All nine members of the Red Nose Climb made it to the summit today.  Although nearly all climbers experienced some form of altitude sickness or minor injuries during the climb, they each made the gruelling ascent in the cold, windy mountain air and reached Uhuru Point before sunrise.  They are currently at Millenium camp, and will be off the mountain tomorrow.  The climbers used the 8-day Lemosho route.

They have a raised over 1,500,000 GBP for Comic Relief, a British charity organization. 

A band of nine UK celebrities are climbing Kilimanjaro in a charity climb, known as the BT Red Nose Climb for Comic Relief (Comic Relief is a British charity organization).  The goal of this trek is to raise money to help  the people of Africa combat malaria.  Malaria is the leading killer of children in Tanzania.  Donations will be used to train rural health workers, for early treatment of malaria, and to supply mosquito bed nets. So far the team has raised 800,000 GBP.

To sponsor the BT Red Nose team, visit:  http://www.rednoseday.com/climb/sponsor/the_team

The celebrities on the mountain are:  Alesha Dixon, Ben Shepard, Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles, Denise Van Outen, Fearne Cotton, Gary Barlow, Kimberley Walsh, Ronan Keating.

The group is using the Lemosho route.  Today’s reports indicate they passed the Shira Cathedral and are staying at Lava Tower.   It is their fourth day on the mountain.

Swahili and English are the main languages spoken in Tanzania.  Here are some useful phrases:

English	Swahili
Hello	Jambo
How are you?	Habari?
Fine	Mzuri Sana
What’s your name?	Jina lako nin nani?
My name is…	Jina langu ni…
Goodbye	Kwaheri
Please	Tafadhali
Thank you	Asante sana
Yes	Ndio
No	Hapana
Excuse me	Samahani
Sorry	Samehani
No thanks	La asante
Where is toilet?	Choo kiko wapi?
How much? How many?	Ngapi?
How much is it?	Ngapi shillings?
Wait	Ngojea
Slow down (caution)	Pole pole
May I take your picture?	Nikupige picha?
I understand	Naelewa
I don’t understand	Sielewi
Do you speak English?	Unasema Kiingeresa?
Elephant	Tembo
Cheetah	Duma
Lion	Simba
Giraffe	Twiga
Hippo	Kiboko
Hartebeest	Kongoni
Snake	Nyoka

We often get asked for recommendations on gear items. There are a myriad of quality brands and products, so what you ultimately find visually appealing, functional and economical is a personal choice. However, we would like to point out specific products that we find outstanding.

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On Kilimanjaro, you won’t need a huge backpack because our porters carry most of your gear from camp to camp. The only things you need to carry are those that you may need while on the trail. This includes extra layers of clothing, water, snacks, sunscreen, and other small items. A medium-sized pack is recommended.We like the Gregory Z35. It is the right size, and sits very comfortably on your body, as all Gregory packs do. It has a mesh back panel to keep your back dry, several back and side pockets, compression straps, and is hydration bag compatible. The Gregory Z35 Backpack retails for $149 and is available at REI.

Gregory Z35 Pack - Men’s

Gregory Jade 35 Pack - Women’s

Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Air and other local carriers that serve Tanzania are sometimes difficult to deal with.  Their websites might be down, do not allow online booking, and telephone calls and e-mails frequently go unanswered. 

A dependable way to book domestic or regional flights to or from Tanzania is through Vayama. This powerful travel search engine is easy to use and gives many pricing and timing options when planning your trip itinerary.  It’s a great resource that I recommend to our clients.