Day 2: The climb begins

Start: Londorossi Gate

Finish: Mtu Mkubwa

Distance: 4 miles

Elevation gain: 2360m to 2895m

Climatic zone: Rainforest

After a restful night's sleep at the lodge it was time for the long anticipated adventure to begin. After breakfast and a final organisation of gear, we met our guide Saidi who introduced us to the assistant guides - Joey and Anton. After getting acquainted we loaded onto the minibus which had golden velvet seats, Saidi joked, "5 star service for your time in Tanzania!" We drove to the Londorossi gate situated at 2360m above sea level, passing through a mix of small farms and larger coffee plantations that thrive on the fertile soils of Kilimanjaro's lower slopes. The driver slowed down as Saidi casually pointed out a herd of giraffes that grazed in the distance, as if this was his equivalent of passing a field of sheep. Once we arrived we were given a lunch box packed with sandwiches, fruits, chocolate bars and juice while we waited for the guides to complete the permits and necessary paperwork. Our team included porters, a man in charge of the camp toilet, a chef and a waiter - they loaded up with all the food and camp gear we would need for the coming days. As we chatted over lunch, a man tapped me on the shoulder saying,"Good luck Amy and I'll see you at the top". I recognised his strong South African accent, I'd been sat next to him on my flight from Nairobi to Tanzania and knew his team begun his ascent at the same time. I wished him good luck back, shaking his hand and saying "I'll see you at the summit!"

Saidi returned looking flustered from all the paperwork but equally excited to begin the climb. Our small team of 4 followed eagerly as he led us through the lush rainforest in pursuit of our first camp. The incline was relatively gentle and the rainforest was beautiful, black and white colobus monkeys played in the trees and a pair of blue monkeys cleaned each others fur on a distant branch. I had entered an entirely new land, bursting with life and I felt grateful to be there. Our guides set a slow pace, suitable for our adapting physiology that needed to acclimatise to the higher altitude. He used the Swahili phrase "Pole Pole" which means "slowly slowly", a phrase which echos down every slope of the mountain and serves as an important reminder to be cautious of the thinner air. We laughed and chatted on the route and I was really enjoying the company of my team and guides.

After a 3 hour hike through the humid rainforest we arrived at our first camp, it was busy full of large teams in high spirits and blue monkeys confidently approached tents in search of food. Ramaa had prepared tea and popcorn for us in the mess tent before giving us each a bowl of warm water which would be our shower substitute for our time on the mountain. Saidi then asked us to gather around the toilet tent for "instructions". Although camps have communal toilets, they are not frequently cleaned and increase risk of illness so we would have our toilet tent transported to each camp by a porter called Simon. Saidi used the analogy of sending an email to explain how the toilet contraption worked; first you pressed a pump to fill the toilet with water (turning on the Wifi), then you did your business which he demonstrated placing a leaf in the toilet (this was writing the email), then you pulled a lever which opened the base of the toilet (sending the email)!

We ate a wonderful dinner prepared by our chef Nasibo, he prepared three courses - carrot and ginger soup followed by a vegetable stew and fresh fruit which Ramaa delivered to the mess tent. In Tanzanian culture you always serve food in the same order; women before men and oldest before youngest which Ramaa strictly followed. After dinner we chatted and played card games before Saidi briefed us on the next day's hike and recorded our heart rates and oxygen levels in his folder. We all opted for an early night to ensure we had the energy reserves for the challenging days ahead. Although I knew the inclines would get steeper, the air would get the thinner and my energy levels would decrease, I couldn't have enjoyed my first day more and felt I was in safe hands to help me climb to the roof of Africa.