My version of the year 2011 in review: 10 December

The exotic flowers of Mt. Kilimanjaro appear in various shapes and colours.

At Mweka Camp I added this specimen to my collection of photos of Kilimanjaro's flowers although I am yet to identify its name.

This was the last day of the climb and before we left Mweka Camp for Mweka Gate I thought it was a good time to take a few mementos of the climb. Before the photo was taken I asked: "Can I hold her?" And I think Deo said: "Yes, but don't get too comfortable!"

Before leaving Mweka Camp, from left to right: the author of this blog, Aneth Tillya, and Deogratias Semiono. They both reached the summit. I managed to reach Stella Point.

So just to be on the safe side, I held Aneth as high as possible.

At Mweka Gate we were received by the District Commissioner and officials from Zara Tanzania Adventures, including Zara's proprietor, Zainab Ansell.

After a few speeches and the award of climbers' certificates, the entire group of climbers, dubbed the Kiboko Team by Cloud TV's Anthony Nugaz (in black jacket), posed for a group photo.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-exotic-flowers-of-mt-kilimanjaro.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/02/mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro-charity.html

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-6.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-11.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 6 December

When climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro through the Lemosho route the views of Mt. Kilimanjaro change by the day.

At Barranco camp the image of Kibo would be unrecognizable to the familiar view of Mt. Kilimanjaro from Moshi where, weather permitting, both Kibo and Mawenzi peaks are visible.

One of the expedition members, who everyone called Mpemba (native of Pemba), flashed a thumbs-up sign in the comfort of his tent. The national flag was a reminder that we were climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to mark 50 years of Tanzania's independence.

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/06/weather-on-mt-kilimanjaro.html

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-5.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-10.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 5 December

On the second day of the Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb to mark 50 years of Tanzania's independence,

Deo Semiono and Aneth Tillya.

we stopped briefly for a rest and I told John Semiono, left, of Zara Tanzania Adventures and Aneth Tillya from Leopard Tours Arusha, that they will be the most photogenic couple on this climb.

Looking good on a photograph has nothing to do with the ability to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. They had both qualities and reached the summit a few days later.

As a group of porters approached Aboubakar Malipula (with back to camera), a cameraman from Clouds TV, took some low angle video footage.

When we resumed the trek towards Shira 2 camp, his colleague from Clouds TV and host of Kambi Popote, Anthony Nugaz, edged his way up the Seven Hills section, the most testing part of the day's trek.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-4.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-6.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 4 December

Early in the morning we assembled for a photo session at Springlands Hotel before embarking on our first day of the Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb organized jointly by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and Zara Tanzania Adventures.

Zainab Ansell, third from left, Zara's proprietor, and her sister Remmy Adam, fourth from left, joined staff and some of the climbers to see off the group of twenty-plus climbers that I was leading on this historic climb to mark 50 years of Tanzania's independence.

When we stopped briefly in downtown Moshi, the German film crew of Benjamin Leers, right, and Maurice Housni, second from right, joined Aneth Tillya, second from left, and another unidentified climber for a photograph.

The four made a photogenic quartet and attracted the attention of others who took several additional photos.

After we registered our names at the Londrossi Gate of the Kilimanjaro National Park we began the 25 minute drive to the edge of the rain forest where the 4-5 hour trek to the first camp, Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree), begins.

Because of the wet road condition, the minibus dropped us some distance before we reached the drop-off point and we were asked to wait to be picked up by an off road truck described by one American climber as "a truck with attitude", a menacing truck that can tackle the worst road conditions. Others decided to begin the walk before the truck's arrival.

The road conditions were so bad that even "the truck with attitude" had to stop some distance before reaching the end of the road and the beginning of the foot path. It would be at least an entire hour of walking before we reached the normal drop-off point.

Some of the porters began to walk ahead of us. My fourth Mt. Kilimanjaro climb, the first time I had attempted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro twice in a year, was underway.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-3.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-5.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 3 December

The hotel bedroom prior to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is normally littered with clothing and other items necessary for the climb as each climber sorts out what to take on the climb and what to leave at the hotel. It is an untidy mess of relatively clean clothing and mountain gear.

The bedroom after the climb is worse: it is an untidy mess of dirty clothing and mountain gear.

In the afternoon Benjamin Leers and co-filmmaker Maurice Housni decided they should begin to interview me for the documentary, The Teacher's Country.

