Meet Lulu Kessy, a risk taker who challenged herself to Climb Kilimanjaro

Lulu says it was more of a mental experience than a physical one.

Having been an athlete for most of her upbringing, she did not worry much about the physical demands of the summit. Instead, her concern lay in whether she could muster the mental fortitude to persevere when the challenge called for it.

Naturally a risk-taker and drawn to the thrill with a ‘why can’t I do it' mentality, Lulu was enticed by the stories of the Kilimanjaro expedition that she had heard and wanted to experience firsthand.

She knew that if she could summit Mount Kilimanjaro, she could achieve anything.

From Moshi town, Mt Kilimanjaro, imposed as a gorgeous snow-capped landmark against the backdrop of the hills around it, Lulu was impressed but also aware of the task that would require her to dig deep within herself to summit it.

“I have always wanted to do something that challenging,” she mentioned.

At the foothills of the mountain, she was made aware of different levels as they ascended and all the points at which they would have to pause and take a breath before moving forward.

It is an established norm for climbers to be escorted by porters who assist in carrying their rucksacks.

However, contrary to this tradition, Lulu and her group of fellow athletes decided to carry their own backpacks during the expedition.

“The rucksacks were designed so that you carry the weight not on your shoulders but your waist,” she said, which helped them avoid back pain.

They chose the Mandara Hut route, and their team was composed of young individuals eager to challenge themselves by seeing how quickly they could ascend and descend.

While the typical duration for this trek is seven to eight days, Lulu and her team were determined to surpass that time.

On the first day, they walked nonstop for seven hours.

At this stage, the vegetation was still lush, with abundant rainforests.

They had to endure the scorching heat, carrying their own bags without any assistance.

The reality of the insurmountable task ahead began to set in.

On the second day, they trekked for eleven hours to reach their rest point at Mawenzi.

Along the way, Lulu felt her energy waning.

Fortunately, she had some chocolate, a common climber's aid to boost strength during such journeys.

With this energy boost, she was able to continue walking for an extended period of time.

The next morning, on the third day, they covered a considerable distance, trekking for eleven hours once again.

The walk proved too strenuous for one of Lulu's friends, who sadly broke his leg and had to be carried back to the base to seek medical attention.

Despite this setback, the rest of the climbers pressed on.

After a while, they reached their next resting point at Kibo Hut and finally put their bags down to enjoy a hot meal.

It was around 5 pm when they arrived at Kibo Hut, and they immediately needed rest to revitalize.

This rest was crucial if they wanted to have any chance of reaching the snow-capped summit.

“It was still daytime, but we had to rest because summiting always starts at midnight,” she said.

Kibo Hut is the final stop before summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, where every climber has the opportunity to stand at the highest point in Africa and take a picture.

The ascent from Kibo starts at midnight to avoid the intense sunlight at that altitude.

The sun can be unbearable at such heights, so climbers use the cover of darkness to reach the peak.

Lulu had heard stories about the path to the summit, tales of its treacherous and slippery conditions during chilly mornings when the cold seeps through every layer of clothing.

She had been warned about sections where a single misstep could lead to a perilous slide into bottomless valleys, never to be found again.

She was about to find out if the stories were a myth or a reality.

At midnight, everyone was awake and geared up.

At this point, their bodies were weary and their eyes were still sleepy, but Lulu and her friends were determined to finish what they started.

Slowly,  they lined up, and one step at a time, they started trekking towards the top.

The wind was gusting forcefully, and the climbers were holding hands, trying not to lose each other as the wind was whipping from all directions uncontrollably.

Many of the climbers were overwhelmed with emotion; some cried and felt they couldn't take it anymore.

A few were tempted to turn back, as the physical demands were pushing them to their breaking points.

“I remember I was just singing because I didn't want to be distracted,” Lulu said.

“It was a bit awkward singing at 3:00 am. But I had to do what I had to do to keep climbing and stay mentally stable,” she added.

From the base, they walked until the sun rose, and by 9 AM, Lulu and her friends were atop Mount Kilimanjaro, joyously dancing on the snowy peak.

“The sun was bright, and the view was stunning. We were happy, but we only stayed there for like 30 minutes,” she mentioned.

From the top view, Lulu could see the breathtakingly shiny glaciers.

It was like she was in the sky, flying because the clouds were below her, but at the same time, her feet were firmly on the ground.

It was seeing the world from a whole new perspective.

Lulu took her picture to remember one of the most challenging but rewarding moments of her life.

Lulu believes risk-taking is vital to one’s success in life, as is stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro broke her out of her shell. She says the danger is real, but fear is in one’s mind.

“It's very okay to take calculated risks in life,” she advised.

Lulu participated in the Kili Marathon, and she plans to climb the mountain again in 2025.

She urges youngsters to give it a shot.

“If you can’t summit, at least climb to the first level, what they call 'a walk in nature,' that too can expose you to the serene natural environment, which is good for one’s peace of mind and mental stability,” she notes.

The Mandara nature walk is a 7-hour walk, and the upside is that it is also beneficial to the walker’s health and those who desire to lose weight while enjoying the rainforest.

“The view from the top of Kilimanjaro is amazingly stunning. I remember looking down at Moshi town, and I have never seen it that beautiful,” Lulu concluded.