Kilimanjaro Challenge

I climbed Kilimanjaro in July 2019. It has been seven years since I have taken the decision to "someday" climbing the highest mountain of Africa and finally it came true.

On the 1st January 2013 I sent my application to Steve Kroeger, because I wanted to take part in his "Seven Summit Kilimanjaro Seminar". Unfortunately, the universe has been conspiring against my project for six years - either I didn't have money, or I didn't have time, or I had neither money nor time. Then finally the perfect time point for such a great trip was decided - October 2019. Shortly after I sent my application, Steve told me he is leading his last climb in 2018. What a shame! However, that didn't stop me and looking back- the Universe, once again, had better plans.

Through random circumstances, I "bumped" into the Flying Kites Academy in Kenya online and after getting inspired by the work they do, I signed up to climb Kilimanjaro with their "Women who hike" program with the view of raising money for their Academy.

However, 2 weeks after I signed up I proudly presented my undertaking to my good friend and adventurer Florian Hornig (simpicity of happiness podcast). He told me about his plan of climbing Kilimanjaro the same year with a group of friends and asked me if I wanted to be part of it. What a question - of course I was. Fortunately, Flying Kites wasn't aversed by the idea and I offered to raise money for them despite pulling out. My intention was to match the money I raised for Flying Kites and donate it to the Kenya Women's Lacrosse Team to support them on their road to the U19 World Cup in Canada 2019 (see "Kenya Lacrosse").

For 10 months I prepared for climbing an almost 6000m high mountain, living in the flat coastal area of Norfolk, UK. Daily visits to the gym, "hiking" along the coast to break in my hiking boots, testing the water bladder and sunglasses were part of it. The best way to prepare for a hike though, I was told, was to hike. So, I had to get into the UK mountains to do some hiking. I signed up for the 24h Three Peaks Challenge, where I had an amazing and equally exhausting experience climbing the three highest peaks in the UK - Ben Nevis (1345m, Scotland), Scafell Pike (978m, England) and Snowdon (1085m, Wales) in 23:58h.

And then, the day finally arrived ....

Mount Meru (4566m) - acclimatisation trek (3 days, 35km)

View of Mount Kilimanjaro from Mount Meru on day 2

Summit of Mount Meru (in the back), ash cone (36667m), 'Rhino Point' (in the front) and the narrow ridge ascending to the top (to the right) - seen standing on 'Little Meru' (3805m)

Tarangire National Park - leg rest day