Karanga Camp(3950M) – Barafu Camp(4673M)

The morning promised a beautiful bright day, the sun picking out the rocks on Kilimanjaro. As the day progressed the cloud came in and we were finally walking in cloud.

Today’s walk was short, a little over 3km, but with a rise of 700 metres. It was quite tiring, and my camera was confiscated to reduce my weight. Our campsite was in a very quiet area, and well below the official Barafu campsite. This was to be the launch point for the final ascent of Kilimanjaro. The walk took around three hours and we arrived for an early lunch. Over lunch we had a briefing for the final ascent. The accent was due to start at 11.00pm. We would be walking up the mountain, in the dark, lit by a full moon and our head torches. The intention was to reach the summit around dawn. There would be a guide for each of us, so there was someone to look after each and every one of us. If necessary, they would carry your day bag. Oxygen would be taken for emergency use, and a portable hyperbaric (pressurisation) bag in case anyone suffered from high-altitude cerebral edema, or high-altitude pulmonary edema. We were advised to remove bottle filters; in case they froze up.

After lunch we went to our tents to attempt to sleep before climbing time. This proved difficult, the tent went from boiling hot, when the sun shone, to freezing cold when the sun disappeared behind a cloud. We were duly woken at 9.30 pm for supper and the start of the final ascent.

Our route to Barafu Camp