KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK.
TOUR GUIDING GOURSE 2009, Kajeli M. Erick
Last month I managed to attend a course in mountain tour guiding conducted by the Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) held at Y.M.C.A, – Moshi from 20/4/2009-27/4/2009. It was an 8 days course of which 2 days were for classes 1 day for practical preparations and 5 days for practical at the mountain. However I and my companions of the Rongai Route the practical took us only 4 days out of the planned 5 days to and from the summit (Uhuru Peak)
a) The Kilimanjaro National Park Tour guiding course involved the following:
b) The importance of quality guides for Kilimanjaro National park
c) Geography and social economic value of Mt. Kilimanjaro
d) Nature Flora and Fauna of Mt. Kilimanjaro
e) Tour organization and administration.
f) Mount Kilimanjaro visitors trails, natural attractions and facilities
g) Use of Global Positioning System (GPS)
h) Code of conduct, Park rules and Regulations
i) Customer care.
j) Rescue and First Aid.
k) Fire prevention and control
l) Preparation for climbing the mountain practical
I was so surprised to learn that of Mt. Kilimanjaro is the only place on earth where one can find the endemic Fauna and Flora such as the Myosorex zink a type of mouse shrew and the Senecio kilimanjarica (Flora)
Guys climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is something that everyone of us should try out wherever possible. Being at Uhuru peak for the first time ever in my life gave me insurance of being both physically and mentally fit.
This is because climbing such a huge Mt. is not something easy. It’s like walking a thousand miles up to 19340 ft at Uhuru peak, you’re just ascending through increased altitude that reduces the amount of temperature, oxygen and pressure which results into different mountain sickness.
Hence having been to the summit with half of the oxygen (normal) makes someone feel so proud of himself or herself. That means one has overcame these obstacles of mountain sickness
A part from overcoming the mountain sickness, it’s like having traveled from the tropics to the arctic, a journey of only 4 to 6 days. This is because the Mt. has 5 distinctive zones, that one has to go through from down to the summit. These are the activated zone, the activated zone montane forest zone, heath and moorland zone alpine desert zone and the summit or arctic zone 5895m above sea level.
In each zone that is from one zone to another there is a difference of about 1000m
If one is both physically and mentally fit and gets to abide by mounting climbing rules is capable of making it to Uhuru Peak provided he/she has determination, courage and endurance.
Special thanks to:
- My teacher, Mr. Victor Izoba who always stresses on the importance of learning new things wherever possible. His teaching inspired me to go for this training.
- My principal Mr. Vedasto Izoba for having allowed me to attend the training and for the moral support he gave me throughout the training. We could talk on the phone and his words refreshed my courage.
- My college mates for their molar support too.
- The Kilimanjaro National park management term for the provision of the training course.
- Last but not least Africa Galaxy Tour and Travel company for sponsoring me as their trainee.
Sincerely,
Kajeli Erick.
