Since I thought it would be a good idea to actually do a hike as part of my Kilimanjaro training (7 weeks away!), I decided to do this hike ‘the hard way’. Last year when we did this hike with the kids we drove to the edge of the forest reserve in the foothills of Mt. Meru, but this time I decided to meet the guide in town and do the hike from there. Chelsea, Annie, Elliot, Lucas, and I met the guide at a hotel in town and started the very vertical hike up to the waterfall. It was about an hour and a half straight up hill to the point where we parked the car last time. Phew! It was hot and we were all very sweaty by the time we hit the forest cover. We passed through city villages and rural villages. It was amazing to watch pregnant women in flip-flops do this same walk with baskets of heavy things on their heads.
Once again these berries were in bloom, but we learned they are called thistle berries. Still yummy.
From the top, we had to hike back down to the river. It was so green and felt like we were in Central America. There were a few small waterfalls along the way until the final turn where you could see last waterfall. What a gorgeous place to relax and enjoy lunch.
Chelsea got a little brave and waded in to get closer, but Elliott and Lucas went full in. At this point the weather changed and it got very chilly and started to rain. I think maybe the guys were having second thoughts about their swimming and I don’t think they got warm again until we were almost back to town.
You could hike up behind the waterfall.
The rain made the hike down a little slippery.
The rain seemed to have brought out all the siafu and I was feeling a bit smug about avoiding them all….that is until I got back to the car and found one inside my bra. Ouch!
Almost 7 hours round trip (including lunch/swim stop). Feeling pretty good, but that’s only 1 day of the 6 day Kilimanjaro hike.
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