The Milestone Hike
(Day 2)
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.
Read more about my way [here].
Day 2 — 27 Dec 2025 (Hiking Day 2)
🗺️ Route for the Day
Mti Mkubwa Camp (2650m) → Shira Camp 1 (3610m) → Shira Camp 2 (3850m)
Distance: ~17km total (7km to Shira 1, 10km to Shira 2)
Elevation Gain: ~1200m | Zone: Montane Forest → Alpine Desert
Duration: ~8–9 hours (split over two legs)
This was the stretch of the hike that gave me the most breathtaking views — truly a highlight of the entire Kilimanjaro journey.
Let’s Begin!
We began around 8:00 AM from Mti Mkubwa Camp, climbing steadily through the Montane Forest and into the Alpine Desert. The day’s route was split into two legs: a ~7km hike to Shira Camp 1, followed by another ~10km push to Shira Camp 2 after lunch.
☁️ Into The Clouds
As we gained elevation (over 1000m by midday) the air thinned and the landscape changed dramatically. Around 3300m, we broke above the clouds, and the slope began to level out.
Walking into the vast Shira Plateau was surreal. What was once dense forest gave way to arid, volcanic terrain — light brown soil dotted with low-growing, woody alpine vegetation.
Jafary explained that the Shira cone had collapsed some 500,000 years ago, leaving behind the caldera we now stood on. Unlike Kibo and Mawenzi, Shira surrendered to time and erosion — and it was humbling to walk across its ancient floor.
☁️ Hearty Chat with Fellow Hiker
Along the way, I bumped into Susanna, a Danish hiker I’d met back at Lemosho Gate. Having someone to chat with made the final stretch to Shira Camp 1 fly by. We arrived just in time for lunch, soaking in the silence and sheer scale of the plateau.
Walking into the vast Shira Plateau was surreal. What was once dense forest gave way to arid, volcanic terrain — light brown soil dotted with low-growing, woody alpine vegetation.
Jafary explained that the Shira cone had collapsed some 500,000 years ago, leaving behind the caldera we now stood on. Unlike Kibo and Mawenzi, Shira surrendered to time and erosion — and it was humbling to walk across its ancient floor.
🍽️ Lunch with a View at Shira Camp 1
Arriving at Shira camp, I continued to soak in the
🌳 Learning on the Trail
After lunch, Jafary and I continued toward Shira Camp 2, and the learning didn’t stop. He shared stories about:
- Tanzania’s name — a fusion of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
- Kilimanjaro’s name origins — possibly from the German Kilima-Ndscharo, meaning “Mountain of Greatness” or “That which cannot be climbed.”
The three peaks:
- Shira – means “war,” named after a battle between the Chagga and German conquistadors.
- Kibo – means “spotted,” likely referencing its snow-capped summit.
- Mawenzi – means “broken top,” describing its jagged shape.
History & Culture
The Chagga have lived on Kilimanjaro’s slopes for over 500 years.
They’re known for cultivating bananas and coffee, brewing banana beer, and exporting their coffee worldwide.
But what stood out most was their cultural wisdom: If there’s conflict, it must be resolved quickly — or it’s believed to bring misfortune.
One reconciliation ritual involves the Masale Plant. A leaf is plucked, tied into a knot, and offered as a peace offering. Refusing it is considered unacceptable. There’s a quiet beauty in that — in the idea that healing is not optional, but essential.
🌵 The Dendrosenecio and Other Wonders
This was also my first encounter with the Kilimanjaro Dendrosenecio — strange, towering plants that seem to defy the harsh alpine climate. They grow up to 5 meters tall, retaining dead leaves to insulate themselves through freezing nights. Each new branch grows about every 5 years, making their age easy to read if you know what to look for.
Other flora included giant lobelias, heathers, and volcanic mosses. While the animal life was less visible, I did spot a few giant ravens circling the campsite — no elephants or buffalos today, though they’re said to live on the plateau.
🌵 Arrival at Shira Camp 2
We reached Shira Camp 2 near sunset, and the cold set in pretty quickly as the sun went down.
🌵A Cold Adventure
Later that night, around 3:00 AM, I had a little unexpected side quest: braving the -10°C cold to find the toilet, which was uphill and quite far from my tent. I’d left a torch on my tent to help find my way back, but it was too dim and hidden behind other tents.
I ended up using the faint light from a ranger hut and my watch compass to navigate — calling back to skills I hadn’t used since my Brunei jungle training.
Even then, it took me about 20 minutes (and a few wrong turns) before I found my way back.
Cold, a little shaken, but proud of the improvisation — and since, I am already out used to the cold, I attempted my first round of night phonetography under the stars.
🎒 Continue to Journey With Me Higher, Lighter, Closer
There was a quiet satisfaction that settled in as Day 2 came to a close.
The terrain was getting more dramatic, the views wider, the air cooler — but strangely, I felt more at ease than ever.
Something had shifted. My steps were getting steadier. My mind, lighter.
There was joy in the movement. Clarity in the pauses. And a quiet strength I hadn’t noticed before — not loud or proud, just present.
Day 3 would bring me higher into the clouds and deeper into this rhythm.
The adventure was picking up… and so was the peace within.
