It was after completion of four months training in social sciences when our teacher suggested we should climb Mountain Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) (19,340ft 5895m), the second highest mountain in the world. I was 21 years old. I was happy, and I shared the idea with my parents. My dad didn't like the suggestion. He thought I 'm not strong enough to make it, and I might die on the way. I convinced him, telling him how important it was for me to be among the climbers because the mountain is in my place of birth i.e. in the region I was born, I wanted to experience the feeling of being at the highest point in Africa continent. After all these, my father allowed me to go. I imaged how I was going to pass through the mists of equatorial jungle to reach the snows and breath-taking views from the summit.
             On Monday May 13, 1996 we started this adventure through Marangu gate. When using this route (Marangu) there are three campsites (stops) before you reach the peak such as Mandara, Horombo, and Kibo Hut. We were twenty-three people in this group. Before leaving, we had an orientation on weather conditions, information on health due to altitude change, and how to handle an emergency.
             After the orientation, we officially started the adventure. We passed through attractive natural vegetation, tall trees, evergreen grasses, and rain forest. I smelled the fresh air from the green leaves. The sound of water streams, and the bird's melodies made me feel as if I was in heaven. It took us seven hours to reach the first stop, Mandara hut. On the second day, we started a seven hour walking journey to Horombo Hut. When ascending to Horombo, we left behind the rain forest, huge trees, and started enjoying the open Alpine meadow and bushes. The altitude began to make us tread slowly. By the time we arrived, I was so exhausted and famished. Our porters prepared the dinner for us, and after the dinner I went straight to the bed. We spent an ex...