This morning we had a chance to thank our incredible crew, 21 in total. It was incredible to see all the crew together. A big thank goes to the crew of Zara Tours Tanzania for making us capable of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.
After breakfast we started the hike down the Mweka gate. A bit over 2 hours of non stop downhill. We only took a few breaks, including one to watch 3 monkeys jumping from tree to tree. Incredible to have hiked down to the rainforest in just a day.
At the Mweka gate we signed out of the national park and headed to our hotel, 45 min drive. At the hotel we spent some time chatting with our three guides: Salim, Steven, and Gouda. We all shared a few beers and sorted out tips for the crew. One should note that tips are note included in a typical climb and one should budget $200-$250 for such, per person. Also, used hiking gear is much appreciated. People in our group donated everything from used sleeping bags, hiking boots, and headlamps. I had brought a few tshirts from Arizona for our guides and a few bottles of high end cologne (courtesy of Qatar Airways), our guides were extremely thankful.
Salim provided some climbing certificates and afterwards we all grabbed lunch.
Rest of the day calls for laundry and repacking for the Safari that starts tomorrow. And finally a shower after 7 days without one. Best.shower.ever.
Note: All blog text and pictures were done via smartphone.