The Kilimanjaro Friendship Trail team is very diverse. The creation of the trail was possible through participation and the passion of many individuals. Here we would like to introduce a few members of the team to you, who would like to help you with any question you might have regarding the trail.
We kindly note at this point that without the ideas, the input and the support of every single person the project would not be as far as it has come today. A warm thank you to everyone! Asante Sana!
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Dr. Ernst Schumacher
Contact person for interested pilgrims
Ernst, left in the picture, is a doctor and initiated together with local priests the idea of a pilgrims trail at Mount Kilimanjaro at a Seminar in 2011.
Together with Hans-Jörg Bahmüller, from the Jakobsweg-Team, he developed the Kilimanjaro Friendship Trail in 2012.
Background: Protestant church congress 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany
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Hans-Jörg Bahmüller
Contact person for questions regarding the trail's geography
Hans-Jörg, right in the picture, is a professional computer specialist and engineer. For a few years now he has worked in his retirement on the identification and documentation of Camino de Santiago Trails. With his pre knowledge and thanks to GPS he was able to support Ernst with the planning, identification and documentation of the Kilimanjaro Friendship Trail.
Background: Along the Kilimanjaro Friendship Trail
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Reinhard W. Herrgott
Coordinator
Reinhard is an Africa expert in 3rd generation and is therefore connected very closely with Africa. He visited Moshi and the Kilimanjaro Friendship Trail several times, last in 2016.
He took Suaheli classes and introduced the new local coordinator in the trail's philosophy. This way they improved the organisation of the project together.
Background: Along the Kilimanjaro Friendship Trail
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Sophie Augustino
Local coordinator
Sophie is a native Tanzanian who studied at the College of African Wildlife Management and gained a certificate in Wildlife Tourism. Her expertise in the Kilimanjaro trails is renowned since she has been exploring and touring this area in her youth and the entirety of her career. Sophie's passions lie in helping fellow Tanzanian women reaching their potential and planting seeds of nature fascination in her clients.
Background: View over the savanna
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Karla Oechelhaeuser
Contact person for twin cities Tübingen & Moshi
Karla is one of the 'godmothers' of the Kilimanjaro Friendship Trail at the association for twin city partnership Tübingen - Moshi e.V. in Germany. She has hiked the trail in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The association would like to support the trail through eco tourism. This is supported by the German city Tübingen.
Information about the association for the twin city partnership between Tübingen & Moshi is located here on our website.
Background: Lake Chala
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Verena Tichy
Website
Verena has completed a B.A. program in tourism research, a M.A. program in regional development and has an personal emphasis on sustainable tourism. She is looking after and working on the project's website.
Due to family relations with Tanzania Verena is familiar with the Tanzanian culture and their way of life.
Background: Savanna enroute to Lake Chala