Live News Update 2006 - 2007 Kilimanjaro Venture 3

Latest news:

Kilimanjaro Venture 3 prepares for Africa

The Team:

Extract from our diaries:

From: Richard Adams (Kilimanjaro 3)

Sent: January 2007 14:50
To: Kilimanjaro 3
Subject: Moshi and the Msinga Project

It was Crazy being in England one minute and the next in a little town called Moshi in Tanzania. We stayed in the kili backpackers hotel, a great spot and perfect for our first few nights. We explored Moshi and straight away learned a lesson that would be important for the whole trip, don't talk to the hustlers!, just ignore them. A mistake I have to admit a few of us made. It's so easy to get caught up in conversation with them and then the next minute you are buying something that is so overpriced. But being new to Tanzania none of us really new what was expensive and what wasn't. Anyway I think we are now all pretty well switched on and it doest seem to be a problem anymore. Are first project was in Msinga, roughly 10km from Moshi. It was a beautiful place and we stayed at the Msinga Secondary School. The accommodation was a lot better than we were expecting and we were really well looked after by Jonathan and the rest of the people who were there. The Africans are very proud people and they really did want to make our stay as nice as possible. The project we were working on was at Mzinga Primary school. We were finishing off a classroom that past VentureCo groups had started. This involved building work, plastering, laying the floor and fitting windows. It was good to get stuck into the project. What was nice about the project was the kids, they were always around and so happy to see us. We played football and other games with them. Another highlight from are first two weeks was the mini waterfalls that Bront Ed and Rhys found. They were awesome; we ended up doing all our showering there and just chilling out in the river. It was a little paradise. The food we had also needs to be mentioned, it really was good. Fresh fruit everyday and three good meals. We also had some Swahili lessons with one of the teachers, it was good to pick up a few phrases but to say we are now all fluent would be a bit optimistic. In the evenings we sat around the fire that the watchman made for us. It was really chilled out in the evenings and everyone did what they wanted. The project was successful, we got a lot done and it was a good way to start the trip.

We left Msinga and headed back to Moshi for the night, on Sunday we were picked up by Robert and big Sam who were to take us on our safari. The safari was absolutely awesome, we saw everything bar a Leopard but it didn't matter, we saw a Cheetah and a male Lion pretty close up though the Vultures got to the Gazelle before he did so he didn't get right up to the van where the animal was. We got to our first campsite and it was really nice, to sum up the campsites. They were all fantastic, one even had a pool. The Ngorogoro campsite we stayed at Simba camp was our first experience of an animal coming into camp. After a very good evening meal from Sam and his team the group headed for our usual sit around the fire and then headed to bed. Sam and Paul did tell us that Buffalo do come into the camp. Great news! So at two in the morning, a few of us are woken up by the sound of grass being ripped out of the ground, a few of us needed the toilet, but we had wait for two hours until this buffalo decided to go. Quite amusing but I have to admit I was a little worried. In the morning we headed to the Serengeti. The Serengeti was pretty cool, we saw so much, beautiful scenery, Hippos and Jakals, it was amazing. The safari was just brilliant.

I have to admit the leader of are group is pretty cool, I would hate him to see me write this, but Paul has been a legend and he really is just a people person, he gets on with everyone and is just one of the group. It will be a shame to see him go but everyone is looking forward to meeting Anne.

Extract from our diaries:

From: Andrew Liggins (VentureCo)

Sent: November 2006 13:50
To: Kilimanjaro 3
Subject: Travel Safety Weekend

Three months before departure the venture begins with the Travel Safety Weekend. A trip to Edale gives you the first oppurtunity to meet your fellow venturers and learn more about your trips. I hope it was useful and prepared you for the trip of your life time. Good luck in January and keep us updated on your journey.