Adolf Mashauri Kuyenga

Mount Kilimanjaro is a trip of a lifetime for many different reasons. On the climb, you mix with people from different regions, different tribes, different cultures, and lifestyles, all in one group climbing Kilimanjaro together. The trekkers come from various parts of the world and meet crew members from different parts of Tanzania – from different cultures and tribes. You can meet crew members from the Maasai, Chagga, Sukuma, Wajita, or Pare tribes. And there are dozens more, too!

It is also a mountain that people of all ages can climb. Disabled, young, and elderly trekkers can make it to the summit with the right route, the right length of the hike, and the right crew. Whether you are nine years old or 89 years old, you can trek Mount Kilimanjaro!

My favorite route is the seven-day Machame route because the rising and falling of the terrain allows trekkers to sleep well, and this helps them to acclimatize. The weather is moderate, sometimes sunny, and sometimes cloudy. This is one of the routes with a high summit-success rate.

Easy Travel is the best choice for trekkers wanting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro because the company’s service is exceptional. They have experienced company directors, chefs, porters, mountain guides, and office staff that make excellent preparation for all the trips.

Easy Travel provides good equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, walking poles, and portable toilets. At the end of the trips, the guests almost always give the company positive feedback.

It is a well-organized company, from the Head Office to the mountain crew and drivers. Good cooperation ensures that the company ranks highly for its high standards and level of service. This is a team that works professionally compared to many of the other companies.

Hikers need to climb Mount Kilimanjaro during the best-recommended month. My favorite month of the year to climb Kilimanjaro is June because it is the dry season, and it is warm during the day, and although cold at nighttime, it is still the best, in my opinion.

My favorite part of Mount Kilimanjaro is the southeastern section of the mountain. Here you will experience the montane forest, which is very thick and rich in terms of flora and fauna found in the forest. You can also find antelopes, duikers, monkeys, and birds, such as the turaco. There are flowers such as the impatiens Kilimanjaro and impatiens Pseudoviola. Streams come from the forest and flow down to Moshi town and the important cultivation zone where local people grow crops and tend animals on the ground rich in fertile soil with plenty of water.

People do not expect to discover a tropical rainforest on Mount Kilimanjaro. And close to tropical conditions, it is very rare to find glaciers, but trekkers are surprised to find big glaciers on the top of the mountain. They do not expect to eat fresh, cooked food for the whole trip on the mountain. They are often delighted by the warm hospitality, and high quality of service the mountain crew provides (porters, guides, chefs).

My favorite thing about Tanzanian culture is how unique and special the different cultures are. I have seen many Tanzanian ways of life and cultures. Still, the Maasai tribal dance ceremony, with its amazing jumping, is one of the most amazing cultural things I have ever seen.

Pole pole, which means ‘slowly slowly.’
Jambo, which means ‘hello.’
Hakuna matata, which means ‘no worries’

Our guests will be surprised to learn I am from the ‘Wajita’ tribe. We originate from the Mara region near Lake Victoria. These people cultivate crops and keep livestock. Our main meal is ugali with lake fish. We have traditional ceremonies during harvesting crops such as maize, millet, and pearl millet. The tribe members make a local brew, called ‘togwa,’ out of the pearl millet, and during their ceremonies, they dance and jump, like the Maasai tribe.

First is some advice about medication, as all trekkers must ensure they have a first aid kit which is important to carry with them for safety. This should include medication such as painkillers, bandages etc.
Proper and appropriate equipment is vital, as a trekker must have the right summit gear, a good sleeping bag, rain gear, walking poles, sleeping mattresses, and the right clothing. Following the hiking principles is crucial; this means walking slowly to let your body adjust to the increases in elevation.
Drinking at least three liters of water each day is important. You sweat and lose water during the walk, so you must recover by drinking water.

Eating three meals daily is very important: a healthy and heavy breakfast, light lunch, and a light dinner. You must continue giving your body energy throughout the day because hiking burns many calories. Trekkers must gain calories and can snack during the trek on items such as chocolate, biscuits, or fruit.

As a guide, I have successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro more than 80 times. Getting to the top all these times, I have faced some challenges as a guide and porter. As a guide, you can face fatigue or sometimes sore knee joints. When I was a porter, it was difficult to get to the summit because I did not have the best warm clothing, so it was cold at the most challenging part of the climb.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest peak in Africa, about 5895m above sea level. Altitude is one of the challenges all trekkers and crew face. This can be a major obstacle to people hiking, as it can cause climbers to abandon or develop sickness. You can get so sick that you fail to continue the climb.

Poor preparation can be problematic because hiking requires preparation through practicing acclimatization on small or high-altitude mountains back in your home country before climbing Kilimanjaro. Your body needs to get used to adjusting to higher elevations. Practicing will help you during your trek of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Poor-quality gear can be a concern when you are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. A trekker must pack appropriate shoes or hiking boots and warm clothes.

Fatigue or tiredness may occur, indicating your body cannot go further. The best solution is to stop climbing higher.

Weather is another main challenge many trekkers and crew face on Kilimanjaro. This can affect the chances of reaching the top or even prevent a summit’s success. Injuries can also occur, and climbing is dangerous if someone has twisted their ankle.

This is a major factor that makes most climbers fail to summit. First is some advice about medication, as trekkers might wish to take altitude sickness pills if prescribed/advised by their doctor.
Hiking needs preparation by practicing acclimatization on small or high-altitude mountains in your home country before climbing Kilimanjaro. Your body needs to get used to adjusting to higher elevations. Practicing will help you during your trek of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Following the hiking principles is crucial; this means walking slowly to let your body adjust to the increases in elevation.

Drinking at least three liters of water each day is important. You sweat and lose water during the walk, so you must recover by drinking water.

Eating three meals daily is very important: a healthy and heavy breakfast, light lunch, and a light dinner. Heavy foods can cause problems at high altitudes. You must continue giving your body energy throughout the day because hiking burns many calories. Trekkers must gain calories and can snack during the trek on items such as chocolate, biscuits, or fruit.

When a trekker or crew gets sick and needs rescuing at the highest point on the mountain, it becomes a challenge as a guide has to take the trekker/crew member down to a lower elevation because there is no real infrastructure to get down the mountain. So, the crew must use a stretcher and significant manpower, which takes much longer to get the trekker/crew member down.

The toilet facilities of the national park are not very clean, which causes many people to go into the bush. This, in turn, leads to the contamination of the mountain terrain.
Weather is one of the challenges we face every day. If it is too dry, most of the time, it is very dusty, and this causes a runny nose or coughing. When it rains, almost everything will be wet. The soil becomes very soft and muddy and causes the trek to be slippery.

Trekkers may choose not to share their medical information and history with the crew. When we are in the lower elevations, detecting any issues a trekker may be experiencing is difficult. Still, when we are at high elevations, you can notice a problem a trekker is facing. It may cause an emergency at that point as guides were unaware of a pre-existing medical condition.