itinerary

Wednesday, Sept. 15 -- fly Toronto to Amsterdam (overnight)
Thursday, Sept. 16 -- fly Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro (all day)

Friday, Sept. 17 - rest day, Arusha

Saturday, Sept. 18 - leave on trek
Arusha to Rongai Gate; Rongai Gate (1997m) to Simba Camp (2635m)
7km

Sunday, Sept. 19
Simba Camp to Kikelelwa Camp (3675m)
11.75km

Monday, Sept. 20
Kikelelwa Campsite to Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4302m)
3.75km plus acclimization hike in afternoon

Tuesday, Sept. 21
Mawenzi Tarn Hut to Horombo Huts (3714m)
10.1km

Wednesday, Sept. 22
Horombo Huts to Barafu Huts (4662m)
9km

Thursday, Sept. 23
Summit attempt - full moon - depart at midnight
Stella Point (5745m)
Summit (5895m)
descent to Horombo (3721m)
20.61km

Friday, Sept. 24
Horombo Huts to Marangu Gate (1905m) via Machame Route
collapse at hotel
20.8km

Saturday, Sept. 25
leave on camping safari (more detailed itinerary here)
Lake Manyara

Sunday, Sept. 26
Serengeti

Monday, Sept. 27
Serengeti/Ngorongoro Crater

Tuesday, Sept. 28
Ngorongoro Crater
back from safari, drop-off at airport
fly to Amsterdam (overnight)

Wednesday, Sept. 29
Amsterdam - arrive 7am
Bike tour - pm

Thursday, Sept. 30
Amsterdam, morning - canal cruise
afternoon - fly to Toronto

have passport, will travel

My new passport came back in exactly two weeks, which is excellent considering I had taken the application in to a Service Centre ("up to a month") rather than to a passport office ("up to 10 days"). I was relieved they didn't reject the photos - the Service Centre Passport-Picture-Approval-guy (yes, there is such a person) made me get them redone in black and white (there was a "shine" on my nose) and then still expressed doubt they would pass. I protested that there was a shine on my nose last passport and the passport before that in the exact same spot. But the guidelines are much stricter now, he said. I almost went to powder my nose for real in the bathroom out of desperation.

vaccinations

$250 for 2 vaccinations (Yellow fever/Hepatitis) and 2 prescriptions (anti-malaria tablets and Diamox for altitude sickness prevention). Not covered by OHIP. Ouch. My arm is a little sore too. I had to find a special Travel Health Clinic government-certified to give the Yellow fever shot. Medisys was most convenient and the cheapest. The doctor proceeded to inform me that Yellow fever was no longer required for Tanzania. I asked for it anyway as it is recommended. It's good for 10 years. So now I am covered for everything but Rabies and HIV for probably the rest of my travelling life!

fellow trekkers

"Regarding your fellow trekkers, there are a couple aged 51 and 49, two ladies aged 38 and 58, a couple both aged 29, a man and woman (not sure if couple) aged 49 and 54, and a guy aged 38."

At first I thought my there's a few older people on this trip and then I remembered I am 47 myself. lol. I forget. I am a bit relieved to hear about the age diversity of the group. On the Inca Trail, it was me and 3 couples in their early 20's and although they were friendly, it's different huffing and puffing with people in their 40s and 50s.

Insulated bottles

"Add a Sigg style metal/aluminium water bottles to your Kilimanjaro equipment list. Why? They double as hot water bottles at night. (All water on Kilimanjaro needs to be boiled for drinking, and your team should boil a big tub every night to fill all bottles.)

Wrap any damp clothing items that you want to dry around the bottle and shove it in the bottom of your sleeping bag before you climb in. Bliss, and your clothes are dry in the morning."
(MountKilimanjaroGuide.com)

My problem is I am cheap, cheap and Sigg bottles are very expensive. But I am having trouble finding 1 liter insulated bottles so if Europe Bound doesn't have anything cheaper, I may as well get funky Sigg bottles. It's cold on summit night (sometimes minus 20 depending on the wind chill) and I don't think I want to be staring at bottles of ice.