Geo: -3.3346, 37.3473An uneventful 4 hour trek today, the terrain has really shifted from green vegetation to rocky slopes now, I have started to feel a lot better and had started on Dioxin a few days ago which should help with the altitude sickness. The terrain has switched from moorland grasses and vegetation to rocky slopes with very sparse vegetation, the temperature has cooled significantly since we began the hike which makes life much more comfortable for me; I much prefer cool climates and don't deal well with heat.The food so far on the trip had been excellent and even at this increased altitude there had been no decrease in its quality, quite how the chef managed to perform such miracles from a tent no bigger than a shoe box and only a gas bottle and ... read more

Geo: -3.3346, 37.3473Day 2 Sunday 7th Feb 2016. The day started well at Simba camp, I didn't sleep too well and lay awake for quite sometime drifting in and out of sleep. As I emerged from the tent I was treated to the most amazing view of the summit of Kilimanjaro in the distance way above me. The sun was shining right on it like a sign saying 'here I am I dare you to come and get me' Breakfast was served outside and was amazingly pleasant in the cool morning sun, the camp was busy with the hustle and bustle of other guiding groups getting ready to leave. We had 3 hours of trek ahead of us to the next camp which was second cave, then a relaxed afternoon with an altitude training climb before ... read more

Geo: -1.33267, 36.9243Well I left home promptly at 1125hrs which was in fine keeping with military tradition having scheduled my departure for 1130hrs! One of the hardest things was leaving Jess my border collie behind, we had a cuddle, her paw extended over my lap and her head pressed into my neck and then I was off. Mothers cries of don't do anything stupid ringing in my ears; as if I would! The drive to the airport was uneventful and efficient, as I sat there alone in the car I reflected how much I wished I had my cousin Ian with me to share this experience. He's a lot of fun and I regard him as a brother; I felt quite lonely in the car heading off with thoughts of my distant soul mate up in ... read more