The Ulugurumountains which are located southeast of Morogoro is an ideal area for walking. As described in this blog some time ago we were sometimes even for a day hike in the mountains and had the Morningside visited a former German colonial buildings.
This time it should go a little further and a little longer. Friday morning, a few weeks ago now, we started a three-day trek to the top of the Morogoro nearest peak, Mbondwa to venture. We say that, Mareen, Eva, Ignas, Emilian, Hussein and me.
Before we had well provided with food: 5 kg rice, 2kg beans, 2kg maize flour and bits and pieces as Tea and salt. Then with a few spare clothes and sleeping bags or blankets everything in the backpacks. Yes Backpacks ... Mareen and I had our own and have not said anything since the other, am I expected that you have bags to pack your things until I asked on Thursday evening times. As I looked into the bewildered faces, they also had obvious nor even made any clue. It was time for another typical kind of very many people think that I have met only at the moment and hardly beyond. And since they had just not yet packed up their bags, they had also not had any thoughts about into which it. Well well I asked, with the pockets of Mareen and me, a small backpack or by Ignas and a bit to pack up, we were able to stow all our luggage, the bags were quite full. I was worried that we could not store the tents that we should at the foot of the mountains get in a camp, but the problem should resolve itself ...
were for Friday morning, we then arranged to meet at 7am at our hostel. An appointment with Tanzanians at 7 AM, that means the earliest just before eight, therefore we can place our comparison also only just before seven - we thought ... at 6.50 clock and Emilian Hussein stood at the door and Mareen still in pajamas and a toothbrush in Mouth. Well, there are also times and wonder ...
Shortly after 8 should go there then. The backpacks were distributed all of us, Eva wanted to carry the big backpack of Mareen - yet. Fully packed, we had six then go towards the mountains, pretty funny, we were looked at with our backpacks. Even before we reached the city limits to some extent, could not Eva. Several times we had warned them that there would be no picnic, but they wanted to and now bear even the big backpack. She then gave the Emilian large backpack and carried himself only a very small bag. So we could go on first. Soon we reached even was the city limits and it slowly uphill. On the last shop before the mountains we bought 12 liters of water and thought we should now also store this burden, but we met a friend of Ignas, who works up in the Morningside and we offered to carry the water up and all this without pay, an offer that we do not approve of it. Yet the road was not steep and well fastened, and soon we reached the base camp where we should get our guide and tents. This cleared up then my fear is that we could not store the tents. Pengo our guide had in fact nothing to wear for our three-day trip he had his scout suit and that's it. So he could take the few with no problems. So then off we went, and now the way was always narrow and steep and after a short time Eva was exhausted more completely, now she could not even carry a small bag, which then took Mareen this in addition to her backpack. Again we managed a bit and I was struggling quite on the way was just damn steep and the sun beat down on us. Eva wondered meanwhile already own to turn back, but together very slowly with many pauses we made it then at lunch time to reach again the Morning Side. Totally exhausted we arrived took off their bags and took off their shoes. The road we had taken this time was much harder than the last of our trip up here. He was friend of Ignas long with our water above and not only that, he had already prepared us for lunch. Rice and beans =), as well as here above they have never tasted nor do I think.
After dinner we slept in the shade a bit first. We had planned to hike in the afternoon on, but Eva was not able to do so and Emilian, Hussein, Ignas, Maree and I went to the river and bathed in a place with a small waterfall a little bit, that was great.
