Kilimanjaro Climb Part 2 – Arrival in Moshi

The previous entry in this Kilimanjaro Trip journal is the Kilimanjaro Climb Part 1 - Introduction. Alice’s words (with the bare minimum of editing by me) will be in italics. My words will be in the usual font that I use for these blog entries.

In this journal entry, Alice describes her arrival in Moshi and has second thoughts about whether this trip was such a good idea after all.

Alice’s journal:

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March 30, 5:47 AM

Yikes! I just realized that it is March 30th and Xene’s birthday. I promised to down a Kilimanjaro Beer or Gin & Tonic on her behalf. Don’t know how I’ll manage that today – I am so tired.

I’ve been traveling for about 24 hours, an 8-hour flight to Amsterdam then 8 hours in the airport. Now I’m just finishing up a 7½-hour flight to Nairobi. The horizon is a rainbow of colours.

My trip, so far, has been nothing but continuous attempts to sleep. I accidentally packed my Diamox [a preventative for altitude sickness] instead of my Clonazepan in my cabin luggage. No blissful drugged out snooze for me.

I’ve used my first internet café / communications centre in Amsterdam airport. I had a few emails to enjoy and had a brief live email chat with Greg. I sent some reassurances to my Mom and Dad and siblings as all I did was whine to them about my cold before I left.

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March 30, 8:42 PM

Finally, I am here at the Keys Hotel in Moshi.

I had a great early morning flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro Airport. I had to smile (unusual when feeling sick and tired) at the scene boarding the prop Precision Air flight. We were all out on the tarmac, lots of flight attendants, flight crew, etc., needing to personally identify our baggage before they would load it.

I had a great view of Kilimanjaro from the airplane. It looks like a long walk.


Kilimanjaro International Airport is so small and quaint. I wanted to take photos but felt too self conscious. There were only seven real tourists on my flight. No hoards of climbers or safari clients. We’re definitely in the off season.

Unfortunately, my shuttle from the Keys Hotel did not materialize. I waited, politely refusing all transport offers. Managed to get someone to phone for me. Waited another 1½ hours. Then the Precision Air officer phoned for me and proceeded with a heated discussion in Swahili. My driver soon showed up in a wreck of a green jeep.

After filling up the radiator with water we were off for the 45-minute drive to Moshi.

I felt totally out of my element. I felt that I had made a terrible mistake and should be safe and sound at home in Vancouver. This is way more 3rd world than I ever imagined. People are so poor. We drove through rural Tanzania. The countryside was filled with people. People hand-hoeing, watching their goats and cattle, fetching water, riding bikes, hand-seeding the corn, standing, sitting…

A great number of the people were Masai, dressed somewhat in the traditional clothes.

Even the non-Masai make me feel totally out of place. I didn’t see a single female in pants. They wear either sarongs or skirts. I really wish that I had brought my old Everest green dress.

We arrived at the Keys Hotel and I was disappointed not to see a bustling hotel filled with trekkers. The hotel was unoccupied except for myself and Maria. A bit unhappy, I slept for four hours.

We had our pre-trek briefing with John, our guide, at 5:00, one hour late.

I met Maria. She appears to be single and around 30. Maria has arrived with minimal trekking gear but she was able to rent gear from the Keys Hotel and she feels prepared now.

Maria and I were the only two guests at dinner. I think we’ll be a suitable match. She is here to visit her "Companion Child", 300 miles north of Nairobi. For two hours! Can you imagine coming all that way but contact is restricted by the agency. Maria is doing the climb and her Child Visit followed by a 20-day safari.

I’m back in my room now getting ready to sleep. I’m packed. My continuous headache is down to a dull roar. I figured out how to work the air conditioner, such as it is.

Xene will need to wait until the end of my climb for her Gin & Tonic birthday toast.

Lights Out!

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Part 3 of this Kilimanjaro Trip journal is here.