I was born right at the foot of Kilimanjaro, though on the side that faces Kenya, Amboseli. My parents and their ancestors have lived there with their livestock where they have co-existed with the wildlife of Amboseli. Since my childhood, I have woken up every morning and seen this feature that no Maasai history could explain to me until the time I gained formal education and knew it is a geographical feature.
Read moreThe Women Working Kilimanjaro
Jessica and her English tutor, Alex from African Impact
Women in Tanzania face many cultural barriers in pursuing higher education and independent careers. It was a surprise to find out there were a handful of women working the mountain! This left a lasting impression and I began to ask; how many women porters are there? How many women guides?
Read moreCelebrating International Women's Day 2018 on Kilimanjaro
My Kilimanjaro Summit Story
According to Wikipedia, only 40% of those who attempt to climb Kilimanjaro actually reach the summit. On March 8th, in honor of International Women’s Day, all 28 of the women in my group reached the summit, a 100% success rate.
Read moreCheez-its, Sour Worms, and High Altitude: A Kilimanjaro Story
I never thought my life would come to depend on a bag of neon-colored sour worms and Cheez-Its. At 5,895 meters on the top of Kilimanjaro, having not eaten in two days, with no appetite (aside from the aforementioned snacks), frozen extremities, and half out of my mind, I had to ask myself, “HOW DID I END UP HERE?”
Read more51 Days on the Road: 5 Lessons Learned Across 3 Continents
Fishing on Lake Titicaca in Peru with our Uros hosts, Reuben and Francisco (aka the cutest little fisherman).
For 51 days this summer, my best friend Allison and I traversed the world. We packed in more adventures than most people have in a lifetime—including climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, white-water rafting in Peru, snorkeling in the Indian Ocean, paragliding over the Alps, trekking the Inca Trail and dancing on the tables at Oktoberfest...
Read more