The Milestone Hike
(Day 0)
Tanzania, Kilimanjaro – Dec 24/ Jan 25
Every Trip a Purposeful Trip
I started the hike with an open mind and heart, and finished with my soul full of stories — not just of mountains and altitude, but of healing, connection, and rediscovery.
For me, travel isn’t about ticking places off a list.
It’s about reconnecting with myself, shedding expectations, and creating space to live more truthfully.
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro wasn’t just a bucket list item — it was a milestone.
A quiet commitment I made to myself in April 2024, after realising that progress doesn’t always come in leaps, but in the steady decision to keep moving — one step at a time.
Kilimanjaro became the symbol of that promise.
A journey I chose to begin on Christmas night, 2024 — intentionally, quietly, and on my own terms.
Day 0 — 25 Dec 2025
Getting There: The Long Night Flights
On Christmas Day, I boarded my 8:25 PM flight. The journey had two legs: Singapore to Doha on Qatar Airways (8 hours), followed by a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro via Qatar-operated Oman Airlines (another 8 hours).
Mt. Kilimanjaro~
📕 Gratitude for Our Nation
I touched down at Kilimanjaro International Airport at 7:15 AM on Boxing Day. The customs process was seamless. Singaporeans don’t need visas, and yellow fever vaccination is only required if you’ve transited through affected countries. Watching the long visa queue, I felt a wave of quiet gratitude for the strength of the Singapore passport.
💰 Money & the Road to the Lodge
Just outside the airport, I withdrew Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) from a nearby ATM. Local banks charge withdrawal fees, but my YouTrip card let me convert with zero fees — a small win that added up. TZS is essential for local shopping in Moshi or Arusha and for quick roadside stops. Since it’s not easily available in Asia, ATMs are your best option upon arrival.
George from Ascend Tanzania greeted me with a warm, grounded presence. During our 45-minute drive to Lindrin Lodge, he shared stories about the region while I practiced my newly-learned Swahili phrases. He even pulled over — sometimes completely stopping — so I could snap my first photos of Mt. Kilimanjaro rising in the distance.
My very first local interaction was not just welcoming, but also filled with stories and learning.
thanks to its incredible altitude, ASML 5,895m!
🏡 The Lodge
By 9:30 AM, we arrived at the lodge. By 10, I was in my room, unpacking and sorting my gear. It was starting to feel real.
Shall I give you a tour…? I can hear it! YES!
🍽️ Lunch & Pole Pole
I quickly learned to embrace the local rhythm of life.
Here, everything moves pole pole — slowly, gently, one step at a time.
Most things start 30–45 minutes “later than scheduled,” but no one’s in a rush. It’s not inefficiency — it’s intention. It’s presence.
And if you’re climbing Kilimanjaro, it’s a mindset worth adopting early.
🧭 The Briefing
At 5 PM, before dinner, I met Jafary — my mountain guide.
Though I’d originally booked the Lemosho Route as part of a group hike, no one else signed up. It became a private trek — which, to be honest, felt like a blessing.
Jafary’s proposed route differed from the one listed by the tour operator, but his reasoning was sound: better acclimatization, smarter pacing, stronger endurance. I trusted him. His presence was calm, capable, and deeply experienced.
I nodded and said yes without hesitation.
🍺 Dinner
Dinner was a buffet BBQ in the lodge’s open courtyard. I tried my first Kilimanjaro Beer — a local wheat brew with a slightly heavier body than German wheat beers, but a flavor that lingered in the best way.
That night, I went to bed early. Jet lag still clung to me, but so did something else — excitement.
Tomorrow, I’d begin the climb.
And I already knew: this was going to be more than just a hike.
🎒 To Be Continued
The journey had only just begun. From the moment I touched down in Tanzania, every detail — from gear checks to unexpected delays — became part of a deeper rhythm unfolding.
But what lay ahead? 7 days on the mountain. Hours of silence. Moments of awe. A trek that would demand every bit of grit, grace, and gentleness I could offer.
In the next part of this series, I’ll share Day 1 on the mountain — the first steps into the forest trail, my inner thoughts as I hiked in solitude, and the small moments that reminded me: I am never really alone in nature.
Continue my journey with me as the altitude rises, and so does the reflection. 🏔️
