A trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in September this year is being organised to raise funds for The Children’s Centre. It follows a successful trip to Africa’s highest peak run by the charity in 2010, and those adventurers who missed out last time are being urged to sign up now to avoid disappointment. Mount Kilimanjaro stands 5,895metres above sea level in northern Tanzania near the border with Kenya and is the world’s highest free standing mountain. The route will follow the Lemosho Trail route which is one of lesser trodden paths to the summit, but one that was taken by celebrities who climbed the mountain in aid of Comic Relief in 2009.
The 12 day trip starts on September 19 with a flight to Nairobi, Kenya, and a transfer to Arusha across the border into Tanzania the following day. The next day the walking begins with a trek through the rain forest from Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubw (Big Tree) Campsite at an altitude of 2,800metrs. There’s another 700metres of climbing the next day, and just 300metres the following day to allow the trekkers to acclimatise gradually to the thinner air.
On day nine the trip culminates with The Children’s Centre adventurers making an early start for the final push to the summit from Barafu Hut to Uhuru Peak - the highest point in Africa. After ascending just over 1,200metres in one day the reward for the effort will be worthwhile with the chance to watch a spectacular sunrise. The following day it’s time to say goodbye to the summit, but the group will take with them some fantastic memories as they descend the mountain and head back to Arusha and on to Nairobi for the flight home.
Mark Eastham, Adventure Events Fundraising Co-ordinator at The Children’s Centre, said that anyone interested in the trek was invited to attend either of two launch events to find out more about the trip, talk to organisers, and meet some participants from the 2010 trek. The launch events will be held upstairs at The British Hotel, North Quay, Douglas, on Tuesday February 5 at 6pm, and at The Children’s Centre’s main offices on Woodbourne Road, Douglas, on Thursday February 21 at 6pm. If you wish to attend either event please register in advance by emailing MarkEastham@thechildrenscentre.org.im, or calling 676076.
Jayne Corteen took part in the 2010 Kilimanjaro trip and has memories from the adventure that will last a lifetime. She said:
“The main motivation for me doing the Kilimanjaro trek was to experience another culture, to see how people in other countries live and struggle to earn a living in conditions of real poverty. But it was also a fantastic experience to see some of the views we got from the campsites at dusk and dawn. They were quite awesome, and to see the stars at night with no light pollution was amazing. I felt the trek itself was quite steady until that final night push to the summit, that was hard, but on reaching the top - gosh, what a feeling of achievement! And now to look back on it, it's amazing to think 'I was there, I did that'!”
The Kilimanjaro trek has been completed by people of all ages and all backgrounds and The Children’s Centre will provide expert advice on how to prepare for the walk and how to raise funds. In previous years trekkers have used a range of ideas to raise funds including car boot sales and supermarket bag packing events. Some trekkers have even rented out their homes to TT Homestay visitors and used the income to cover the cost of the charity trek. The Kilimanjaro trek is being run in conjunction with specialist charity challenge organisers Global Adventure Challenges. For more details go to http://www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/events/looking-to-trek-kilimanjaro-in-2013/
Photo - The Children’s Centre team at the summit of Kilimanjaro in 2010.
