First Day in Tanzania (Day 4: May 21)

Our day started around 6:40 and we ate breakfast at 8:00am; they served us crepe-like-pancakes, delicious local fruit and even had an omelette bar that she would customize and make on the spot for us! Once we finished breakfast we hopped on the bus for a 2 hour drive to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park! On the way we stopped several times to see and take pictures of the infamous black and white monkeys known for having only 4 fingers. On the bus we all had the opportunity to talk to our female guide who told us facts about the mountain and her amazing story about how she climbed Kilimanjaro in only one day (for reference the fastest recommended time to climb M. Kilimanjaro is 5 days). After a winding and bumpy road to one of Kilimanjaro many plateaus, we hiked for around 45 minutes in the National Park at an altitude of 11,000 feet. We learned about many amazing facts about the surrounding creatures and plants that lived on the mountain including the fact that Kilimanjaro has essentially 5 regions that make up the mountain as you climb higher. After our brief hike, we enjoyed lunch while sitting and facing the summit of Kilimanjaro which was unfortunately blocked by the clouds. We then headed back to the hotel, stopping again to see more monkeys, and waved at locals while we passed their villages. We were extremely lucky to see giraffes and eventually the snowy summit of Kilimanjaro on our way! When we arrived back at the hotel, we had about an hour of free time to get cleaned up and do whatever it was we needed to do before we talked with a retired politician of Tanzania. He shared about the History of Tanzania, and most importantly shared his wisdom about what makes a great leader. We then ate dinner and enjoyed soup, noodles and a variety of meats and vegetables. We finished the day with our daily ANCHOR where we discussed our appreciations, news, concerns, health, observations, and risks for the day. We then headed back to our rooms where we could finally enjoy a long nights rest. -Becca and Jazlyn






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