Up late getting everything ready so slept in a bit. Alfred drove me to next hotel - Springlands, which is very nice but in the middle of nowhere in Moshi. I had a nice 30 min swim cause I haven't done anything for a couple of days and feeling a little antsy! You can hear the Muslim Mosque service loud and clear, The hotel compound is gated cause you wouldn't want to venture out on your own...Yikes! Had Kili orientation, and met my rather solemn bunch of mate...

Arrived at Springlands hotel. The company I booked through (Ultimate Kilimanjaro) is just an internet site out of Chicago for ZARA tours, who actually runs the trips in Tanzania. This hotel is on the outskirts of Moshi is a sketchy part of town - they have you trapped cause there is no where else to go, safely. Added to the fun is the loudspeaker from the Mosque next door who wails for 1/2 hour starting at 5:00am and again at 6:30pm. The water is hot and the ...

It's time to pack for Kili. It takes a ton of organization in order to co-ordinate one place to the other. Note to self, should have done more while at home. Alfred went through my stuff and added a few things so now I feel ready. The internet connection and power are less than stable here so takes SO much longer to do anything. Glad I left the whole day to pack for Kili and then to Zanzibar. Went to town to pick up a dress and pants for Zanzibar, it's ...

Finally feeling somewhat normal - I am SO happy I took 6 days before Kilimanjaro (Kili) to acclimatize as 10 hours is a lot to get over quickly - probably 5 days is more like it. Today we head to Arusha National Park, home of Mount Meru and a walking Safari. It's an hour drive and some of the way, the roads are pretty rough. Pretty much dirt and so many bumps and ruts - the locals call drving them an "African massage'. On the roads, pretty much anyth...

I had to get up early - 9am for my first adventure - Coffee farm and Materuni Waterfall. Preferred to hike most of the way to practice for Kili and get some exercise! Had some wine (go figure!) and dancing at little bar across the street the night before cause that's when I'm awake so it was extremely hard to get up, never mind the effects of the wine - oh well! My guide and I started the walk along a dirt road and the hills did not stop. Went through several...