Reset search
Trans Africa 2019Trans Africa 2019
Edit route

Trans Africa 2019

February - April 2019
  • Marleen Relling
Februar - April 2019 Read more
  • Marleen Relling
+2

List of countries

  • South Africa South Africa
  • Botswana Botswana
  • Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
  • Zambia Zambia
  • Malawi Malawi
  • Rwanda Rwanda
  • Uganda Uganda
  • Show all (9)
Categories
None
  • 31.0kkilometers traveled
Means of transport
  • Flight16.1kkilometers
  • Walking-kilometers
  • Hiking-kilometers
  • Bicycle-kilometers
  • Motorbike-kilometers
  • Tuk Tuk-kilometers
  • Car-kilometers
  • Train-kilometers
  • Bus-kilometers
  • Camper-kilometers
  • Caravan-kilometers
  • 4x4-kilometers
  • Swimming-kilometers
  • Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
  • Motorboat-kilometers
  • Sailing-kilometers
  • Houseboat-kilometers
  • Ferry-kilometers
  • Cruise ship-kilometers
  • Horse-kilometers
  • Skiing-kilometers
  • Hitchhiking-kilometers
  • Cable car-kilometers
  • Helicopter-kilometers
  • Barefoot-kilometers
  • 66footprints
  • 67days
  • 534photos
  • 741likes
FollowCalendarShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    1
    2

    Day 1: The day before the big hike

    February 2, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Jambo! Jambo! (Swahili, means “hello”)

    Last night I have arrived at my final destination for the next few days: Kilimandscharo.

    And this morning I got very lucky and was able to see a little tiny bit of the top 😱

    I am super excited about this hike starting tomorrow morning. Let’s see if all the training, preparations and investment in professional equipment will pay off. Keep fingers crossed I will make it to the top ✌️🗻🏃‍♀️    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    The gate to Machame route
    Me and the boysYou find one of these at every campThis one stole peoples' bananas

    Day 2: Is day 1 for the Kili adventure

    February 3, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Mambo! (Swahili, means “Hi”)

    This is the big day I have been waiting for, for a very long time: I start hiking up Kilimandscharo 🗻🏃‍♀️💪. See for yourself how beautiful it is.

    You cannot believe how excited I am ... and the funny thing is: I will be all by myself - with nine local men, I feel beyond special✌️☺️👸🏼

    We are going to climb via Machame Route starting at around noon 🏃‍♀️🗻💪.

    PS: No internet on Kilimandscharo, that’s why I share this with you just now. But stay tuned and see whether I made it to the top...    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    Looks like a walk in the park
    Beautiful jungle2#nomakeupFirst milestone: CheckOnly to be found at KilimandscharoGrateful for the trees as they provide shade

    Day 2: Is day 1 for the Kili adventure

    February 3, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We took off at noon (Machame Gate 1,800m) and arrived at the first camp (Machame Camp 2,835m) right before 6pm - 6 hours of walking through the jungle 🌿🌱🍃. Now all the walks to work and my Alster training with all of my friends really pay off 💪🏃‍♀️ I did well until 5pm... then I got really tired and could feel pain in my legs and feet.

    But I made it! And I’m proud, because so far I’m doing great. And this body of mine really deserves a big applause - 7 vaccine shots and lots of training in January plus lots of stress, but not the slightest sign of feeling weak, falling down the stairs at Tchibo one day before take-off leaving nothing but a bruise, and now climbing this mountain with no problem adjusting to heights (so far), at a good pace and with nothing but aching feet (which is normal) 💪🏃‍♀️.

    Today’s lesson: Love and appreciate your body for what it is (i.e., healthy, strong, beautiful) and don’t shame it for what it’s not (i.e., Victoria’s Secret model 😉)

    PS: My team prepared the most delicious food tonight 🥑🥒🥔 and I have been lucky to see the most amazing sky full of stars (really, I have never seen anything like this before 💫✨⭐️).

