Rongai Route up Kili - Day 6

Oh, we so longed to sleep more, but were woken up at 6.30 with the usual tea only to be confronted by a 6 to 7 hour downward walk. Before that though, and immediately after breakfast we had the official tipping presentation ceremony. We collected all the tips for each of the groups (guides, porters, cook etc...) then Tim our spokesperson thanked all in Swahili and presented them with the money. They all then sang us the Kilimanjaro song ...oh so cute!!! :)
The day lay long ahead of us although we found our energies as we re-gained more oxygen at lower levels especially given that most of our walk was through thick rain forest. The latter as it seems being the abode of an elephant which unfortunately, we never came across :( We stopped for a quick lunch at Mandara huts, which was at 2700m. Only about 800m to get to Marangu gate....weeee..e..e.eeeeee!!!!!! We half walked half ran down, whatever our aching knees allowed.

Finally, Marangu gate.....was like getting at the end of a marathon!! :)

We met quite a few other climbers there, some barely able to walk any longer. I and others were fine, further proving our training. We celebrated with beer and diet coke while we signed the gate's book and said our byes to the guides. The minute I got some mobile phone coverage I called home, or well each member of my family to tell the great news; "I got to the summit - Uhuru!!"
The rest was history....we were presented with our 'gold' certificates just after dinner back at the hotel. Unfortunately, our guides could not make it so Eduardo did the honours. We then chatted and drank till late until it was time for goodnights and goodbyes :(