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In November 2024 'The Burnt Chef Project' posted a challenge on instagram that would change the path of our lives forever. Ok, that was a bit dramatic, but it was something that was all consuming for about a year and a half!
Luckily, my sister and her partner had just completed the Machame route a mere 4 weeks earlier so we were able to get fresh inspiration from them!
Their inspiration - 'Dont do it!', 'It was great, but never again!', 'Its really tough!' BUT also 'It was a great challenge', 'You could defo do it, you've got plenty of time to train!'.
My one concern - These guys are regular gym goers! we most definitely were not!
After a LOT of back and forth, we thought 'WHY NOT!?'
Just under a year later, we have completed it, and this is my daily diary!
DAY 1 – WIDE EYES, DUST & THE MILKY WAY
The air was electric the morning we left. After the kit inspection the night before, the reality of what we were about to do finally hit us—equal parts excitement and dread over breakfast. But we were ready… or at least pretending convincingly.
We piled into the vehicle for a 3-hour drive to Londorossi Gate, where we signed in, weighed bags, took photos, and did a bit of standing around pretending we knew what was happening. After another hour’s drive to Morum Picnic Site, the hike was about to officially begin.
Before setting off, we had a quick picnic lunch: fried chicken, boiled eggs, mango juice—classic Kili cuisine, apparently. Then it was coats on, poles out, trail ahead.
After a relativly comfortable hike we were all full of confidence as arrived at Shira 1 Camp. The tents were already up, and we got our first real glimpse of camp life. We spent most of the evening crammed happily into the mess tent getting to know each other, and later, when the clouds finally cleared, we stepped outside to a sky absolutely exploding with stars. Ive never seen the Milky Way look so dramatic.
The perfect first camp. The perfect first night.
Day 4 – The Infamous Barranco Wall
We woke at 6am to coffee and the distant murmurs of hikers nervously discussing The Wall. Even the guides said it ominously.
By 7:15am, we were standing beneath the Barranco Wall, a vertical-looking slab of rock decorated with tiny human dots moving slowly upward. It looked both impressive and offensive.
The climb, however, was unexpectedly fun. A mix of scrambling, hugging the rock, trusting the guides, and trying not to look down. We shuffled across the famous kissing rock section—less terrifying than advertised, but still intimate.
At the top, we were greeted with ginger tea and biscuits, because what else could you possibly want at 4,000 metres.
Then came the trilogy of destruction:
down a valley → up a valley → down another valley, each one deeper and more inconvenient than the last.
We arrived at Karanga Camp dusty and exhausted but were revived by roast chicken, potatoes, and vegetables.
The afternoon was all about naps and cards, wrapped up and avoiding any unnecessary movement. Karanga had some of the best views of the whole trip—clouds beneath us, the summit above us, and the feeling that we were getting close. This eveing had one of the most spectacular golden sunsets.
Day 6 – Summit Day 26th September 2025
We woke at 1am, disoriented and already wearing most of our wardrobe. Breakfast felt surreal—hot porridge, biscuits, tea. Not that any of us had much of an appetite.
By 1:40am, we were on the trail, headlamps glowing in the darkness. One of the most vivid memories of the entire climb was looking up and seeing the snaking line of lights above us—silent, determined, and stretching impossibly high. Behind us, another line trailed down the mountain. It felt like joining a slow, glowing procession to the sky.
As we climbed, the sun began to rise, painting the horizon in orange and pink. The cold softened, the sky opened, and for the first time that night, we could see the mountain’s scale. It was both beautiful and intimidating.
We reached Stella Point around 8am, there were tired cheers, emotional hugs, and plenty of heavy breathing. The sweetest ginger tea took the edge off of the bitter cold which was quickly creeping in through lack of movement.
The final stretch to the summit was a walk along the crater rim—stunning, silent, icy. We arrived at Uhuru Peak around 9am, running purely on adrenaline.
Photos were taken quickly, the air felt incredibly thin, emotions were evident and exhaustion was beginning to replace adrenalin. Then came the long descent back to Barafu.
Not much can prepare you for the downhill from Uhuru peak. Its a mixture of sking through ashy sand and bouncing from boulder to boulder. At the time its never ending but looking back it passes so quickly.
After a brief rest at high camp it was time to pack away the contents of our tents, and push on to Millennium Camp, arriving exhausted but triumphant. Arriving around