    All in all a perfect day to be grateful for 🙏

    Asante sana!
    (Swahili, means “thanks very much”)    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    1Morning beauty - Kibo!
    1This is what a camp looks like ... like a campMy private chef and his cooking supplies (he is amazing!!!)It's a big camp; everyone climbing via Machame route makes a stop hereMy "room"My "room"#nomakeup #nowash

    Day 3: Is day 2 for the Kili adventure

    February 4, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Habari za asubuhi!
    (Swahili, means “good morning”)

    I have survived my first night at Kilimandscharo in a tent 💪🏕🏔. It’s a challenge, believe me: Cold, hard floor and loud people who apparently want to make this hike without any sleep 🤷‍♀️. But all in all I’m still grateful for 5 hours of sleep 🙏.

    The hardest part is the night at this stage and the thin air. I woke up several times coughing, feeling that I can’t breathe. To be honest, I was actually anxious and wanted to quit...But this morning it was all gone. And I’m not a quitter ... not yet 💪🏃‍♀️!

    So after a fabulous breakfast with Nutella, porridge and omelette, we start our journey to the next camp: Shira Cave Camp!    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    White neck eagle ... its everywhere up there
    Climbing, no?Climbing, no?It was quite steep... no proper path for walkingBut here is my reward: Standing on top of the jungleAmazing view across the jungle we are leaving behindIt was breathtakingAnd finally ... arrived at Shira Cave camp

    Day 3: Is day 2 for the Kili adventure

    February 4, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    At around noon and after 4.5 hours of climbing (yes, climbing, not hiking...why do people say that Kilimandscharo is just a hike?! 🗻), we reached Shira Cave Camp (3,750m).

    You cannot imagine how it feels to arrive at camp 🏕🏔. It’s the biggest relieve - and all you can think about is taking off those shoes, food and a well-deserved nap.
    We had an amazing lunch: Home-made french fries, tomato soup, fresh carrots and beans and for desert bananas with custard🍌🥕🍅🍟.

    On the photos you can see the camp 🏕. It really looks and feels like an expedition. It feels amazing to be part of something like this.

    By the way: You know what I am grateful for today? Running warm water and flushing toilets 💩💦!!! No toilets during the walks and at camp toilets that are basically just a hole in the ground (no flush and no one to clean that hole either). This was definitely the biggest challenge during the whole trip. So guess what, every time I managed to pee etc. I felt like Wonder Woman: Proud of myself, strong and free 💪👸🏼🦸🏼‍♀️

    In the afternoon I went for a walk with my guide (whose name is Gaston, by the way) and afterwards for dinner with the team. We started talking (previously everyone was a bit shy ☺️) ... I want to keep all of our conversations confidential ... but let me just say this: We need to be grateful for what we have and not feel sorry about what we do not have 🙏💛

    Lala Salama (Swahili, means “good night”)    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    Sunrise, sunrise ...
    Kibo at sunriseShira Cave Camp in the morningMe and Gaston walking through the desertNothing but rocksLava Tower CampThat's Lava TowerHiking upAnd finally at Camp

    Day 4: Is day 3 for the Kili adventure

    February 5, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Luckily today started off much easier as yesterday - no climbing, proper hiking 🗻🏃‍♀️. Today is THE day showing how my body handles the altitude: Climb high (Lava Tower Camp 4,600m), sleep low (Baranco Camp 3,900m).

    I’m actually feeling quite alright. A little bit of a headache and a sore neck from carrying the daypack. But once we have passed Lava Tower, I feel much better... and I am wondering whether I could actually do this in 6 rather than 7 days 🧐💪

    Gaston keeps saying: Pole, pole (Swahili, means “slow down”) and asks me why I’m always in a rush. Some food for thought.
    So today’s learning: Slow down, live in the moment 🙏

    In the evening I had my first doubts that I will actually make it to the top: Nightmares keeping me awake (90% had to do with me dying 😱), serious headache, low appetite and a bit dizziness 🤪🥺🤕

    But let’s see ...    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    2Mountain beauties
    Mountain beautiesMountain beautiesBaranco wallFinally at the top of the wallKibo always in sight1Karanga CampOn my way to campToday's "home" - Barafu Camp

    Day 5: Is day 4 for the Kili adventure

    February 6, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Again, why do people say Kilimandscharo does not involve any climbing? Today started off with climbing (!) Baranco wall 🗻🦸🏼‍♀️🥾. This was hard, especially if you are afraid of heights 😱 But due to Gaston I made it (he is very good at motivating people).

