For a group of Capetonian hikers, standing atop Mount Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped summit was the culmination of months of preparation and a lifetime dream fulfilled.
After conquering the Roof of Africa, the group earned themselves special recognition from Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis at a ceremony last Friday.
The adventure brought together hikers from across the city, including André Kleinschmidt of Brackenfell, Strandfontein couple Stephanie and Vernon Singh, who tackled the challenging 5 895-metre climb together. Fellow Strandfontein resident Wendy Brockman and Pelican Park’s Helene Martin also joined the expedition that would test their endurance.
At the mayor’s office, the group received certificates of recognition for their remarkable achievement, with Hill-Lewis personally congratulating each climber on what he described as an “incredible accomplishment”. The mayor expressed the city’s pride in the group’s success, noting it as an inspiration to other locals dreaming of mountain adventures.
Once-in-a-lifetime journey
The five brave adventurers departed Cape Town on the 10th of July, embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime journey two days later as they set off for the mountain alongside their guides.
“Evans and Mandey came to collect us from the hotel. The drive was scenic and lush with rolling landscapes. Along the way, we stopped at a small local shop to grab a cola and, more importantly, support the local community, a small act that felt meaningful,” Stephanie Singh, who speaks for the group, told TygerBurger last week.”
“When we arrived at the Machame Gate, the official starting point of our trek, we completed all the necessary paperwork and received our climbing permits. Tour buses filled with climbers from all over the globe began arriving, each group buzzing with the same excitement and determination we felt. It was humbling and inspiring to be part of something so globally unifying,” she describes the mood recalling some nervous anticipation.
Here all bags were weighed carefully, as sherpas are not allowed to carry loads exceeding 15 kg, whilst the hikers were each responsible for their daypacks that carried essentials like water, rain gear and daily snacks.
The climb begins
On that first day, they completed an 11-kilometre hike from 1 640 metres to 2 850 metres above sea level, the first leg of their trek taking them through the rainforest often called the “Amazon of Kilimanjaro”.
“Of course, no adventure is without its challenges. This was the day we were introduced to the infamous long-drop toilets of the mountain. Let’s just say, it’s an experience we’d all rather forget,” says Stephanie.
To keep our spirits high, we sang the ‘Kilimanjaro Song’ on repeat.
The next day took them through the Moorlands. “We awoke on the morning of 14th July to the soft voices of our team offering us steaming cups of coffee and hot chocolate. In the crisp, cold air, this small gesture felt incredibly comforting, a perfect start to the day. The Moorland terrain was completely different from the lush rainforest of the day before. Dry, muddy in parts, and surreal, it looked like something from Mars.
“The jagged rocks, unusual formations, and peculiar circular holes made the landscape feel alien and dreamlike. Every few kilometres, the scenery shifted again, as if the mountain was revealing its many faces,” she says.
“To keep our spirits high, we sang the ‘Kilimanjaro Song’ on repeat.”
They reached their overnight campsite at around 17:00 where the altitude was now 3 900 metres and the temperature had dropped to -8°C. Here, the guides conducted medical checks to ensure the hikers were still healthy enough to continue.
Nerve-wracking moments
As if the day before wasn’t tough enough, the 16th of July raised the bar even higher, with the terrain becoming steeper and more demanding. “We found ourselves moving slower, carefully conserving every ounce of energy as we found a sustainable rhythm,” Stephanie recalls.
Then came the Barranco Wall, the most formidable challenge the hikers had yet encountered.
“Towering and intimidating, it felt like climbing Platteklip Gorge in Cape Town… over and over again. I finally understood why people say: If you can climb Platteklip multiple times, you have a 50% chance of making it to the top of Kilimanjaro. It was not just steep—it was a scramble. At moments, it felt like the mountain was testing every bit of courage, endurance, and determination we had. One terrain melted into another, each with its own character and challenge. Despite the exhaustion, we were overcome by a sense of euphoria, a feeling that this mountain was reshaping us, layer by layer, step by step,” says Stephanie.
André adds that there were definitely some nerve-wracking moments, but also funny ones. “I actually got lost one evening just returning from the bathroom. I also had boots slightly too small, so I had to strap my ankle. I didn’t want to tell anybody, so I was a bit injured through the process. During the journey, I was worried I might have altitude sickness, but luckily I had no symptoms at all. We were tested every night, and I felt strong throughout. The views made every step worth it. It was breathtaking,” he says.
Summit night
The final push to the summit came on the 18th of July, when an hour before midnight, bundled in layers, headlamps on, daypacks ready, the group began the slow, silent march under the stars.
“In Kilimanjaro-speak, the pace is called ‘pole pole’ – slowly, slowly. That was the only way forward. We climbed through the night, step by step, breath by breath. The cold bit into our fingers and toes. Fatigue was overwhelming. But we pushed on. Hours later, with our bodies nearly spent, we reached Stella Point, an enormous milestone on the mountain. Many climbers turn back here, unable to go further. You’re exhausted, off-balance, dizzy. But standing at Stella Point felt like victory,” says Stephanie.
The icy brightness reflected in every direction, and even sunglasses didn’t shield the sting on our eyes. But it was also breathtaking, almost otherworldly.
“We celebrated briefly, snapped photos in the crisp morning air, and then the guides reminded us: ‘Two more hours to Uhuru Peak’. Two more hours?”
Now beyond their limits the climbers pressed on ‘pole pole’ through the snowy glacier zone. “The icy brightness reflected in every direction, and even sunglasses didn’t shield the sting on our eyes. But it was also breathtaking, almost otherworldly.”
Finally, at 07:30 the next morning, the group reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. “We were so emotionally overwhelmed. Though we missed the sunrise by just a little, nothing could dim the overwhelming, out-of-body feeling of standing atop that summit. No words can fully describe what it meant to touch the sky. We made it!”
André too felt a sense of disbelief, mixed with pride.
“It’s hard to describe that moment when you realise you’ve done it. Being recognised by the mayor afterwards was an unexpected honour. I’m not used to that kind of attention, but it really meant a lot. It’s amazing to know people back home are proud of you,” he says.
Live to hike
For him hiking is more than a hobby, its a passion. “Most weekends you’ll find me out on a trail somewhere, sometimes for a day or two, and during the holidays I usually plan longer hikes. So, when the opportunity came to take on this mountain, it just felt like the next step, the culmination of all those smaller adventures I’ve done over the years.”
He says he didn’t really train for Kilimanjaro in the strict sense. “My hikes are my training. Each one pushes me a little further, tests my endurance, and reminds me why I love being outdoors. Still, this hike was on another level, physically demanding, but emotionally rewarding. You just needed a strong mind and heart.
“This whole experience has inspired me even more. I’m already planning my next goals, Machu Picchu next year, and hopefully Everest the year after. For me, hiking is freedom, challenge, and peace all at once. Every mountain teaches me something new about myself.”
