In
March, 14 students and teachers from Mbagara Secondary School reached
Gilman's Point. text and photos by Viane Nyoni
Students’ preparation
The school head announced to the students about the program of hiking
Kilimanjaro. What happened is that almost all students were excited
and were very happy and eager to go. The exercises were to walk for
a long distance about 15km to 20km two days per week, and then every
evening we had a short run not less then 8 to 10km. Also in our place
there are some mountains called Usambara Mountains; on Saturdays we
were going to hike such mountains. We did this four times. One of the
criteria that we used to select students is the ability to participate
in such exercise. We began with 250 students, then 90 students then
15 students who seemed to be eligible. Those who missed this chance
were very sad. After that I talked to the selected students about the
trip and we sent the letters to inform the parents. The parents again
were very happy and supported eagerly the idea and allowed their kids
to go for a hike. Some of them asked me about who is a sponsor of this
program. I had to explain a little bit about My
World.
THE HIKE
The hike began on the 27th of March. We left from school to Kinapa,
Marangu Gate in Moshi and we spent a night at Ujasiri Camp within the
park. On the 28th of March we began the hike from the gate of the park
after all the processes were done. We walked for about 4.5km and reached
the first hut called MANDARA. Due to the change of weather we spent
a night there. On 29th of March we walked for about 11.7km and we reached
Horombo Hut, which is 3700m above from sea level. We spent a night there.
Here it was too cold! Then on the 30th we walked for about 8.6km to
Kibo the last hut. We reached there about 5 pm. Here it is 4700m from
the sea level. Then we got food and were told by our guides to rest
and get prepared. We slept up to 2400hr and at midnight we began climbing
to the peak of Kilimanjaro Mountain. This seemed to be a difficult point
to most of us. First it is very cold. 
All
of us had never seen snow before, but we saw it there. When we reached
about half way up it was overly cold to most of us because the temperature
began to be negative. Here it is 5100m from the sea level, but it was
very amazing. At this point some of the students - about five of them
– failed to continue with the climb. They returned. At 6 in the
morning on the 1st of April we were at GILMANS POINT which is 5681 amsl.
Here students saw blocks of ice and it is very very cold.After the trip
I talked to some of the students about their experience. Some considered
the trip as very lucky, As one of them puts it:
I had never seen snow before. At kilimanjaro snow to me was the first
thing I admired the most. I also saw some wazungu (white people) and
was able to talk to them. It is very difficult to climb the mountain,
but I did it. I am very proud for that and when I go back home I am
going to show my mum the certificate I got from climbing the mountain,
I think she will be happy also. – Hadija, Form III
Another one said that,
When I heard that there is a trip to Kilimanjaro I thought to do everything
possible to make sure that I got a chance. I just wanted to see it because
it is the most famous mountain in Africa. After climbing I realized
that the mountain is very high because it is very difficult to climb
it. I saw a white girl crying when climbing it and she told me 'I will
never come back again' for it is too tough to climb it. Thanks to My
World and Viane. - Eduardo Form II
