Rooftop of Africa

At Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m moments after reaching the top of Mt. Kili. You can tell how exhausted I am but you'll notice that I'm suffering from some memory loss as I don't remember my friend's name. This is due to the effects of high altitude. After 15 mins. or so of taking some photos & resting, I would need to trek and somewhat "ski" down the mountain. It would be about another 3 hrs. before I reached Barafu campsite....and another 3 or so hours before we got to Mwenzi camp where we would stay overnight before we would depart Kilimanjaro National Park.... Climbing Kili was by far, the most challenging physically exhausting thing I've ever done in my life!

Conquering Mt. Kilimanjaro!

At ~8:40 am on July 30, 2007, I reached the highest peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro at Uhuru Peak, 5,985 m.

In Addis Ababa

Ethiopia & Tanzania Maps

Courtesy Lonely Planet © 2006

Courtesy Lonely Planet © 2006

Destination: East Africa

Leading up to my departure...

I have spent the last 3 years dreaming of my big trip to Africa with a lovely family that I have been blessed to meet. After delaying the trip last summer, I quickly set into motion all that I was required to do in order to be ready & prepared to depart after school concluded at the end of June.

Vaccinations & Meds.:

Yellow fever, Cholera, Traveller's Diarrhea, Menningitis, Hep. A & B., & Malaria..amongst other drugs including Diamox (altitude sickness for my climb up Kili), & other meds., all sorts of

gear

for my climb up Kilimanjaro,

Flight cost

Amount of $ Spent thus far roughly =

$3,500

This is excluding my safari & climbing cost which will easily account for another 2 G's.

Nevertheless, putting money aside, I must say, that I'm looking forward to what I think will be a trip of a lifetime for me. I'm looking forward to meeting my sponsor child in Ethiopia who I've been sponsoring for 3 years now. I'm excited to see the beauty of the African landscape as well as to connect & meet with the warm embrace of its people.

HAPPY TRAILS!

P.S. Please support my climb up Kilimanjaro by donating to Habitat for Humanity. Drop by my campaign site:

"Support Sophia's Climb up Kilimanjaro" campaign

Your support is much appreciated!