Kilimanjaro – "My first mountain".

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and stands at a height of 5985 metres above sea level. It is composed of 3 extinct volcanoes: Kibo (19,340 feet), Mawenzi (16,896 feet), and Shira (13,000 feet), and supports 5 major eco-zones: rainforest, heath, moor land, alpine desert and glaciers. The impressive site of the Kibo crater is revealed to you as you approach the summit. Kilimanjaro has the prestige of being the highest free standing mountain in the world and one the 'Seven Summits' – the much publicised and sort after highest peak on each continent.

In 2002 Ben left his job for an International Banking Organisation to travel to Africa. He travelled through Kenya and the Masai Mara, and finally down into Tanzania to his base in the village of Moshi from where he climbed the 5895m to the summit of Kilimanjaro in just 2 days without any acclimatization. He reached the summit (Uhuru Peak) just as the sun was rising up over the horizon - "It was indescribably beautiful, and empowering, it made me feel like I could do anything I set my mind to."

"I have always been drawn to Kilimanjaro, and although it's not a technically difficult mountain, there is just something about it that I find compelling. Kili rises unrivalled, out of the African planes and stands alone magnificently, it was something about that solitude in particular that captured my imagination a long time ago. I'm convinced there is a type of romance to Kilimanjaro, and I'm sure it will draw me back one day, but I have a long list of things to do first".



 See slide show here