Archive for the ‘Africa’ Category

• Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
• Posted by admin in Africa
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13 people summittied Mt Kilimanjaro on June 29th via the Machame route. It was the third World Wide Trekking trip up Kilimanjaro this season, with all 3 having successful summit climbs. We had great weather during the entire trip. The group, consisting of memebers from Michigan, upstate NY, NYC and Utah all enjoyed the climb. Our youngest member was Jake Taylor, just13 years old, and our oldest (this season) was an impressive 72 years young. (the oldest person on record to have summited Kilimanjaro is 79!)  Although Kilimanjaro is always challenging, our group enjoyed 1st class mountain service from the 65 local members on staff for our trip. Great food and comfortable camps help ease the rugged mountain environment.

This group, as always, started as strangers and became close friends quickly during the trek up Kilimanjaro.  As we returned from the mountain we stopped and visited the new HOP Kilimanjaro Childrens Community site on the way. The progress on the land and site is great to see. 

Last night we all enjoyed a hot shower and celebration BBQ at our lodge to savor our hard-earned accomplishment. Today we head out on a 4 day safari in Lake Manyara National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We are looking forward to seeing much of the local East African culture as well as the big game in the National Parks.

• Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
• Posted by admin in Africa
• 1 Comment

The third group this season has left Moshi for their summit bid on Kilimanjaro.  World Wide Trekking guides and their clients left this morning on the Machame route which will take them to the highest point on the African continent.  So far the 2 previous groups have been successful in every member reaching the summit. The weather looks good for this climb to end in success too. 

Check back for updates on how the group is doing as well as photos from their journey!

• Monday, June 21st, 2010
• Posted by admin in Africa
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World Wide Trekking successfully took its second group of the 2010 African trekking season to the summit of Kilimanjaro!  Ruben Gonzalez and Greg Reid with A Fantastic Adventure put together a fun group of people from all over the US to experience the thrill of climbing one of the world’s highest peaks and seeing the amazing wildlife and local tribes people on an African safari.  With 13 people in the group, it was not only the largest group this season, but with ages topping off at 72, it had some of the oldest climbers ever to summit with our crew, and not far off from the oldest person on record to summit at age 79!

Good weather on their journey helped the group’s sheer determination to achieve their goal.  Ruben and Greg’s background in motivational speaking gave them inspiration along the way for not only this experience, but for all of their life’s journeys.  At times the physical demands of the trek and the altitude took their toll on some of the participants, but the encouragement of their fellow climbers and leaders gave everyone the support and enthusiasm to push through, finding new strength and resolve to continue.  The celebration that proceeded was heartfelt and well-deserved!

After the summit journey, the group was able to visit the new Human Outreach Project orphanage that broke ground earlier this month before heading out on safari.  A couple of the group members have already made donations to the orphanage after seeing the project in person!  After such a life-changing experience on Kilimanjaro, it’s hard to not want to help others, such as the local Moshi orphans, in changing their lives for the better too!

This was truly a special group of people, with so many of them achieving something they had never thought possible, and forming bonds that come from being on a trip of a lifetime together.  There were tears in the eyes of most at the airport as they said their goodbyes, leaving Africa with more enriched lives and an experience they will never forget!

• Thursday, June 10th, 2010
• Posted by admin in Africa, Human Outreach Project
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World Wide Trekking and the Human Outreach Project (HOP) successfully launched a new program this summer.  The Student Leadership Program is targeted at college-aged people to help them learn leadership skills and foster global citizenship actions.  With the guides of World Wide Trekking and the leaders of the HOP, this year’s group made great strides in their personal achievements as well as breaking ground on a new orphanage near the base of Kilimanjaro.

On May 24 the participants of the Leadership Program meet in Tanzania, Africa to begin their project. First on the agenda was to summit the mighty Kilimanjaro mountain. At 19,340 feet, this is the tallest point in Africa, making it one of the world’s 7 summits. Students were taught leadership skills along the way, making the climb not only a physical achievement, but a personal enrichment journey as well. 

 While the students were busy climbing and learning, the builder from Park City, UT was vigorously planning and coordinating with local experts to get HOP’s new orphanage off the ground. HOP purchased 4 acres of land last year as the site of the new orphanage. They supplemented this land with 2 dairy cows (not easy to come by in Tanzania) which have been supplying the existing orphanage with milk for the past year. By the time the Leadership Program participants had arrived, a fence has been erected around the 4 acres. With the help of many local people in the community, the group was able to break ground on the first of several buildings planned for the site. The first building will be the center pavilion for the small community of buildings that will be built. The teamwork of the Leadership Program and the local community was synergistic and laid a great foundation for progress to be made in the future.

Be sure to check the HOP website, www.HumanOutreachProject.com, for updates on the orphanage as well as future projects and Student Leadership Programs! You can also donate there to help out the cause and become a global citizen yourself.