My Wild Ride Up Kilimanjaro

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was the wildest ride of my life so far. It was one of the most epic adventures I’ve ever undertaken and at times, the toughest physical and mental challenge I’ve faced.

Altitude sickness and nausea hit hard on days two and three, testing every ounce of grit I had. But as the saying goes, “this too shall pass”—and it did.

We began planning this trip back in January 2025, and when Casey mentioned that she was considering extending the opportunity to the rest of the team, I grabbed it with both hands.

After all, when would I ever get another chance to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

I’m fortunate to be an avid Crossfitter who also runs occasionally and trains for a few half marathons, so when it came time to start preparing specifically for Kilimanjaro, it didn’t feel like such a daunting task.

I asked my CrossFit coach to design a strength program for me, which I followed twice a week alongside my regular CrossFit sessions to maintain overall fitness. The program included plenty of weighted squats, lunges, and box step-ups and I even loaded my daypack with a weighted ball and climbed stairs to simulate hiking conditions.

About two months before the climb, Nicole and I began doing back-to-back hikes on weekends, using Saturdays and Sundays to focus on elevation and varying terrain. This training proved invaluable in building the endurance and strength I needed to take on everything Kilimanjaro had in store.

After months of planning, training, and gear prep, we set off on the Lemosho Route: seven days ascending Africa’s highest peak, and one day descending.

By day five, I was back in the game. The nausea had subsided, and I was eager to tackle the Barranco Wall. It was pure chaos – porters, guides, and trekkers all scrambling up together, but I loved every second.

I even asked our guide if we could do it again. We ended the day at Karanga Camp, though by now I had lost my appetite and had to force myself to eat to keep my energy up.

Bundled up in four pairs of pants (note to self: three is the magic number), a giant red summit jacket, and gloves so thick I couldn’t grip my trekking poles, I felt like a little red Teletubbie climbing in the dark.

The cold was biting, the air was thin, and the climb felt endless. But starting at midnight has its perks—you can’t see how far you still have to go, so you just focus on one step at a time.

Seeing people being helped down before reaching the summit was tough. But eventually, the sun rose, layers came off, and somehow, we made it.

The summit itself is a blur—probably the lack of oxygen—but I remember laughing with Nicole, eating Snickers, and drinking Coke at the top. And yes, the photos are real, not Photoshopped!

Then it hits you: you still need to climb down…

The descent to Barafu felt like trekking through Mordor. Japani eventually roped me in and practically dragged me down to camp.

After a quick two-hour rest, we continued to High Camp—an additional 3 km hike due to Barafu’s high elevation. That “long walk” gave me some of my best conversations with Japani and our lead guide, Mathayo.

What I loved most: Being disconnected from the outside world. It brought a clarity I can’t quite explain and allowed me to be fully present.

What I liked least: The lack of oxygen. I’ll never forget trying to zip my tent at Barafu before summit day and having to lie down for 20 minutes because I was so out of breath.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. The adventure bug has bitten, and I’ll be back for more.

Was it a holiday? I’d call it a working holiday—one that leaves you richer in life experience.

Biggest takeaway: Bringing a little more Pole Pole (slowly, slowly) and Hakuna Matata (no worries) into my everyday life.

Be sure to bring along the best teammates to keep you going throughout the journey:

• Nicole, for being the best hiking buddy a girl could ever ask for, for braving Platteklip with me more times than I can count, and for patiently answering all my awkward questions.
• Casey for being the most organized and prepared person you’ll ever meet, with a checklist that could truly save lives (and honestly, it did!).
• Michael, for keeping us laughing every single day, I think we all miss hearing about your incredibly vivid dreams.
• Dan for making sure we always had a song stuck in our heads and for being the glue that held us all together when things got tough.

I’ll leave you with the best advice from Mathayo, our head guide: “When you push back at Kilimanjaro, it will push back at you.”

A heartfelt thank you to the Timeless Africa team for helping me tick off one of my bucket list dreams.