Day 1 in Tanzania - Dar es Salam to Moshi

5 am start to beat the rush hour in Dar, boarded our coach - Kilimanjaro express for the 10 hour trip north to Moshi . Travelled at hair raising speed over roads under construction or needing reconstruction! 

Arrived in one piece at our hotel at the foot of Kilimanjaro. Nakara Safari lodge, a  nice hotel with a view of the mountain if it were not misty. 

The temperature had dropped noticeably and during our briefing the guide mentioned that the summit is around minus 20 with windchill at the moment! 

Just packed our rucksacks with all the warm clothes we have. Hoping for good weather over the next few days. 

I've seen this logo somewhere before! 

Heading of at 8am tomorrow for our first days climbing. 

All excited and a little aprehensive about the weather. 

Arrived in Tanzania - Dar es Salam not a 'Haven of Peace'

Dar es Salam was a small fishing port until in the 1860's The Sultan of Zanzibar decided to convert the inland harbour to a trading port. He called it Dar es Salam the Haven of Peace! Things have certainly changed in the last 154 years. DeS is now a modern African capital, meaning chaotic traffic, streets full of colour and activity. Indian, African and Arabic influences everywhere to make this city a modern example of increasingly cosmopolitan modern Africa.

Off to buy some local football shirts in the market this afternoon. These seam to be the only dress which all citizens are wearing. Great opportunity for us to blend in. 

No luck in shopping, down town Dar es Salam is devoid of tourist shopping. Hopefully will get better options tomorrow. Early start at 5am heading for Moshi for an overnight and final kit inspection before starting the climb Friday. 

Staying down town, so noisy but we all should sleep fine after 16 hours getting here! 

Many thanks to all of our sponsors and a special thanks to the corporate sponsors below. Your donations will really help to save lives here in the UK and Africa.

Local support team in Tanzania

We will be assisted in our climb by Elias and the team at African Wilderness Adventures.
 
African Wilderness Adventures has been founded by Elias Lyimo, a very experienced and passionate guide . His speciality is assisting people to hike to the highest point in Africa, but his knowledge of the wildlife and Game Parks in Tanzania is astonishing.
A local Tanzanian, Elias Lyimo and his team of professional, helpful and very friendly guides will make sure your trip is not only successful, but will leave you with happy memories for years to come.
African Wilderness Adventures aims to assist the Tanzanian government in it’s efforts to promote the tourism industry and provide excellent, quality service to it’s clients and employment to skilled local youth, with utmost regard to the beautiful paradise that is Tanzania.

African Wilderness Adventures
P.O.BOX 2339
ARUSHA, TANZANIA
Cell Phone : +255732979993
+255754888457
Email:
info@africanwildernessadventures.com

Who are Transaid and what do they do?

Transaid is an international development charity. We identify, champion, implement and share local transport solutions to improve access to basic services and economic opportunity for people in Africa and in developing countries.
We combine the expertise of the European Transport and Logistics industry with our long experience of working in the developing world. We partner with local communities, governments, donors and other organisations to achieve our aims and facilitate exchange of skills and knowledge gained from our projects. 
Transaid’s history goes back over 25 years and is strongly supported by the European Transport and Logistics Industry. Through combining this expertise with our longstanding experience of working in the developing world, we partner with organisations in the public and private sector including local community organisations, governments, institutions and donors to build capability and achieve our aims. This collaborative approach enables Transaid to provide innovative solutions to some of the key challenges facing transport and development today.
Transaid was founded by Save the Children and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and our Patron is HRH The Princess Royal.  Read more here 
http://www.transaid.org

Interested in a challenge and like to visit Tanzania? You can in 2015 with Transaid. 

Join me and some fellow adventurers for this once in a life time cycling adventure, covering an incredible 400km in just five days. 

This 9 day challenge takes us from two of Africa’s most stunning landmarks – Mount Kilimanjaro and the Ngorongoro Crater. 

Starting on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, this cycle ride sees us pass through Maasai villages, savannahs, encounter Tanzania’s wildlife close up including colombus monkeys and baboons, and finally, finish in the safari paradise of the Ngorongoro Crater. We will experience a whole range of road surfaces from smooth tarmac to dirt tracks to sand. Transaid’s Africa challenges are designed to be just that – a huge challenge, but one that you will never forget, all while raising money for Transaid’s vital work.
 

Dates: Saturday 6th June – Sunday 14th June
 

Distance: Approximately 400km over five days
 

Fundraising pledge: £299 registration fee and a £3300 fundraising target 

Interested ? First two to sign up stating 'Michelin' will get their registration fee paid in full. 
For more information, please download the information and registration pack from the Transaid site. Alternatively, please get in touch with Transaid on:florence@transaid.org, or on 020 7387 8136.

Who are the UHNS Charity and what do they do?

About UHNS Charity

UHNS Charity supports the excellent work of University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust by enhancing facilities and providing added value. It is a registered charity that manages all money raised for, or donated to, the hospital.

UHNS Charity supports patients, their relatives and friends, staff and local businesses and organisations to raise money for the hospital.

The charity also works closely with the hospital to make sure that all specialities are supported to spend every penny of the money raised on items that will directly improve patient care.

Through this website you can find out more about the work of the charity, be inspired by others, read about  our amazing fundraisers, or simply donate to this great cause here ; 

http://www.uhnscharity.org.uk

Ten facts about Mt Kilimanjaro

Ten facts about Mt Kili 

Rising majestically above the African plains, the 20,000-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro has beckoned to climbers since the first recorded summit in 1889. Here are 10 interesting facts to help inspire your own future summit:

10. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

9. Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again. The most recent activity was about 200 years ago; the last major eruption was 360,000 years ago.

8. Nearly every climber who has summitted Uhuru Peak, the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim, has recorded his or her thoughts about the accomplishment in a book stored in a wooden box at the top.

7. The oldest person ever to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro was 87-year-old Frenchman Valtee Daniel.

6. Almost every kind of ecological system is found on the mountain: cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and an arctic summit.

5. The fasted verified ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro occurred in 2001 when Italian Bruno Brunod summitted Uhuru Peak in 5 hours 38 minutes 40 seconds. The fastest roundtrip was accomplished in 2004, when local guide Simon Mtuy went up and down the mountain in 8:27.

4. The mountain’s snow caps are diminishing, having lost more than 80 percent of their mass since 1912. In fact, they may be completely ice free within the next 20 years, according to scientists.

3. Shamsa Mwangunga, National Resources and Tourism minister of Tanzania, announced in 2008 that 4.8 million indigenous trees will be planted around the base of the mountain, helping prevent soil erosion and protect water sources.

2. South African Bernard Goosen twice scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair. His first summit, in 2003, took nine days; his second, four years later, took only six. Born with cerebral palsy, Goosen used a modified wheelchair, mostly without assistance, to climb the mountain.

1. Approximately 25,000 people attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro annually. Approximately half are successful. Altitude-related problems is the most common reason climbers turn back.