It was a beautiful morning in Tanzania, and a great day to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I started out early by catching a taxi to the base of the legendary mountain. When I arrived at the entrance to the park, the taxi driver and I walked up to the guides' booth and negotiated a price. Unfortunately, I only had one day to get back to Kenya, and I was informed that climbing all the way to the top and back would take at a minimum three days, even for the most enduring of hikers. Nonetheless, I purchased a ticket and hired a guide to at least take me on a tour through the rainforest level of the mountain.
It was a very nice hike, and I learned a lot about the mountain's rainforest habitat. As a sidenote, I had never seen so many ants crawling around in one place. I think that if you stood in one place without walking for just a few minutes, you would easily have ants crawling up your pant legs!
There is much talk about foresting the area to support the development of the nation's industries, but I hope the park remains wild and natural for at least a few more generations to see. Already, through the trees, you can hear an occasional chainsaw grinding away.
At one point, I had a great view from the side of the mountain down to the countryside below. The landscape was mostly unoccupied, with scattered farms here and there. I couldn't help but think what incredible real estate those farmers have. But, I'm sure they price for it. No doubt, they're on the fringe of poverty and strugling to make a living with their crops. I wonder if they appreciate that they have one of the world's greates natural wonders outside their door.
I felt a little nauseous by the time I had come back to the base of the mountain and I was glad to be done with the walking. I guess I need to be in better shape before I try another high altitute adventure.