    I was so relieved when I reached the top and enjoyed a wonderful view.

    Next stop: Karanga Camp (3,995m) for lunch, then Barafu Camp (4,673m) for rest.    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    Sunrise, sunrise
    Looks like morning in your eyesSunrise, sunriseCouldn't temp us if it triedNora Jones was on my mind the whole time ... look at this beautySunrise, sunriseSnow everywhereMe reaching Stella Point

    Day 6: Is day 5 for the Kili adventure

    February 7, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Ume lalaje?
    (Swahili, means “how did you sleep?”)

    Well, to be honest, not at all 🧟‍♀️ I’m scared of the altitude, scared of not making it to the top 😬 (by the way, just the day before someone was picked up with a helicopter due to severe height sickness).

    But today is the big day: Summit day🗻 (yes, one day earlier than initially planned 💪🏃‍♀️). At 2am Gaston and I start climbing - it is freezing cold, even with 5 layers of clothing. Gaston carries my daypack due to the pain in my neck ... I don’t know how he did it... but he did, without complaining even once.

    This climb is pretty tough. Mostly solid rocks and 7 hours of walking up (no plateau in between). Physically and mentally I am definitely at the edge ... next to aching muscles, a sore neck, headache, no sleep and freezing like crazy, I can now feel the height. I have to vomit 🤢. My body refuses any food and I panicked 😱

    But again it is due to Gaston that I keep going. Coca Cola brought my energy levels back to normal and every time I started to cry (😢 - I don’t actually know why I cried), Gaston motivated me to keep going (“you are so strong”, “everyone is feeling like you”, “you can do this”).

    And then in the early morning, we have reached Stella Point 😱🙏(5,756m - this is not the top, just a milestone)!

    Please have a look at that sunrise ... it truly is the most beautiful I have seen ☀️    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    Me at the top
    Solid iceUhuru PeakMe and GastonI did it

    Day 6: Is day 5 for the Kili adventure

    February 7, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Now, what do you think? Did I reach Uhuru Peak (5,895m)? The roof of Africa? One of the world’s seven summits?

    Of course I did 🙏🏃‍♀️🗻💪✌️🏔

    I am proud. Proud of this strong body 🏃‍♀️. Proud of me doing this all by myself 👸🏼. Proud of fulfilling this dream of mine ✨. Proud of my mental strength 💪. Proud of my willingness to never give up ✌️. Proud of doing something I never thought I would be able to do 🦸🏼‍♀️.

    Will I do it again? Probably not. This has been very, very hard. It was one of the toughest things I have ever done. And this adventure was never meant to be the first of many more climbing adventures (Mount Everest is not next 😉). This was about a dream I had when I was a teenager and fulfilling this dream without waiting for anybody else to come along helping me fulfilling this dream.

    Today’s lesson: I can achieve everything I want and I am enough 🙏✨    Read more

  • Marleen RellingTravelerTrans Africa 2019
    High Camp
    Kibo in all its beautyBack to the jungleGrand Finale

    Day 7: Is day 6 at the Kili adventure

    February 8, 2019 in Tanzania ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Time to go home! All I want is to take those shoes off, sleep in a proper bed, wash my clothes and enjoy a hot shower.

    After reaching Uhuru Peak, we had to walk all the way back. About 4 hours of walking downhill back to Barafu Camp. And after a hot lunch, we also had to walk downhill to High Camp (3,950m) - leaving the high altitude. So yesterday was tough 💪🦸🏼‍♀️!

    But today we finished the Kili adventure. 6 more hours of hiking downhill and we arrived at Mweka Gate (1,640m) - the finishing line of Machame Route.    Read more

  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice