Well, as you can guess from the blog title, we will be travelling up the berg with a team from Adventure Afrika. Simon (the main man) from Adventure Afrika will be completing his 18th summit with us. I took the liberty of pulling some info on him from the Adventure Afrika website:
Simon has spent the majority of his life in the outdoors. He studied Nature Conservation in Pretoria, spent time in the Kruger National Park and Londolozi Game Reserve and almost 2 years with the Natal Parks Board mammal research unit. He held the post of Senior Wilderness Trails Officer in the Umfolozi Game Reserve until his resignation in order to further his studies at the University of Cape Town, where he graduated with a double major in Environmental and Geographical Science as well as Archaeology.Simon’s areas of interest and specialization have included mammal research coupled to general environmental management, ethology, San/Bushman art and culture, environmental education and awareness, development of responsible and sustainable eco-tourism and the inclusion of local communities and knowledge into eco-tourism groups he has escorted throughout the region.
To date he has lead a number of groups, ranging in size from 1 to 80+ from all over the world, on various treks in and around SA, including leading several groups on successful trips up Kilimanjaro, summiting the highest point on the African continent, Uhuru Peak, 17 times to date.
The following is a note that I received from Simon about the main guides that will be escorting us up the mountain:
All 3 of our main Guides and the bulk of the team come from the village of Marangu and are Chagga People. The Chagga have been living on the slopes of Kilimanjaro for approximately 600 years. Their home language is Chagga but they all speak Swahili. All have a small holding called a Shamba where their homes are built and where they grow a number of fruits and veges for own use and market.
Dickson - has by estimation climbed over 600 times and has been climbing Kili for 18 years. He and I are the same age - 47! getting old! He and I have done my last 14 climbs together. He is a carpenter by training, has a small workshop at home, and used to work in Mombasa, Kenya, before returning to his home village of Marangu to take over from his Dad who was also a lead guide. He has 3 kids, his oldest son Hubbard has climbed as a Porter in a number of my groups, his first being with my son on his first climb.
Prosper is 33 and also a family man with 2 children as far as I can recall. He and Dickson have been working together for a number of years and are a superb team. He has several hundred ascents to his credit. Very clever and a natty dresser, he is our "Mr. Smoothie" on the team!
Moses - has been building experience to become a Senior Guide. He is a wonderful man whose command of English is not so good but he makes up for it with an increadible willingness to help and make the journey easier. He is usually our "Tea Man" on summit night! Makes him VERY popular in my book! nothing like a hot cuppa after a hard climb as you watch the sun rise.
Dickson - has by estimation climbed over 600 times and has been climbing Kili for 18 years. He and I are the same age - 47! getting old! He and I have done my last 14 climbs together. He is a carpenter by training, has a small workshop at home, and used to work in Mombasa, Kenya, before returning to his home village of Marangu to take over from his Dad who was also a lead guide. He has 3 kids, his oldest son Hubbard has climbed as a Porter in a number of my groups, his first being with my son on his first climb. Prosper is 33 and also a family man with 2 children as far as I can recall. He and Dickson have been working together for a number of years and are a superb team. He has several hundred ascents to his credit. Very clever and a natty dresser, he is our "Mr. Smoothie" on the team!Moses - has been building experience to become a Senior Guide. He is a wonderful man whose command of English is not so good but he makes up for it with an increadible willingness to help and make the journey easier. He is usually our "Tea Man" on summit night! Makes him VERY popular in my book! nothing like a hot cuppa after a hard climb as you watch the sun rise.
