Posted by Xavier Sentamu on Nov 12, 2019
On 21st October 2019, I and a team of Rotary leaders, set off on an adventure to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro – the tallest mountain in Africa and also the world’s tallest free standing mountain. We had been practicing for this for months and we were in high spirits as we started out our five day climb at Marangu Gate in Tanzania. But we soon realized that regular hiking does not quite prepare you for the demands of a Kilimanjaro climb. As the landscape changed each day, from the lush green rain forest to heath and moorland, and then dusty alpine desert so did our energy levels. As we went higher up, the air became drier, colder and with less oxygen – so much so that walking became a real effort. Our movements became slower and our steps heavier. The stamina and endurance levels of each member of our group was put to the test. But two things kept us going. Our collective determination to reach the top; and the enthusiastic reminder by the tour guide at the end of each day of how far we had climbed, how far we were above sea level and how closer we were to the peak of this great mountain. Sometime in the night of 24th October, we embarked on our last ascent and sunrise found us at Gilman’s point - 5685m/ 18652 ft above sea level! We had made it, the sky was literally within reach and we proudly pulled out our Rotary End Polio banners. It was an exhilarating moment.
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