Doug and Trish Hill are excited to be part of the Elim Kili for Kids Expedition 2013 to support the Klabu ya Watoto wa Salasala Kidz Klub in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

Kidz Klub is a project set up by Shaun and Karen Graham who are working in Tanzania with Father Heart Ministries http://www.fatherheart.co.uk as part of Elim International Missions.

The KidzKlub currently gives over 200 children a weekly place and time to do recreational sporting and creative activities. These children live below the poverty line in poor housing, some on an old stone quarry, without basic amenities, water and sanitation.

The expedition is to raise money to contribute to the Kidz Klub project to purchase and develop land to establish a permanent Children's Centre in Salasala, Dar es Salaam. This dedicated facility could provide for over 1000 children each day and could serve the community into the future.

Doug and Trish will be spending a week visiting the Kidz Klub and Doug will be attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro the following week.to raise funds for the project

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. There's a small number of folk from Elim Churches in the UK joining the expedition and around eight of us will be attempting the climb. 

Thank you to everyone who's very generously sponsored us so far. It's very much appreciated. Any more contributons are also welcome. All monies raised will go directly to the Salasala KidzKlub project.

We are now on our way to Tanzania. Hopefully you'll be able to follow our progress on Twitter if you follow @TZHills and if we can get the technology to work.

 

Here's a schedule for the Kili Climb:

Thurs 25 July	Dar-es-Salaam to Kilimanjaro	Drive to Moshi at the base of Kilimanjaro and check in to Babylon Lodge Hotel
Fri 26 July	Kilimanjaro	As the altitude is already quite significant, a day is taken to acclimatise, visit the local village, experience the culture and and swim in the waterfall.
Sat 27 July	Marangu Gate to Mandaru Hut	The drive to the National Park passes through the village of Marangu on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. Once at the park gate, porters and guides collect the equipment together and the trek begins. The gate starts at 1860m and the trail passes through picturesque rainforest where most of Kilimanjaro's wildlife can be found among the mist and moss. The day covers 8.1km and it takes approx 5 hours to reach Mandara Hut complete with flushing toilets and lighting.
Sun 28 July	Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut	The first part of the trail continues through the forest and around the base of the Maundi crater before emerging onto moorland. A short detour up to the rim of the Maundi crater offers and impressive view of the Kibo crater complete with glimmering glaciers. Once in open moorland, there is the opportunity to see some spectacular plants, some species growing 3-5m high. Approx a 6 hour trek covering 11.6km will finish at 3705m and Horombo Hut.
Mon 29 July	Horombo Hut	A day of acclimatisation is spent at Horombo Hut with a recommended hike part of the way up the next day's trail past Zebra rocks to help with this. Horombo Hut itself is more of a village of huts with both ascending and descending hikers and a great atmosphere.
Tues 30 July	Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut	This part of the trek climbs into the alpine desert to the "Saddle" (the area between the Peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo). there are two trails, the upper route (which is partly climbed as part of the acclimatisation day) and the lower route. This one is usually recommended, being slightly shorter and passing the last watering point at which to fill water bottles. It is important to walk slowly to avoid getting affecting by the altitude. After 6 hours and 9.6km, Kibo Hut is at 4730m. On arrival everything is prepared for the summit bid and an early night is had.
Wed 31 July	Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut	The final ascent to teh summit is made the same night as arriving at Kibo Hut and heralds the longest and most tiring day. A slow hike leads up a rocky path to Hans Meyer Cave (5150m) and a resting point. The next section is steep with stone scree making it physically and mentally demanding, the slow Kili shuffle is required here to reach Gilman's Point (5681m) on the rim of the crater. Usually it is snow all the way to Uhuru Peak (5895m), the summit and achievement. Weather conditions determine how much time is spent here before descending back to Kibo hut for a short rest and to gather the gear to descend  again finally to Horombu Hut for an overnight. It can take 7-8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak and 6-8 hours to descend to Horombu, a total days walking of 14 hours and 20km (5.4km ascent and 15km descent). It is the toughest day but the most rewarding - and the last night on the mountain.
Thurs 1 August	Horombu Hut to Marangu Gate	It is a 19.7km hike back down the trail past Mandaru Hut to the thick air and relative warmth of the Marangu Gate which takes approx 6 hours.
Fri 2 August	Kilimanjaro to Dar-Es-Salaam	Drive back to Dar-Es-Salaam.