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- Jan 13, 2016
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Holiday adventure with family and friends on top of Africa- what a way to end the year!
MM Guide Ben Mality had great news to report on our recent Kilimanjaro expedition: all seven climbers reached the summit. Ben describes the diverse group as “friendly, happy, strong, and active” throughout the trip.
We all enjoyed the first day’s hike to waterfalls, which included sightings of many interesting birds and we even saw blue monkeys in the forest. Our famous BBQ dinner at camp was followed with a birthday celebration for Trevor and a surprise birthday cake.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0336_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=a7741ac5e7ac021cfb3bccdebd31aba9 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0336_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=545a1a48acdeb2036ab606ccfe271e7d 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0336_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=366260a8d608d079ba5c7cb70e5bbbb1 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0336_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=2f7da0a6e14b34dfc22be8199f4f9fe0 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0336_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=b757dd89e0739dd296ab862683d755c9 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0336_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=02a0b78d0c3cfc74f9cf759af3a5517d 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0336_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=68e6fa42a8369287791b0b9025fcc6e4 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0336_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b3f9f88817af9d766e5483b77a931bca 1600w)
Trevor showing off his toe shoes — which he wore all the way to the summit — with the group behind him. Ben Mality photo
Further up the mountain, the group encountered high winds strong enough to break a tent. There was some nervousness, but we made it through the night ok and were ready for the next day, when they traveled from Arrow to Crater Camp. It was a challenging day, but good to be at the crater and so close to the summit. Despite the wind at camp, four climbers chose to do the optional hike to the ash pit and explore the fascintaing features of the crater.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-356.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=d904cab985f6d1d6dfe47fb493d95eda 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-356.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=01ca96697560e4ed6716e619eae62482 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-356.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=96a79fa23513dacba0a6d81888edecfb 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-356.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=2a6b6156c41c094cd30e7b5dbed697db 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-356.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=0f08c1a06084837032a70f9512adc3dc 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-356.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=4608b433df2d6158884ce5d24635c06d 1009w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-356.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=002a2d2abd5f9669e826de05a799dd4c 1009w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-356.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=babf97142112d882363463d9f3696523 1009w)
Heading to the high camp in the crater.
The next day started early and our summit day was very cold (-15 degrees centigrade), but the winds had calmed. The group woke at 4am to stars and a distinct chill in the air, but it was a good summit hike and we all reached the top at 6:15.
We all took in the incredible scene, the plains of Africa spread out below us where the safari would soon take place for the group. It was a long hike down to the Mweka camp, but once there we topped off the day with a Christmas celebration including turkey and champagne!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0445_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=97c0a6cfb02819e9dc49f4ab200809f8 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0445_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=70afd9f9246a41c06c6e3bb883458843 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0445_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=376a7a40534f2a2a43fae1612245fbe2 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0445_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=d9c57d3b66f5a01c64d91087ebe66ceb 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0445_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=db80b3e1be2b1fd0798b760ffb70dc85 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0445_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=a694c412d72b7c551e84ba0118fe0cbf 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0445_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=94e2a893861ab6417c585fbed70e838c 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0445_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=028a6876fea255346518814133387b8d 1600w)
Holiday feast in camp. Ben Mality photo
Three climbers stayed on for the safari extension, joined by two additional members of the family. As always, we enjoyed the luxuries of our private camps in the Serengeti and near the Ngorongoro Crater, where among all sorts of activities we had a chance to hang out with our Massaai frind Olé Dorpa and visit his community.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-28.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=fa50da9bdf07b6a561bfff02d1a70092 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-28.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=f0bc601401375f2417c5c7f5fddd95f5 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-28.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=e77301a36f9c7844b1202b74a77351c3 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-28.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=eacc002dbcea172ce3bc450195793647 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-28.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=af3d328b3828786352f18fcb80ef9009 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-28.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=0d325bf3f070ce36169ada2227d45669 1009w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-28.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=580d88b41f1dbd082d543c3e795202a2 1009w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadventures%2FTanzania-28.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=708e79efc00409913002d1c38e4454bc 1009w)
Enjoying a nice fire in our luxury camp after the summit trek.
The safari did not disappoint- many animals were seen and the group was excited to see rhinos, lions, more than 50 elephants (some with babies), leopards, and even mating zebras and ostriches. And to cap off an already amazing adventure the Broom family relaxed on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar after their visit to the Roof of Africa!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0526_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=9d6e2df84be65096e449b65a08d86ffa 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0526_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=7f816d01730c7c42b6746e65cf7f3d00 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0526_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=dacb6ef40a3e84ae6b5daa68d3ab00fb 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0526_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=ab3df4432f08005f70eeb432e8292950 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0526_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=66b20cf949de10d22c50de2ec80d2e36 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0526_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=141a730620f8007cf1a16cc593c54c61 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0526_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=9eaf745d4dfb9061b8050932cbf42411 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_0526_sml.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=d96c36a834d8e7168e98f8fa4b913fba 1600w)
Enjoying the sunshine on safari. Ben Mality photo
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Final glimpse of the mountain before heading home.
Another successful Kilimanjaro trip on the books!