I slept like a log!  There were very heavy winds during the night though and it looked like all attempts on the summit had been cancelled that morning.  Once again, I have been very lucky.

After our usual massive porridge breakfast I had one last look at the view from Horombo Huts.  It was so beautiful and I was sorry to be leaving.  James came running over to me with a lunch bag for me which was egg free.  It was a really sweet thing for him to do and it meant a lot to me.

After giving my bags to the porters we started our final trek on Kili.  The wind had died down and we were treated to another roasting hot day.  I had to wear my gloves though to cover my sunburnt hands.  They were causing me problems and my neck was beginning to peel as well.

We carried on and soon I got talking again to James who told me that he was 37 (he certainly didn’t look it!), he’s climbed Kili over 100 times and used to be a carpenter.  He’s got four brothers and two sisters, with his youngest brother soon to start at university, which I could see filled him with a lot of pride.

We reached Mandara Huts at about 11:30 just as the sun was reaching its peak.  We all gobbled down our cold soggy chips and chocolate bars.  Amanda was struggling with her left knee and came down to the huts about half an hour later than the rest of the group.  I gave her my Tubigrip in the hope that it might help her on the homeward stretch.

We set off after 12:30 feeling somewhat stiff and sore but determined to reach the bottom.  About 3km from the Marangu Gates we stumbled across some Blue monkeys stripping bark from the trees.  It was an incredible sight and I managed to get some good photos of them.

By now though my feet were really beginning to hurt and the heat in the rainforest was intense.  As 3pm ticked by the Marangu Gates came into view in all their glory.  I had made it!

We were soon whisked away to a souvenir shop where I bought a T-shirt and a map of the route we had taken.  Whilst relaxing with a Fanta a group of school children asked to be in a photo with some of us.  Naturally we accepted and I now have a cracking photo of us all in front of the Kilimanjaro National Park office!

Amanda staggered in at about 4pm to a round of applause.  She has soldiered on brilliantly through the pain.

Caroline called us over to a place where our baggage was kept and we were awarded with our certificates by Godliving.  He gave everyone a firm handshake and once those formalities were completed all the guides and porters gave a moving rendition of ‘Kilimajaro’ in Swahili.  Could the moment have been any better?

Still choked we said our goodbyes and boarded our bus back to Moshi.  The journey passed quite quickly with no one really talking – we were too drained.

Back at the Mountain Inn I enjoyed a hot shower, rang home and had a beautiful chicken curry for tea.  We all went to bed at 10pm.  Tomorrow we were due to go on safari.

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