parting gift we caught our first glimpse of the Impatiens Kilimanjaro, a small red and yellow flower exclusive to this mountain!
With gravity now on our side and an almost subconscious urgency to our stride we broke through the forest and arrived at the gate to find ourselves immediately surrounded by a gaggle of sellers peddling t-shirts, posters, books and jewellery.
With exhaustion quickly setting in we ignored their temptations (but not their charm) and quickly signed the register before steeling ourselves for the final 15 mins to our rendezvous.
Settling down to the much promised beer and feeling rather pleased with ourselves we pondered how far behind the rest of our team were.
Bracing ourselves for lengthy wait we did our best to savour the beers that represented the last of our shillings.
The sellers had multiplied since our arrival and now outnumbered us by at least three to one and our pleas of poverty fell not so much on deaf ears as enterprising ones as they offered to trade against our dirty and battered kit!
We resolved to keep our heads down until reinforcements arrived providing a welcome update on everyone’s progress and a very welcome new audience for the sales patter.
Pretty soon there was enough of us to fill one of the buses and tired and exhilarated the long drive provided the perfect opportunity to review some of the 1,500 photo’s I had managed to accumulate across both mountains!
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