A University friend of mine found a leaflet that highlighted an adventurous opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, combined with a fundraising mission supporting Amnesty International. This particular cause was dedicated to aiding displaced refugees worldwide. Motivated by such an important cause, we committed to raising the necessary £2,000 so we could attend the trip.

The fundraising itself was part of the adventure, from shaking buckets at train stations in bright yellow t-shirts to running events and taking on extra work in the holidays. Just when you think you won't bump into someone you know. Suddenly everyone you know chooses that moment to visit your local train station! In the holidays I took on gardening work, I ran a race night in Blagdon and applied for the travel award. All this helped me to reach my target. Although not a fan of the Amnesty International attire, I learnt many important life skills, from being rejected during the collection process to building people skills and resilience. Our efforts paid off, and in August 2023, we set off for Africa.

In late August we embarked on a three-week journey to Tanzania and Zanzibar. The ascent of Kilimanjaro, was a challenging yet rewarding experience, it took us five days in total, following the scenic Machame route. We successfully summited the peak on September 2nd. Throughout the expedition, I experienced an array of highs and lows.

The highs included forming enduring friendships, encountering breath-taking wildlife (especially the friendly monkeys in the cloud jungle) and the varied landscapes during the ascent. The journey was certainly not without its challenges. Our team faced drastic temperature fluctuations, struggled with altitude sickness, endured fatigue while trekking and had to navigate the mountain in the dark. The most demanding part was definitly the final summit day, where we had to trek for two consecutive days without sleep, in freezing conditions, leading to our water supplies also freezing! Although team morale was near rock bottom as the sun came up on summit day, watching the sun rise from the top of the mountain is a moment I will remember forever. 

After finishing the Kilimanjaro expedition, we indulged in some more leisurely and enjoyable aspects of his trip. I took time out with new-found friends to explore the national parks of Tanzania and relaxed on the beaches of Zanzibar, experiences I like to refer to as - 'Fun type one'.  as opposed to the expedition which was 'Fun type two'. A particularly memorable part of my post-Kilimanjaro adventure was the unique opportunity to stay with a Maasai tribe. Despite the challenges of adapting to their diet and sleeping in modest dirt huts, we all found the experience extraordinarily enriching. It offered us a profound insight into a vastly different culture and was a truly special aspect of our trip. Along the way hostels were a great place to meet other travelling parties and my plan is to return one day to a small Tanzanian town called Moshi where I made some great local friends. At the end of September, I headed back to the UK, but I am keen to do something similar in the future. Perhaps another mountain in a different continent or Everest base camp will be next on my Live Adventurously list.