Kilimanjaro 2024

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, sends from Tanzania:

Greetings from Tanzania! Today, our small but very cheerful group climbed Kilimanjaro in difficult weather conditions. Despite the difficult conditions that haunt us all the way, we were lucky. And in the intervals between clouds and snowfall, we managed to see a piece of dawn over Mawenzi - an unforgettable sight. And there are glaciers and a crater covered with snow.

There is an unprecedented amount of snow on Kilimanjaro right now. Because of this, the participants even had to use crampons on the descent from the mountain. It turned out to be a real mountaineering.

At the camp, we were greeted by a team with songs and dances. And after a short rest, we continued our descent and came to the Millennium camp, where we will spend the last night of our hike.

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:

 Greetings from the Big Change group from very cold and rainy Tanzania!  Today, under the incessant icy rain, we went up to the assault camp of Kosovo, from where we will climb at night. Despite the “good” weather, everyone's mood and well-being are excellent. At night we go out to storm the summit.

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:

Greetings from Tanzania from the band Big Change! Today we made an almost heroic crossing of the Barranco Wall. The usually exciting climb was complicated by the fact that it had been raining since six in the morning. We waited for a while, hoping that it would stop. But the rain didn't stop. Therefore, we decided to climb the wall in the rain. Climbing rocks with streams of water flowing over them is not easy. But we did it.

After a small tea party, spiced with rain at the top of the Barranco wall, we continued on our way to the Karanga camp. Still in the rain. Only sometimes, through small gaps, it was possible to notice what beauty was around.

The sun came out in the camp for a while, so we managed to dry things. And after that, a rainstorm with snow fell on the camp and almost washed away the camp.

However, this cataclysm was also survived.

Now we are resting and preparing for the ascent to the summit, which will begin tomorrow evening. While there is an opportunity and good conditions, we check all things, select clothes. Well, we are mentally preparing, of course.

Olga Rumyantseva, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:
Greetings from Tanzania from the Big Change group! The third day of walking on Kilimanjaro was marked by crossing the Lava Tower. In the first half of the day, we climbed to the Lava Tower at an altitude of 4,630 meters, simultaneously admiring the incredible clouds that decorated our path.
Lunch was waiting for us at the Lava Tower. As soon as we entered the dining tent, it began to snow, sometimes turning into a small hail. So we had to make part of the way down in the snow and rain. And then to the most beautiful area - with beautiful senecia trees, waterfalls, and the snow-covered wall of Kilimanjaro. The snow ended very successfully at that time, and nothing prevented us from admiring the beauty.

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:

Greetings from Tanzania from the team "Big Change"! The second day of our trip to Kilimanjaro is coming to an end. A day that brought a variety of changes.

The constant change of landscapes. The forest was replaced by shrubs, beautifully decorated with selfie moss. A variety of flowers appeared, growing directly on the stones. After we came out of the forest into the open spaces, wonderful views opened up around us, forcing us to constantly stop to admire them. The rains promised by the forecast did not happen today.

Or rather, we had no time to leave the camp when it began to rain. We waited it out. And we passed the main part of the way without rain. And the sun appeared closer to the camp. Today we climbed to the Shira camp at an altitude of 3,850 meters. After lunch, we walked around the neighborhood. We looked at a large cave, obsidian placers and all sorts of beautiful views.

And after we returned to the camp, we had a ceremony to meet the team. And in the evening we had a very beautiful sunset and delicious borscht.

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:

Hello everyone from Tanzania! Today, the third group of the new season set off along the Machame route towards the summit of Kilimanjaro. After much thought, they decided to name the band "Big Change". Our group is quite small, but very optimistic and combative. And in a different way, in the difficult weather conditions that have now hit Kilimanjaro, it is impossible.

One of the additional difficulties that happened to the team was the luggage that did not arrive in Africa. We hope that the participants will be able to meet with it tomorrow.

Today we went through a very beautiful jungle and climbed to the Millennium Camp at an altitude of 3,000 meters. We got caught in the rain a little and mixed mud, but everyone is in a great mood.

Olga Rumyantseva, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:

 Hello everyone from Tanzania! Today our group "Red Suitcases" climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. The ascent took place in difficult conditions, to put it mildly. A snowstorm on the crater was added to the eternal rain and sleet. So during the ascent we saw nothing - neither a crater, nor beautiful glaciers. But we got a lot of impressions.

After climbing, we went down to the Kosovo camp under the incessant snowfall. And then, under heavy rain and snow, we reached the Millennium camp. That's the kind of summer in Africa! But despite the natural disasters, everyone really enjoyed the trip.

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:

Hello everyone from Tanzania! The swim of the Red Suitcases group to the highest peak in Africa continues. However, in the morning the weather decided to pamper us. The sun appeared. So we managed to dry things out a bit before we set off on our way.

Today we were waiting for a climb up the Baranko wall. Here we are lucky again. There was no rain while we were climbing the wall. And there were no traffic jams from the people familiar in this place.

There are surprisingly few tourists willing to climb Kilimanjaro right now. But as soon as we passed the wall and sat down to drink tea, the rain did not keep us waiting. So we descended from the Baranko wall under a torrential icy rain with hail. All the paths turned into mud streams. All streams turn into stormy rivers. The surrounding landscapes are decorated with dozens of waterfalls. Overall, it is very beautiful. It's just wet and cold. But we are not discouraged. We enjoy every hour without rain. Now we are resting in Karanga camp, trying to dry things before tomorrow's climbing to the assault camp.

Olga Rumyantseva, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:

Greetings from Tanzania from the group "Red suitcases" from the slopes of Kilimanjaro! Today we moved to the Shira camp at an altitude of 3,800 meters. Despite the terrifying forecasts, we were very lucky with the weather. The rain soaked us quite a bit.

Therefore, our journey, during which we could observe the change of natural zones and the appearance of amazing plants, was pleasant and beautiful. After we arrived at the camp, we had lunch and went for a short walk, during which we looked at the cave and a little at the snow-covered slopes of Kilimanjaro.

And then we had an introduction ceremony with the local team, during which everyone sang and danced. In general, it was fun. In the evening, the clouds stretched out, and we saw Kilimanjaro in all its glory.

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:

Hello everyone from Tanzania! The first group did not have time to leave, as the second group of those wishing to climb Kilimanjaro had already arrived. This time we have a large team, which decided to start by calling itself "Red Suitcases".
So, today we started our journey, starting from the gates of the national park and reaching the Machame camp at an altitude of 3000 meters. It had been raining since the morning, which accompanied us almost the whole way. Only at the end did it stop, and even the sun came out. The weather is disgusting, that's for sure. The forecasts are disappointing. But we do not lose optimism and try to have fun to the fullest.

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Tanzania:
Hello everyone from Tanzania! Today, our Mamba group climbed the highest mountain in Africa - Kilimanjaro. We started climbing at 11 p.m. It's still 2023.
But at exactly midnight, the entire slope along which the ascent to the volcano passes, densely dotted with chains of lanterns, resounded with joyful shouts and songs.
Few people manage to celebrate the New Year in such an unusual environment. We were walking pretty fast, so we went out to Stella Point in the dark.
There was another surprise waiting for us. One of our guides wore a Santa Claus costume. That's how we walked to the top of the crater - with Santa. To the delight of us, to the envy of all, watching the picturesque sunrise on the way.