They chose a scenic spot among the rice fields close to Springlands Hotel. As they set up their equipment and carried out a sound check, a noisy bird attracted their attention.

Other posts in this 2011 reviews series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-2.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-4.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 2 December

The filmmakers, Benjamin Leers and Maurice Housni, arrived in Moshi from Dar es Salaam today and in the evening they spent time in an Internet cafe' near the Buffalo Hotel in downtown Moshi to link up by videophone with their relatives in Germany.

In two days we embark with them on the Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb organized by Tanzania Tourist Board and Zara Tanzania Adventures to mark 50 years of Tanzania's independence. Benjamin and Maurice will also shoot part of their film documentary in which I will also answer questions on how Tanzania has evolved during its 50 years of nationhood.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-3.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-30.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 30 November

Once again, I was ready for Kilimanjaro. The mountain, not the lager.

I packed my climbing gear and some clothes in two bags and waited for the bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) to take me to the Musoma - Mwanza road for a bus trip to Mwanza and an onward connection to Moshi. It is amazing to see how much can be loaded on a motorcycle.

Post related to this one:

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/01/if-there-is-one-thing-that-tanzanians_25.html

Other posts in this 2011 review series:

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-2.html

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-24.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 24 November

In the morning I attended a press conference called by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) to publicize the forthcoming "Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb" to take place from 4th to 9th December to mark 50 years of Tanzania's independence.

The Tanzania Tourist Board gave me the honour to lead other climbers on this historic climb as part of country-wide celebrations. The plan was to retrace the footsteps of Lt. Alex Gwebe Nyirenda who at the stroke of midnight on 9th December 1961 placed a torch and the flag of newly-independent Tanganyika on the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak and the world's highest free standing mountain.

With me at the press conference was Deogratias Malogo, left, and Geoffrey Meena of the Tanzania Tourist Board.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-30.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-23.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 13 November

On my fifth day of my visit to Germany, I was in Leipzig with Benjamin Leers with whom I will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in December 2011 during which he, with co-filmmaker Maurice Housni, will film a documentary to mark 50 years of Tanzania's independence.

With Benjamin Leers, left, Maurice Housni, second from left, and Benjamin's parents to my left, at Bach's statue in Leipzig.

We visited downtown Leipzig and stopped at a church where Johann Sebastian Bach, recognized as the greatest composer of classical music of all time, was the Director of Music and where he taught and mentored a children's choir. He lived and worked in Leipzig between 1723 until his death in 1750.

Later I, Benjamin, and his colleague Maurice Housni, were interviewed by Daniel Heinze of Radio

My turn on the mike, with Daniel Heinze of Radio PSR.

PSR for a program to publicize the forthcoming Mt. Kilimanjaro climb in December.

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/10/yes-mt-kilimanjaro-is-in-tanzania-and.html

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-12.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-14.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 12 November

I took a bicycle ride through a scenic route of Leipzig with filmmaker Benjamin Leers, with whom I will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro next month to mark 50 years of Tanzania's independence. It was good exercise for the upcoming climb and I told Benjamin I would tell my guide, Yahoo, that this time I trained in Germany for my climb.

Later at a cafe', we met his co-partner, Maurice Housni, with whom they will film a documentary during the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.

Within a few days, I went from drinking from the smallest Coca-cola can I had ever seen to drinking coffee from one of the biggest coffee cups I have come across.

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/10/yes-mt-kilimanjaro-is-in-tanzania-and.html

Other posts in this 2011 review series
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-9.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-13.html

On my way to Kilimanjaro

I am just about to leave Butiama for yet another rendezvous at the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This time with 12 visitors from Tanzania Development Support in a charity climb to raise money for construction of a library and teachers' documentation center for Nyegina Secondary School.

There is no better excuse for wearing a t-shirt from my December 2011 "Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb."

posted from Bloggeroid

The Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb

We have just completed registration at Londrossi Gate for the Mt. Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb, 4 - 10 December.

The temperature at Londrossi is 27° Celcius.

The Mt. Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb kicks off

A repoter from Star TV, below right, interviews Majira newspaper's managing editor, Imma Mbuguni, minutes before the commencement of the Mt. Kilimanjaro UhuruClimb.

The climb has been organized jointly by Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and Zara Tanzania Adventures.

I have been honoured by TTB as the leader of this climb to mark 50 years of the independence of Tanzania mainland.

We plan to be at the summit on the anniversary, 9th December.