As I sheltered from the rain at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, dots of light started to flicker on. At first, it was just a few but before I knew it, 15, 30, then 55 tents were all emitting a warm glow from the blackness. In the cramped concrete structure – the only cover at the campsite – the remaining students from the College of African Wildlife Management hurriedly fixed tent poles, unpacked bags, and readied themselves for the most important climb of their lives. The following morning, they would embark on the Rongai Route for the final exam of their mountain guiding course: summiting.
I was in Tanzania with a group of 72 students to learn what it takes to become a Kilimanjaro mountain guide, a job that involves leading clients up Africa’s tallest peak – the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world.
