Baboons. Too close for comfort.

Soooo- we saw tons of baboons, and they are so human-like and funny, it's easy to just watch them for great lengths of time.  And that's whAt we were doing when we let our guard down. There were 5 of us in the Landcruiser and we came upon probably 16 baboons- moms, babies, pops-you had the whole family. We had just finished lunch and were enjoying the end of the day. It was hot out and our windows were down. The two back seats were empty- to set the scene for you- the seat directly behind ME was empty. My sister was video taping the baboons and we were stopped, engine off just watching out of the left side windows as a baby tried to jump up a wall while another baboon kept pushing her down.   All of the sudden, Colleen turned around and facing me said, " Um, there is a baboon in the car." A medium sized baboon had walked around the back and jumped in the window behind me on the right side. The driver turned around and with what I interpreted as a bit of panic said to stay calm, and don't act afraid. ( I later learned that if you show your teeth and/or make eye contact they will very likely attack.) Well, although I didn't scream, and supposedly acted calm, I was dying inside. A baboon bite would send anyone of us to the hospital assuming the baboon didn't maul us first. And it was behind me- wanting our left overs from our lunch boxes. At this time my sister has now turned her video somewhat towards me and the car baboon, and although through her own nervousness, the camera is upside down or sideways,  the audio is so great. The driver was out of the car pounding on the window where the baboon was. Really???I assumed the driver knew what to do, but  Isn't this going to backfire, cause the baboon to freak out and sink his teeth into my neck as his arms strangle me? Um, everybody, a wild baboon is behind me on the seat.  I knew the driver wasn't gonna wrestle the baboon in a heroic effort to save me, nor was he a match for a medium baboon. I was screwed.   I desperately tried to get my seatbelt off, but it felt like forever. I was terrified- the noise he was making and the commotion was just too much for me. If you know me well, you know bumble bees send me into panic mode, so you can imagine what a baboon behind me is doing to my heart rate. African adrenaline is in full force. As I finally got my belt off and calmly ( not really) got out, another baboon passes me on my exit as enters the truck thru the front. It was like invasion of the baboons. Well, pretty soon, passengers were out and baboons were in- but our driver was able to scare them off. Back in the Americans climbed, windows up. After the fact, we have never all laughed so hard. We collectively agreed it was the best part of our day. Our driver said this has only happened to him once before in 22 years- later we learned a good friend of his took 9 years to fully recover from a monkey bite. A total Jana thing to happen. I consider myself lucky that this story didn't end " Jana style "

Phew. 

Such a fantastic day with the wildlife! Note to self- if ever on a safari again- close windows when watching wild baboons. 

He was after the lunch boxes... He made a mess

Post Climb Safari 1/27-1/29, 2016

After a couple of nights rest in Moshi, 9 of us took off to Arusha to begin a safari. We explored three national parks; Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire. I didn't really have crazy huh expectations, but the entire experience was full of firsts. Loved it all! Started with Tarangire Park and cruised it for about 5 hours in our open topped Landcruiser. We had 2 cars, so we split up. Tarangire gave me my first up close look at a pride 6 lions, tons of elephants, gazelles, cape buffaloes and more... Really awesome. Only some pics here, as I'm waiting for my friends with the better cameras to help a sister out. Much was pictures for my mind. Stayed in the most beautiful lodge the first night. We had to be escorted by Masai to and from out bungalows due to lions on the property. Um, ok. There are no fences to keep the animals locked in in Africa. How will I ever go to a zoo again? I know zoos have their purpose, so I won't go there. 

Our Landcruiser 

Momma and her babe

Three lions- I'm sure I'll get better pics soon. So great to watch. See all three?

Stop the car! It was a monkey

Scanning for wildlife

Alicia and me... 

Yummy African drinks at the lodge... 

Our room. 

Day 2 -Ngorongoro Park: This was the best day by far. We drove into the Ngorongoro Crater, a huge habitat that borders the Serengeti. All types of wildlife call the crater home. From Wilderbeasts to warthogs, to lions, leopards, impalas, baboons ( crazy story there) to rhinos, hyenas and hippos. We saw it all. Up close! The pictures tell it all, but not the baboon story. The baboon story will get it's own post. All in all, awesome day, followed by an awesome night at the Farmhouse, a gorgeous place just outside the crater. 

Impalas galore

Heaviest African bird that can fly

My fave- super cute. The African Crown Crane. Looks like it just left the salon

Hungry hippos

Gaudin and Charles- Charles grew up Masai. Took us to a Masai Village- more to come on that 

The surroundings at the Farmhouse don't do it justice. Took video but can't upload it. 

