Kilimanjaro trek day 4 – Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

When we woke this morning we were faced with the Great Barranco Wall – an imposing sight just above our camp. The chilled air was fresh and clean and the visibility was perfect. In front of us was an ocean of clouds, in the back the Kibo mountain towered and to our left hand side the Great Barranco Wall, which we would start the day off by tackling. [...] Read more

Kilimanjaro trek day 3 – Shira II camp to Barranco Camp

Today we turned east and continued to climb “pole pole” (Swahili for slowly slowly) through the increasingly rocky and barren terrain. The terrain changed a lot during todays walk and we would go through everything from valleys, open rocky desert areas and pass by old petrified lava streams. However, for most of the time we wandered through a montane semi-desert. We ascended the long rocky scree path to the Lava Tower (4630 m.a.s.l.) [...] Read more

Kilimanjaro trek day 2 – Machame camp to Shira II camp

I got up at about 7 am and when I stepped out of the tent the sun was shining and the sky was crystal clear making it possible to easily spot the very top of Kibo – the snowcapped peak of Kili! It was a beautiful sight and the air felt quite warm. A perfect start of a new day! I packed my stuff and had a delicious breakfast consisting of porridge, egg, sausages, bread and tea.

We left the camp at 8.15 am and started the walk from an altitude of 2980 meters. [...] Read more

Kilimanjaro trek day 1 – starting the Machame route

We left the hotel in a minibus and drove for one hour before reaching the Machame gate. After registering by signing the national park trekking book at the gate office, we started walking through the lush montane forest at about 10.45 am. Half way up, we had a tasty lunch from a little carton involving a boiled egg, a chicken thigh, an orange, some peanuts and an enchilada [...] Read more

the bumpy ride to Moshi, at the foot of Kili

04.December: When I woke up I felt a bit better than during the night. I didn’t eat much for breakfast as I was still nauseas, but I bought heaps of bottled water and slipped some croissants into my backpack. At 7.45am I was picked up by two guys in a shady old car and dropped [...]

Arriving Kenya not feeling good

About three hours after arriving Johannesburg (South Africa) I departed and flew off to Nairobi in Kenya. At the immigration counter at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi you have to fill out two forms; one white VISA application form and one yellow entry form. You will obtain the yellow one on the plane. I ended up getting a full VISA, which lasts for 3 months and costs 25 USD. Had to get this since I will be returning to Kenya 11.December. [...] Read more

Africa here I come!

02.December: Packed my stuff and said goodbye to all the good people at the Bamboo hostel. Met up with Chris and Mary, and we took farewell after a three and a half month long and eventful journey together. Then I grabbed a taxi to the domestic airport, took off to São Paulo at 3.12pm and [...]

in the Rocinha favela

A bit later in the afternoon I decided to visit a favela during daytime (I was in a favela on Saturday night). I left the hostel at 2 pm to get a feel of the largest favela in Brazil – Rocinha.

Ironically Rocinha literally means small ranch in Portuguese. The first houses in Rocinha came about in the 1920´s and ever since it has been rapidly expanding. It now houses a staggering amount of 200 000 people and is actually classified as a Favela Bairro, or Favela Neighborhood. Up until the 80´s the government had some sort of control of the favela. Now three major gangs control all the favelas in Rio and they are constantly fighting for territory. Only yesterday (30.November) there was a big gang war in a favela in the Ipanema district.. [...] Read more