Ballito adventurers Chris and Cara McDaniel summit Roof of Africa
The view from the summit was nothing short of extraordinary, a surreal experience that left them both elated and humbled.
Ballito adventurers and owners of Rain Farm Game and Lodge, Chris and Cara McDaniel, have returned victorious after conquering Mt Kilimanjaro.
The expedition, in aid of The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund, was marked by tough challenges on the Marangu route over six days.
This route is the oldest and shortest up the mountain, but that also means hikers had less time to acclimatise to conditions.
Altitude sickness resulted in the evacuation of one team-member quite early on, but the remaining eight remained determined to stay the course.
The first day’s hike took them through beautiful natural rainforests but the group quickly realised distances provided by guides were underestimated, resulting in a longer hike than anticipated.
The initial hike led them to Mandara Hut at an elevation of 2 720 meters.
Day 4 marked the beginning of the most arduous phase of their journey – the summit push.
Starting from Kibo Hut in the early hours, the terrain transitioned from moorlands to a desert landscape. The cold wind and steep inclines tested their endurance as they made their way toward
Gillman’s Point, their first major milestone.
“I think I can safely speak for everyone when I say the only thing on our minds was to just keep going. If we stopped for too long, we would freeze. My camel pack froze, as did the water bottle inside my bag, an indication of what it was like at -15 degrees Celsius. You simply cannot get warm,” said Chris.
As dawn broke, the stunning lunar-like landscape unfolded before them. At 7.30am, after more than 8 gruelling hours, they reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Kilimanjaro – 5 895 meters above sea level.
The view from the summit was nothing short of extraordinary, a surreal experience that left them both elated and humbled.
The effects of altitude were undeniable, yet the camaraderie among the climbers buoyed their spirits.
As they descended and reacclimatised to lower altitudes, a mix of euphoria and anticipation filled the air.
The journey’s end marked a return to civilisation, and the prospect of cold beers and warm showers was a welcomed thought, Chris and Cara said.
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