BootsnAll Travel Community

I climbed Kili beginning December 16th. I went with Tusker Trails and cannot say enough good about them. Our guides were Nemis and Shebe, and they were fantastic! 21 porters for 5 of us-we were well fed and taken care of. I got HAPE(high altitude pulmonary edema) on summit night and had to be descended, but it was still an amazing trip, a great group of climbers, and the time of my life. I went on Safari for 3 days afterwards and it was amazing!

Shame you got HAPE. What were your symptoms?
Main thing is you enjoyed your trip and came home safely! :-)

I got a cough the night before summit which cleared up with oxygen, the next day however, the cough began again, I couldn't exhale fully after taking a deep breath, when the guides listen to my lungs(which they do as part of their medical 2 x day) they could hear that they were becoming fluid filled. HAPE can become life-threatening, and I am greatful for the guides wisdom in descending me.
I am not unhappy with not summiting(although I was disappointed at the time). I was doing this trip because I was diagnosed with Leukemia 2 years ago. For me the fact that I got to 16 091 feet above sea level is an awesome accomplishment in itself considering I didn't know if I would be here 2 years ago!