DAY 2
Mandara Hut (2750 m) to Horombo Hut (3780 m)

* Hike time: 5-6 hrs
* Elevation change: +1030m
* Final elevation: 3780m

On the second day, you climb for 5 to 6 hours to reach the middle hut - Horombo. The hut is situated at an elevation of 3720m/12,400 feet.
Early in the morning guides and porters bring us hot tea, then warm water in plastic bowls to wash up. Then breakfast - porridge on water, Spannish omelette/or scrambled eggs/or boiled eggs, hot cocoa, toasts, jam, peanut butter, tea. No coffee allowed during climbing up.

We left Mandara Hut at 9 AM and after about an hour we emerged from the rain forest and entered the heather, or Heath Land. With Giant Erica (Erica arborea) and Philippia excelsa towering above us, and sometimes surrounded by Pincussion Proteas (leucospermum), we were hiking through the alpine heath and moorland - shrubs, grass, bush. Only a few flowers dominate the landscape, with some splendid wild ones - I admired the yellow-flowered Protea kilimandscharica and Kniphofia thomsonii, also known as the red-hot poker.
The most distinctive plant in the moorland - and on the entire mountain - is the senecio, or giant or tree groundsel. Groundsels like the damper and more sheltered parts of the mountain, so they can be seen in small valleys and ravines. Sharing roughly the same kind of environment is the strange lobelia deckenii, another endemic species of Kilimanjaro.

The views are getting better and better. On the right Mt. Mawenzi is visible and suddenly also Kibo peak presents its first view to the climbers. Again passing many people coming down, two guys being carried down, almost unconscious, by guides. They ended the climbing in the middle of the way. Probably suffered from the altitude gaining too fast.

This was a long day, we continued higher and higher in the heat of the day. I did pretty well, covering quite some distance and altitude - together with two friends I stayed towards the back rather, with Freddie and another guide, Florian by our side. For lunch we had some strange cheese sandwiches, fried chicken leg, hard boiled egg, apple, banana. Plus juice. I shared my lunch with Florian every day as it was too much for me. After lunch we had to hike about another three hours to get to the hut. The path meanders through the hills, making some ups and downs and crossing a few dry creeks. I am counting numerous wooden and concrete bridges on the way laid over them. Very little water or no water at all in the creeks, though, as it is the end of dry season. The closer Horombo, the more mist and low clouds all around. Had to put a jacket on as it got quite cold.

I arrived at Horombo about 4PM, so it took me 7 hours. I walk pole-pole which in Swahili means slowly, slowly. It is not a race and the tortoise wins. Besides, I take hundreds of pics so I am slow anyway.

The Horombo Huts are in a scenic location and one can get a real good view of both Kibo and Mawenzi from there; that is when they are not under a thick cloud cover. At the moment they were not visible behind the clouds. But after we had washed faces and hands in warm water brought by porters and had some hot tea, the clouds started to rise up and around 6PM both peaks were already well seen. Magnificent view. On clear days you may even be able to see Moshi way below you, as well as the Pare mountain range. This afternoon there were clouds covering the valley, but at night the whole valley down there was well seen with glittering lights of Moshi.

Dinner is tasty and rich. Soup, rice, yummy stew, boiled and fresh vegetables, fruits. Lots of tea.
Another Diamox pill tonight. Only two in the group are not taking it. No major side effects so far except for numb fingers, toes and lips.

The Horombo Huts are the busiest place on the whole Kilimanjaro. People who climb the mountain via the Marangu route stay here on the way up, on the way down, and if they take an extra acclimatization day they also spend another night at Horombo. Those who didn't get a place in one of many huts, have their own camping equipment and sleep in tents.