A Lady's field notes from Kilimanjaro

Day 1

Started hiking around 10. Sign said 3 hours to Mandara Huts (2715m). Took 4. 8km.

Animals: blue monkey, tree hyrax, birds, jackal poop

Plants: protea, monkey tree (because the fruit looks like a monkey scrotum), lots of others but can’t remember the names. Trees covered in moss, looks like a Southern Gothic novel

Lunch: hard-boiled eggs, white bread and butter sandwich, bananas, orange, cookies

Snacks we brought with us: at least 5kg of almonds, cashews, beef jerky, Jolly Ranchers, 16 Cliff bars, and 2 Snickers

Our guide’s name might be Godlizard?

Symptoms: ringing in ears

Note: need to improve handwriting

Day 2

The guide’s name is Godlisten. Makes more sense.

Walked 11km in 6 hours to Horombo huts (3705m). Arrived in a cloud.

Animals: Black and white colobus monkey, turtledove, spiderwasp, a lizard

Plants: Everlasting (?) flower, lots of other flowers, this cactus thing I like that reminds me of Dr Seuss

Lunch: same

Snacks: 4.9kg

Symptoms: ear ringing and fingertip tingling

Day 3

Acclimatization day.

8km hike to see where we are going tomorrow and Zebra Rock

Animals: birds, lizards. In camp there are scary giant crow things and a mouse that looks like a chipmunk in the dining hall. I should really be a biologist.

Plants: same as yesterday

Lunch: hot lunch! Leek soup, pasta with veg sauce

Snacks: 4.8kg

Symptoms: same

After dinner saw a shooting star!

Day 4

Awoke to sounds of elephants wrecking the camp but turns out it was just the noisy neighbors in the next room.

Left at 8am, hiked 9km in 4 hours to Kibo Huts (4730m)

Through the saddle and a butterfly graveyard

Animals: so many dead butterflies

Plants: some grass

Lunch: same as day 2

Snacks: 4.7kg

Symptoms: Godlisten asked as we reached the huts if we had headaches. Of course then I did. Upped the altitude sickness drugs, then read the insert and have all the side effects.

This camp is full of tents and very loud.