Day 1 Hiking Diary: A Rainy Jungle Trek
The morning started with an unexpected wake-up call—not by an alarm, but by our guide urgently knocking at 8:00 AM demanding final payment. His nervous energy was palpable, as if I might vanish before transferring the park fees. Despite this early interruption, our actual departure from Arusha didn’t happen until 10:00 AM after multiple stops for last-minute passenger pickups and supply runs.
Efficiency clearly wasn’t their strong suit. By the time we reached Machame Gate at 1:00 PM, I was itching to start—finally stepping onto the trail at 1:47 PM after registration formalities. 
The pre-hike checks were thorough: porters’ loads underwent strict inspection, with plastic items confiscated to protect Kilimanjaro’s fragile ecosystem. Rangers meant business—no compromises on environmental protection. 
Our 11 km jungle trek began at 1,850 meters, climbing steadily through dense rainforest to Machame Camp at 3,030 meters. With 10 kg on my back, I completed the route in 3.5 hours, outpacing my team effortlessly. The physical challenge was manageable, but Mother Nature had other plans…
Torrential rain transformed the trail into a slippery obstacle course. Mud splattered up to my knees, and rocky sections became treacherous. The climax? One misstep plunged my entire foot into a hidden mud pit, saturating my only pair of hiking boots. Fantastic—five more days of squelching footsteps ahead.
Machame Camp offered sparse comforts: a sea of tents crammed onto a muddy plateau, with a lone wooden ranger station standing sentinel. Discovering too late that clients could pay for hut space, I endured a claustrophobic night sharing a tent with my guide—an aromatic experience of sweat-drenched gear that violated park regulations (a fact I’d enforce strictly in coming nights by banishing him to the porters’ quarters). [WTF]
Pro tip for future hikers: Pack waterproof gear like your comfort depends on it… because it does.
