Position: Assistant Mountain Guide
I was born in 1994 in the village of Rau, which is close to the large town of Moshi. I lived there with my parents, three brothers, and one sister. My parents were farmers and would cultivate crops such as maize. As children, we often helped out with farming duties. I went to the Rau Primary School from 2001 to 2008, and after that, I attended the Majengo Secondary School, located in Moshi, between 2009 and 2012.
I joined the VETA College in Moshi town from 2013 to 2015 to study a technical course. After graduating, I started to climb Mount Kilimanjaro as a porter from 2016 onwards, and for the next six years, I worked as a porter with different companies in Moshi.
I enrolled at the Mweka Wildlife College in 2019 and took a one-month mountain guiding course. I successfully obtained my mountain guide’s license and became a mountain guide. Before joining Easy Travel, I was a mountain guide for various companies for a few years. A friend told me Easy Travel was hiring staff for their Kilimanjaro mountain crews. This is when I took the opportunity to apply for an interview and successfully got a job as an Assistant Mountain Guide.
Kilimanjaro is the trip of a lifetime because trekkers are tackling the tallest mountain in Africa at 5895m above sea level. When you climb Mount Kilimanjaro, you will experience many things during your hike. You will experience the high altitude, something you may have never experienced. You will experience the rainforest zone, the second zone on the mountain, and home to several animal and bird species. You will also see different animals such as blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and some birds such as the Alpine chat. You will have a great mountain crew which consists of the cook, porters, and guides. The chef will cook different, interesting meals – you will enjoy experiencing a true taste of Tanzanian food. During the climb, the crew will sing and dance so that you will hear -and learn – many new songs from your guides and porters.
My favorite route is the Machame route, taking seven days. The Machame route has a high success rate for making it to the top of the mountain, about 98%. This seven-day option lets your body adjust to the altitude easily because the trail has some parts that allow you to reach a higher altitude than the camp, where you will sleep at night. Walking up and returning down a bit lower to sleep helps your body adjust to the altitude. With it being seven days, your body will find it easier to adjust to the altitude.
Also, by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on the Machame route, you will summit via the Barafu Base camp, which has more zig-zags on the way to the summit. That will make it easier for you to get to the top than summiting via other basecamps, which use straighter and steeper paths, making it more difficult.
My favorite month of the year to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is in September. It is during the dry season (and the month of my birthday, so I feel very happy being on the mountain at that time!) Also, the weather is usually good when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in September. There is less chance of rainfall and not too much cloud cover so that you can get great views from the mountain. In September, the trail is not too dusty or muddy, so that guests can enjoy their trek much more. There are wonderful sunrises and sunsets because there is little cloud cover in the sky.
The phrases guest should learn.
Mambo, which means ‘how are you doing?’
Mlima, which means ‘mountain’ or ‘hill.’
Jambo, which means ‘hello.’
Preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, requires careful planning, physical preparation, and mental determination. Start by researching the various routes available, considering factors such as difficulty, time, and scenery. Consult experienced climbers and reputable tour operators to select the best option for your skill level and interests.
To ensure a successful ascent, embark on a comprehensive fitness program at least three months before your climb. Incorporate aerobic exercises, strength training, and hiking on inclines with a loaded backpack to build endurance and acclimate your body to the physical demands of the climb. Practice using your trekking gear, including boots, poles, and layers of clothing, to become comfortable and confident in their use.
Visit your doctor for a thorough check-up, and discuss altitude sickness prevention and treatment. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms and stay vigilant during the ascent. Lastly, pack essentials like sunscreen, insect repellent, and a first aid kit. With these preparations, you’ll be ready to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro.
As a mountain guide, I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro 100 times since 2016. The first time was for seven days on the Machame route. It was a different experience than being a porter because you have more responsibilities as a guide. You are not carrying all the luggage and equipment compared to the porters, and you walk slowly compared to the porters because you are escorting the trekkers and explaining the different things they see during the trek. It would help if you planned the daily schedule (how many hours, how many km, how high they go). You must also be checking the clients’ health by checking their oxygen levels, heart rate (pulse), and how they feel in general, and also you need to ensure that the crew members are well-managed and coordinated.
Altitude sickness – going to a high altitude, you may feel some side effects such as headaches, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, lack of oxygen, diarrhea, or vomiting. Anyone can be affected, and it happens when you get insufficient oxygen. This can make you lose energy and cause you to abandon the hike. The more you go up, the more your heart rate can increase due to the lack of oxygen.
Weather and cold – sometimes the temperature can drop to -20 degrees Celsius, especially during the summit, between 3 am and 6.30 am. At any high altitude, the temperature drops at night. Heavy rainfall can occur during a hike, so you must have the correct gear to prevent the equipment from getting wet.
Failure to communicate your medical history, for example, high blood pressure, asthma, or heart disease, can cause huge challenges.
First, climb or walk slowly when going to high altitudes. This is because when you climb too fast or rush, it will be too easy to develop a lung problem due to the lack of oxygen at high altitudes.
Second, drink enough water during the hike – not less than 3 liters daily. This is very important for hydration. When hiking, you lose much water by sweating a lot. So, you need water to hydrate your body.
Thirdly, eat well, especially healthy food, as this will help you to get more energy. Eating protein and sugar-based foods is advisable.
Fourthly, it is good to know that acclimatization is important for trekkers because your body needs to adjust at a high altitude. The technique used to achieve this is by climbing high and sleeping low. You can also take altitude pills, such as Diamox if prescribed by your doctor, as these will help you to avoid altitude sickness.
Fifthly, dressing in warm clothing when it is cold is vital so that your body does not get affected by the cold. The sixth piece of advice is to have enough rest.
Finally, follow all the information you get from your guides because they are very experienced and know the mountain much better than you.
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