Two team members of the luxury travel company Ker & Downey® Africa, Sarah Morris and Julie Graham, recently swapped their desks for hiking boots – taking on the challenge of hiking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, all in support of wildlife conservation. The climb was part of the Climb for Conservation campaign, raising money for the OKOA Fund and the African Bush Camps.
Their adventure began on the 12th of October and stretched over 7 demanding days. Mount Kilimanjaro stands at a whopping 5,895 meters. Whilst the photos of the mountain always look peaceful, the reality of climbing it is a mix of determination and exhaustion due to the thin air. Sarah and Julie were guided by the acclaimed mountain expert Paulo Joshua, who on this climb reached an impressive personal milestone: his 297th summit! They also climbed alongside other conservation-focused professionals from all over the continent.
A climb with lasting impact
Together, Sarah and Julie raised an incredible $7,000. The money raised will help fund the building of seven protective bomas in local communities. This will directly help keep families and their livestock safe by preventing conflicts with lions and other wildlife. Each boma has a cost of $1,000, making every dollar directly tied to real, on-the-ground conservation work.
Why they climbed
Supporting Africa’s people, wildlife, and ecosystems has always been a cornerstone of Ker & Downey®’s mission in Africa. For Sarah and Julie, taking on Kilimanjaro was a chance for them to live that commitment in a very personal way.
“Africa has its challenges, but I prefer to see them as opportunities to prove what’s possible,” Sarah said. “This climb reminded me that difficult things can still be beautiful. With the right people beside you, you can reach heights you didn’t think you could.”
Julie echoed this sentiment, specifically noting that after years of sharing Africa’s stories with travelers, actually being on the mountain offered a new, powerful perspective. “The climb was a way to really feel the resilience and energy of this continent,” she said. “When passion and purpose line up, it fuels you in a way nothing else can.”
The real experience
The pair did do some training beforehand, but they will both tell you that having a positive mindset is just as important as the physical training. The days were long, the nights were cold, and dealing with the high altitude did push them to the edge. Julie even described the climb above 4,000 meters as “like trying to breathe through a straw.”
An especially hard push was the summit night: trekking with small steps in the cold, in the dark, and with very little oxygen. Yet, watching the sunrise spill over the clouds from the top of Africa made the effort unforgettable.
Their route
Day 1: Arusha to Machame
Day 2: Machame to Shira
Day 3: Shira to Barranco
Day 4: Barranco to Karanga
Day 5: Karanga to Barafu
Day 6: Summit day via Barafu, descent to Mweka
Day 7: Mweka back to Arusha