Masai Villiage Visit

Like I said, our safari driver, Charles, used to live in a Masai Village until he was 9. The majority of his family still does. He took us to visit, not his own, but another Masai family. I had a hard time relating to the primitive lifestyle, to be honest. While interesting, it seems so unnecessary in so many respects. A few facts I learned:

1. Women do not learn English, men do

2. Men drink cow's blood and milk for strength

3. Masai do not eat any wild animals

4. Boys get circumsized at age 15 and are sent out to survive for 3 months with their faces painted

5. The men are polygamous 

6. The women build the houses out of mud, sticks, and cow dung

7. No electricity

8. They are nomadic- ( their homes eventually wash away)

9. Women keep their heads shaved

10. Masai don't eat fruits and vegetables 

11. They do send the young children to school ( not allowed to wear Masai dress tho)

12. Confused.... They go to school, so how is it the young girls aren't learning English? Need to look into that 

13. I'm glad I'm not Masai

Cheif's son- a house being built. Each wife must build her home with help of the other women. 

My Masai friend. He is 25. He is ready to get married. He likes a girl from another Masai village but awaiting permission

Sitting on the bed in the 25 year olds hut. No mattress, just cow hide. I had to wear Masai robe over my shorts as respect. 

Each hut has its own kitchen. Smoke escapes thru window- they like it smokey tho as it doubles as mosquito repellent 

Masai kids. 

Day 8- get me off this mountain!

1/25/2016 

Awoke at High Point camp after a WELL deserved night's sleep! It was a 6 hour trek to Mweka Gate, one of the ways off Mt Kilimanjaro. We all split up into groups depending on how we were feeling, etc. I was in the "haraka" group or fast group. That made me feel good, but the truth is I just wanted to get down and take my boots off! The 6 of us in the haraka group managed to get to the gate in 4.5 hours where we checked out and quickly opened a cold beer. I can't remember a time when a beer tasted so good. It was a couple of hours before the rest of the team arrived and the celebration with the porters began. They had wine and champagne for us-  We told them our stories, and there wasn't a dry eye to be found. Many of us left personal items for the porters. I left behind my ugg boots,  Shaun's Toyota hat, socks, and a north face fleece to be used in ways I could never get use out of at home. 

While I will NEVER return to actually climb Kilimanjaro again( once is enough) , I would return to

Tanzania in a heartbeat. Am excited to start the safari in a couple of days. Wow. 

The porter picture with our team

Cheers!!!

Climbing friends forever: Ryan, Brian, Jeff, Bob and Ramona 

Jaime, me, Augustine, Ramona, and Julie

He got the Toyota hat- The porter that carried the drone

SUMMIT DAY 7

1/24/2016

The most difficult day I've ever experienced.  I don't have any pictures of the actual summit trek mainly because I couldn't do anything other than put one foot in front of the other. The 9+ hours to the summit were the hardest hours I've ever endured. I reached Stella Point just after sunrise, and then continued to Uhuru Peak at 19,341 ft at around 8:42 am. Julie, Ryan, Bob, Alicia and I reached the summit first and then most of our team joined us. Sadly, not everyone made it. 

One guy on our team had an onset of altitude blindness at 18,000 ft and a porter took him down. ( He regained eyesight several hours later) Ramona tried her best but due to her fever, turned back at 17,000. Another team member also turned back at 17,000 from fatigue. Another member made it to Stella Point, and called it a day. One member was thought to have cerebral edema- 

I can't quite explain what it feels like to be at 19,341 ft except that many of us felt out of body. I had wanted to take all these pics, especially one for Jodi, but I couldn't focus on anything but myself, and not in any egotistical way- just self preservation. The limit to stay at that altitude is around 20 min, which We tried to adhere to, but it was more like 45. We knew we had surpassed the recommended time and were anxious to stop the killing of brain cells and feel better. Julie, Ryan and I took off back to Stella Point and waited there for a guide. Alicia finally came w/ a guide and we hightailed it down. It was just as hard , and we finally got back to Barafu at noon, slept for an hour before we had to trek another 3.5 hours to High Camp at 12,000 ft for the night. I have never felt so tired in my life. But the accomplishment is like no other. I made it to the "Top of the World"

Uhuru Peak!!!