The next morning we could hardly convince Eva continues to come with us, but it worked. And so we continued our trip with renewed vigor. After a short time we reached the tree line to the rain forest. Here in the Ulugurumountains it one of the last of the mountain rain forests in the world, with unique animal species, at least, says the guide =). to run in the rain forest was again a very different feeling. Not that it suddenly started to rain there now, but everything is overgrown was much cooler and humid, and in so many places the road was also quite slippery. In the forest are provided Hussein and I run while the others together with Eva were traveling a little slower. A few hours we walked through the forest to reach the summit. And at every clearing, it was hoped to be able to see the top, but the only thing you could see was that the power line, could lead to the top, went even further than you see through the slightly misty air. We wondered why there was a power line up, not even on the Morningside and there was now a power line apparently led to the top. Finally, after a thousand curves and felt now plagued by a bubble with a hoe, we reached a grid. And suddenly we heard children's voices and then also with two men arrived on the other side of the grid to meet us. So what strange that we walked for hours through the forest and have not seen a soul and then we get to the top and suddenly teeming with people. After a brief discussion with the two men that led to the happiness Emilian, could we pass the gate and bring the final steps to the summit behind us and then we had done it, we had reached the top, quite broken, but also proud. The summit, however, offered in addition to the many people yet another surprise to him was located next to a house that is also a huge radio tower. Now it was clear why a power line up there is after. From here Morogoro is irradiated by a handful of radio stations and TV channel we receive in the hostel. And the associated house is full of devices which regenerate the signal. The men who came to make us live up there in the house and take care of the art, which seemed not to understand about it. The Children were there on the day just visiting and went back again in the evening from the next village.
About forty-five minutes came after us then the other with Eva in tow at the top. Eve was indeed broken but it was really powerful to have done it proud.
Unfortunately, I can do to the amount only approximate. Above, I asked our guide on the level: "What we are now actually up from Morogoro." Guide: "Approximately 60km" Me: "What 60km," I thought maybe he thinks the track and not the amount, although that too would be far too much. Me: "No, I mean the height, not the line" Guide: "Ah, the height. The are thirty miles. "Waaahhh, thirty kilometers, which is for a spinner it, I tried again. Me: "So, flying planes, about 10 kilometers altitude and we're still below the aircraft is not it?" He: "Yes, we are among the aircraft." Me: "So we high we are now then?" He: "20km" Me: "Ah yes!" What a crackpot. And this is a guide by profession, who does nothing else than bringing people to 60km height, or 30, or 15 ... Well I
again later searched for the height, but unfortunately I have found nowhere accurate information, but that such in 2500 we would have to be ascended. This is not a Kilimnajaro, but the German Zugspitze is just under 3000m and not that much higher.
After we had rested ourselves a bit, we wanted to climb the mast to an even better chance to have. When we were just half way up but then went on clouds and when we reached the top were, we could not even see the foot of the tower. An excellent view was no longer think. The clouds were also no longer, instead, it soon began to rain and we moved us inside, where there was a TV =), of course, with the in-house signal ...
The men offered us to sleep in the house and we were happy us not to sleep in a tent in the rain need. But as we went to sleep then we quickly decided wanted to. Because the transmitters, there was in all the rooms, made so much noise that we wanted to sleep in a tent outside rather than in the noise. Only Eva, Ignas and the guide were asleep inside.
The next morning we needed boil water for tea. Our water that we had taken was all up here and there was nobody else. But before we woke up had already started walking three of the men to fetch water. They had until about the level of Morningside descend to get water. And then rise with full 20l bucket again and that is a basic need like water to breastfeed. Anything you eat up here they must walk at least two hours to the next village and the commonplace, the animals were real.
After tea and ugali with beans for breakfast we were on our way back. We had to create this time in a day the way down. First to Morningside, where the friend of Ignas waited again with a lunch on us and then also the rest down by the hot section of the route. Halfway between Morningside and the City of Eva then worked together almost. She sat down and getting up, her legs folded it away again. She was quite desperate and could barely walk on. With great difficulty she managed to the point where the road during the colonial period up to Morningside led, was reopened to traffic. There we sat them on a motorbike taxi home. We continued our descent and made it so just before dark, the hostel pretty much exhausted to reach. Eva had already been cooked ugali so that we had to conclude once again all together before we were tired in our beds. The sore muscles the next day announced himself already.
