There are literally hundreds of videos on the Internet of people successfully climbing to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. After all, thousands of us make that trip each and every year.
But what about those who aren’t successful? What is that experience like? In this video, we join one such trekker, who takes us along for his hike up the tallest mountain in Africa. But unlike all of those other clips, which include celebrations on the summit, this hiker doesn’t make it to the top, but is instead forced to head down in darkness.
Not everyone summits and its always good to keep your expectations in check just to be on the safe side. Summit or no, Kilimanjaro is still a grand adventure.
Kraig is an outdoor and adventure travel writer based in Nashville, TN. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to numerous online and print outlets, including Popular Mechanics, Gear Junkie, Outside Online, National Geographic, Digital Trends, Business Insider, TripSavvy, about.com, and of course The Adventure Blog.
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Coca leaf is what we all chewed when hiking the trail to Machu Picchu. You could buy it by the bags in local markets. And cocoa leaf tea was served in all the restaurants.
Now I don’t feel so bad that I didn’t summit! Yes, its disappointing, but your health isn’t worth the risk. It is an amazing experience even if you don’t summit. Incredible scenery, wonderful people. The mountain is still there for you to conquer. Best wishes, and thank you for sharing your story.