Sunrise

The melting glacier

Day 6-7 Summit Night- 16.5 hour day

1/23-24/2016

So, we arrived at Barafu around 1:00pm. They made us eat lunch and then a light dinner at 5pm, and bed by 6pm. I wore my long underwear to bed. Anything to make 10pm dressing for the summit seem easier. My friend Ramona has a 102 fever, and I'm heartbroken for her. It doesn't look like she will be able to summit. Praying for a miracle. These last 6 days have been so hard, but awesome, and we have all become so close. I can't quite explain how you can feel as though you've known people forever, when really it's just 8 days, but in this environment, it just happens. You talk about pretty personal crap. It would be horrible if all of us don't make it. We are at 15,200 feet, and need to climb to 19,341- so really, if you have a fever, it doesn'took promising. :-(  

After very little sleep we awoke and with nerves high, we got ready. The winds were blowing really hard. Our head guide, Freddie, said it was unusually strong wind. We left for the summit at 11:15pm with our head lamps on! Oh my gosh!!!! 

Our final night before summit. In this tent we tried to get a few hours of sleep. No sleep was had!

11:10 pm 11/23. Minutes before we set out. 

Day 6: 4 hour hike to Barafu- base camp for SUMMIT

1/23/2016

Today is the day! We will hike 4 hours to Barafu Camp. We will relax, have an early dinner, bed at 6pm- wake up at 10pm, eat breakfast, and depart for the Summit at 11pm in hopes to be there for sunrise. I am beyond nervous. First I need to just get to Barafu. 

I hope to be on top of this mountain for tomorrow's sunrise!

Resting on the trail. Hard to see, but our  camp we are heading to is on the ridge behind me

Barranca Wall: Day 5

I/22/2016

Wow! One of my favorite days. So pretty. I started diamox and feel a little bit better.i drink a minimum of 4 liters of water a day, and am not having the bad side effects from the diuretic that I had at home. Maybe I wasn't drinking enough agua at home? Woke up at normal wake up time, but everyone was so spent from Lava Tower that we got off to a late start. This camp is beautiful, and we awoke to sunny skies for the first time! It is amazing how sunny skies can boost your morale. We ate breakfast and filled up our water - and did all of the morning rituals we had become so accustomed to doing. Looking up at the wall was amazing. It was a vertical wall, and the most dangerous day of our trek less summit day. I loved it. It was so fun to climb over the rocks and work our way up the wall. One of our team members had an anxiety attack, and the porters were awesome. It proved to be about a 6 hour climb and we only went up to 14,700, but we covered a lot of ground and moved NW, closer and closer to our goal of Uhuru peak!

Breakfast in the mess tent

Climbing the wall

Ramona and me

Made it to camp- Ryan, Julie, and me

Kilimanjaro looming in the background

Tents ready for the night. Surreal

Sun is going down!

Day 4 : Acclimatization Day- Lava Tower

1/21/2016

Hard day. We knew it was going to be a looooooong day, but had no idea that we were talking a 9 hour, altitude testing, feeling crappy kind of day. We left Shira Camp 2 with wet boots, but feeling hopeful because they weren't too uncomfortable. Slept with some clothes in the bottom of my bag to keep them warm. Sad that my phone got soaked thru my backpack despite cover and sad the lens was compromised and my pics were crap. ( didn't have battery for other cam, so all I had) anyhow, jeff, a guy from the team had these absorbant crystals, so hopefully my phone will come right again. Our camera crew has everything, including a drone, so I'm not too worried. 

Anyhow, my oxygen is still good( 13,000 ft) and I'm feeling good. Started our morning trek straight up hill and had lunch at 14,000+, and I was officially higher than Whitney, feeling good, and only myself and the 2 camera guys were diamox free. I told Julie that I thought I was going to be the lucky girl that goes unaffected by altitude. I knew so many people that struggled at 14,000, and I'm still good. Started to rain at lunch and you could see the panic and angst set in. Please no repeat of yesterday. Rain gear was put on and we continued our ascent to Lava Tower( 15,200 ft) to acclimate and then the plan was to descend to Barranca Camp to sleep (13,200) hike high- sleep low motto. Then it hit me. I instantly became ill. I had made it to lava Tower, but as I started to descend, my stomach and head felt horrible, and I mean really bad. The feeling stayed with me all night and the medical check by the porter showed my heart rate up and my oxygen low. It was advised that I start diamox tomorrow. Ok. I didn't need to be convinced. Didn't sleep too well. Knew we had a strenuous day ahead of us climbing barranca wall, and if I felt this bad, I knew I wouldn't make it. I knew this trek was going to be hard, I just never imagined it would be his hard.

Lava Tower, 15,200 feet

Above the clouds