Joyce and the group she went with, used Takims and they do both this and the Safari. Here’s their website. I’ve not had a chance to check it out, but will do so. http://www.takimsholidays.com/
Last night I met someone who had done the same climb and also the Safari afterwards. Couldn't say enough Lori about what a once of a life time experience it was! He recommended the same climb Joyce suggested and the same safari. What do you think Lori?
Joyce suggested I fly KLM Kenya airlines from Dubai to Nairobi and then to Kili. Lori, would you consider coming here first? Not sure about your budget or your time. But you could come to Dubai for a few days, then we could fly together. Or would you rather go straight to Kili.
Also Joyce recommended a good hotel for the first night and she will pass that on to me, Don't have it yet, but as soon as I get it I'll let you know. Further, she suggested when you come down from the climb, go there for 2 days, to recover, then do the week Safari. Just a suggestion. She also said we could leave our luggage with them (the hotel) and only take what we need for the climb, then when we come back down, we’ll have our luggage for the safari already at the hotel.
She is Canadian and got her Visa at the airport, but we’ll have to check to see if Americas are the same.
She said she thought the route she took was called the Machame route, and that was the route the guy last night recommended. He said it was 5 days up and 2 down.
She recommended we start Malaria tablets as we’ll need them for the safari. We can obviously focus on that later.
She said one thing she remembered was Takims did not tell them what the weight limitations were for their porters and they only found out once they were ready to begin. We’ll need to make sure we know these ahead of time.
She said you need a 3 season sleeping bag and she also suggested a liner and a thermal rest mattress, which blows up, very light weight, but very comfy.
She recommends taking clothes that we can peel off as we walk, so be prepared to layer. She recommended wool, but she tends to be cold natured. Not me!!! I won’t climb in anything wool, but cotton instead. She also suggested the pants that zip around the knees, so as you warm up, you can simply up-zip your legs and wa la, you’re walking with shorts on. Then you can zip them back on if you get chilly.
She also recommended water purification tablets, and then she said to her, the water tasted funny after using them, so she took Isostar (at home you’d probably get Gatorade) powder to add to the water, to make it taste better, plus the benefits that provides as well.
She said each day you need a minimum of 3 liters of water, plus lunch, in your day pack, plus she prepared a daily snack (i.e. nuts, granola bars, whatever you prefer, but we need to research what will give us energy and what not to take) and had them with the porter, so each morning she would throw the snack pack in her day pack. The day pack is one with netting and shaped so it’s away from the body on the back, but has the camel pack bladder inside. It also needs some sort of cover in case it rains. My bladders for my camel packs are 2 L and 1 L so I’ll just carry 2. Not sure if you can get a 3 L one.
She walked 20 to 25 kilometers three or four times a week for a period of 3 months. She did that in her boots, carrying her daypack full of water and snacks. We’ll also need some toiletries for the day, tp, hand sanitizer, etc. Good idea to practice with all those in your pack, just to get used to the weight.
Also she suggested a clean shirt in your day pack, because as you sweat, it’s nice to stop and change your shirt.
I have a small tent and head lantern, but not sure the tent is water proof. Will check and get back to you. If so, then I can supply a 2 person tent.
Okay, that’s all I have for now.
Here’s my plan: She will be busy with company for the next 2 weeks, but she said later in the first week of October, she’ll take out all her gear. She hasn’t used it since the climb, bought it all in Canada, and said it would be foolish for me to buy more, so why not use hers? She will invite me over, I’ll have a look at it, decide what I want, make a list, so she and I will both know what I’ve borrowed. That way I can make sure she gets it all back.
But what I’ll do, is once I get it all, I’ll lay it out at my house and take pics. Then I’ll send them to you, so I can get very specific about what I have.
And finally my friend Nancy (hope that doesn't get too confusing for you Lori) is really getting excited about going. She is also Canadian and is going home for her sister's wedding in a few weeks, so she'll pick up supplies there.
All for now. Have 1,000 words to try to get written later today and then submit my dissertation/thesis (whatever you want to call it) and what a load that will be, lifted from my shoulders. Then I can really begin to focus on this!!
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