Kilimanjaro team acclimatises in thin air

03 October 2012

The Kilimanjaro Challenge team has continued to make excellent progress in its quest to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Yesterday the team ticked off the first major objective of the climb when they walked into Mawenzi Tarn at an already dizzying height of 4330 metres above sea level. The day 3 climb up to Mawenzi Tarn was short, but steep and the climbers were rewarded for their exertions with superb all round views.

And after starting on springy grass slopes, all vegetation had run out by the time they reached Mawenzi Tarn. It’s going to be much harder underfoot from now on!

With the air now getting ever thinner, the team has been spending today (day 4) acclimatising and getting used to walking in the oxygen-thin air.

Acclimatisation came in the form of a yomp onto the “Saddle” before things got a little hillier as they walked over the “Camel’s Back”.

Reports from the team say they are walking in bright sunshine which is keeping team morale and spirits very high.

And it seems that the NFU's Martin Haworth in particular is doing his bit for team spirit. According to Robert Lasseter, Martin thankfully is no longer imperilling other team members with his ‘lethal’ pole technique and instead is keeping everyone’s morale high with some rather rousing Churchillian quotes!

Keep the climbers motivated as they near the summit by making a donation.

Read our online diary with previous updates and images.

About the Kilimanjaro Challenge and the NFU's Africa 100 Appeal

The Kilimanjaro Challenge is part of the NFU’s Africa 100 Appeal.

The appeal is reaching out across the food and farming industry to raise money for Farm Africa.

Previous donations raised by the 2008 Appeal amounted to a massive £220,000 and saw the launch of the Cassava Project, reinstating a traditional tuber crop and re-educating farmers and their families about its multiple uses to build food security.

Find out more about the Africa 100 Appeal’s work with Farm Africa to date.