Kilimanjaro Blog – 03: From Simba Camp (2.600m) to Kikelelwa Camp (3.600m)

First of all: the missing tourists appeared in the middle of the night.

After the first day on Mount Kilimanjaro and reaching Simba Camp yesterday I had a good sleep during the night. At 08:00 we started this day’s tour on time after a sumptuous breakfast consisting of 4 slices of toast, 1 fruit I didn’t know (which tasted deliciously), 2 pancakes, scrambled eggs, porridge, coffee and tea. It looked like rain at first but it turned out the exact opposite: burning heat during the whole day. I think I applied sun screen (factor 50) at least three times during our seven hour-trek. While we were walking almost on the equator this really was necessary.At 08:00 we started this day’s tour on time after a sumptuous breakfast consisting of 4 slices of toast, 1 fruit I didn’t know (which tasted deliciously), 2 pancakes, scrambled eggs, porridge, coffee and tea. It looked like rain at first but it turned out the exact opposite: burning heat during the whole day. I think I applied sun screen (factor 50) at least three times during our seven hour-trek. While we were walking almost on the equator this really was necessary.

A water-related mistake

During the day I had no problems with the speed or the altitude and I drank almost 1.5 liters until lunch. After 3 hours we took a lunch break at Second Cave Camp (3.450m). I didn’t refill my water bladder during lunch break because I thought the remaining 1.5 liters will be enough.During the day I had no problems with the speed or the altitude and I drank almost 1.5 liters until lunch. After 3 hours we took a lunch break at Second Cave Camp (3.450m). I didn’t refill my water bladder during lunch break because I thought the remaining 1.5 liters will be enough.

After lunch break we continued our tour to Kikelelwa Camp (3.600m). The weather still being very hot my prior decision to not refill my water bladder turned out to be a dangerous mistake. I had to get along with the remaining 1.5 liters for the final three hours. Either walking steady up and down or the African midday sun or the little water left made those last three hours painful.

But after what felt like an endless hike we arrived at Kikelelwa Camp (3.600m) around 15:00. At our arrival I started to have small headaches so I went to bed early and drank a lot. On the plus side drinking water helps against the small headaches. On the downside you have to get up and leave the tent to pee in the middle of the night. This is something which gets much more complicated along with the increasing altitude.

The next day we are trying to reach 4.300m and will stay one more day for acclimatization.