When Sam, Discover Adventure's Office Manager, swapped her desk for a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, she discovered that the greatest challenges often lead to the most rewarding moments. Here's her honest, inspiring account of climbing Africa's highest peak via the stunning Machame Route.

The Moments That Stay With You

You're probably expecting me to say reaching the summit, and it probably is. But thinking back over the trip, the other big moment that comes to mind was the elation of getting to the top of the Baranco Wall!

I was daunted by the idea of this before setting off from the UK, but with incredible kindness and support shown by our amazing group, they boosted my confidence (and many others in the group, too), enabling us to quell our anxieties and conquer the Wall. This is a part of the trek that a lot of people refer to when researching the Machame route before arriving, and the hype was a lot more painful than the actual doing. Slow, carefully placed steps, watching and listening to each other (and the guides) was the order of the morning.

The other moment I had was one of calm standing in camp at Shira Caves on the very early morning of day 3 of the trek. We'd woken up to clear blue skies, and when stepping out of my tent, I was met with the view of Kili. It was a proper pinch yourself moment of "I'm here, and I have to climb that!" I definitely took a moment to be in awe and terror of the mountain that loomed ever closer and was utterly breathtaking.

From Office to Adventure: Why I Said Yes

As a member of the DA office team, I was given the opportunity to travel to Tanzania and join one of our Trek Kilimanjaro groups. This was a 'fam' trip to get out of the office and go on an adventure, experiencing first-hand what this trip entails. It didn't disappoint!

I had a few months to prepare for the trip. Training and altitude were obviously my main concerns, especially having never scaled a freestanding mountain before – this was all rather daunting! Excitement and fear were there in equal measure in the weeks leading up to departure. Still, when heading into the unknown, that's quite normal, right?!

On "D"eparture Day, having triple checked my packing (thank goodness for the kit list!) and after a positivity pep talk from my husband about my ability "to do anything I put my mind to", and that the family would be ok without me for 2 weeks, I'm pleased to confirm excitement won over.

The Machame Route: Where Scenery Meets Challenge

The Machame route is considered to be the most scenic route on Kilimanjaro, and I would absolutely agree. We experienced such diverse landscapes whilst trekking each day, and that made the challenge really enjoyable, not quite knowing what the day would bring. From rainforest to rocky paths, scrambling over boulders and trekking over moonlike landscape, then stepping through glacial streams and taking on scree during summit night – the route gave you a little bit of everything.

The pace was steady to allow us to gently acclimatise. Listening to your body was key. The fantastic support team kept us going with a momentum that gave us a great walking rhythm and plenty of breaks to catch our breath, refuel, and simply stop to enjoy the views and environment we were walking through.

Remembering to stop and look around was so important. It caught me out quite a few times just how incredible it was that I was actually there on the slopes of the mountain. The scenery was simply stunning. Were there times the trekking felt unforgiving? Yes, but you have to remember you're climbing a mountain! The weather was pretty kind with dazzling blue skies to wake up to, which gave everyone the lift and confidence to start the day with positivity and a smile.

The Reality Check: Physically and Mentally

Physically, I was surprised by how well I coped. The pre-trip training definitely made a massive difference to my stamina, but equally, I was in no rush. This was never going to be a race to the top and was absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be savoured.

We were told every day to go "Pole, Pole" (slowly, slowly) , and I was more than happy to follow those instructions to give myself the best chance of acclimatising and reaching the summit.

However, the camping and cold did mean I was very tired. When my friends and family found out I'd be camping for this trip, they were surprised I'd agreed, as they know I'm not a keen camper! So I didn't sleep incredibly well, but it was mind over matter and breakfasts in the morning were my moment to recalibrate and find the happy!

Talking of food, I was amazed at how well we ate and what the local team were able to produce in camp. We were never underfed, and the variety was immense. The local team were magicians in terms of the quality and quantity that arrived at our table each mealtime.

Mentally, summit night drew on a lot of my reserves as the tiredness, setting off in the dark at midnight, and the cold weather took a lot out of me (a windchill of -20°C). Fair to say my resolve was tested, but plodding with the support of others meant I got there and what an incredible feeling that was.

Training for Kilimanjaro: What Worked (and What I'd Change)

My stamina and fitness levels were pretty good, but I would have tried to fit in more hill training where possible. I was already signed up to do a charity marathon walk in Wales with friends in July, so I began training in January for that, and then used it as a springboard for this trip. I got outdoors locally for training walks as much as possible, with varying distances, and definitely fitted in consecutive days of walking, not forgetting a reasonably full daypack to practise carrying the extra weight as we would on the mountain. On top of this, I joined the gym to add variety to my exercising.

Tackling Altitude on Mount Kilimanjaro

Luckily, I wasn't too affected by altitude, with only some nausea on summit night, which I think was more about tiredness and energy levels. I had decided to take Diamox before I came on the trip, and for me, that worked, but everyone is different. I also followed the general advice of drinking lots throughout the day, eating well and regularly, and walking at the steady pace that was set. I also took the opportunity to rest whenever we stopped.

Life on the Mountain: The People Make the Difference

The people were incredible. I don't think I would have summited or enjoyed the experience as much without them – both our awesome group and the support team.

It's so refreshing to be reminded of how wonderful people are. We came together as strangers to climb a mountain, but the camaraderie was heartwarming. The thoughtfulness, humour, kindness and encouragement were non-stop, and it made the trip memorable for all the right reasons. I felt very lucky to have been part of this incredible team of adventurers!

Summit Night: The Hardest (and Best) Hours of My Life

It was brutal!

Setting off was the hardest part for me. Seeing the line of headtorches snaking upwards (that seemed never-ending) through the pitch-black did knock my confidence, as it all became very real, very quickly! However, one foot in front of the other, and we were off. Breathing steady and not looking too far ahead was key, although it was hard not to. The cold wind took my breath away, and it was relentless.

Luckily, I had a wonderful guide by my side, with a steadying arm and encouraging words. Plus, as our fabulous leader, Chris and doctor Bekky told us, "just wait for the sunrise", and they weren't wrong. When the light appeared after 5 hours of trekking, it gave me a second wind and a push to keep going.

Amazingly, as the sunrise arrived, a cup of ginger tea appeared in my hand (the magicians were back!) – renewed and with Stella Point in touching distance, I wasn't done yet. Seeing the ridge of the mountain and knowing the Point was so close gave me the motivation, so my steps picked up.

The elation of getting to Stella Point was palpable, but as I'd got that far, I wasn't going to stop, and so we kept on round to Uhuru Peak, where we had our obligatory group photo. Taking the time to look around us at the incredible views and how high we were gave me goosebumps – or maybe I was just cold! The views were epic. I had never been in a landscape like it or climbed so high in my life.

It's fair to say, it's taken a few weeks for it to sink in, allowing myself to believe and accept what an achievement it was to summit Mt Kilimanjaro.

The Unsung Heroes: Tanzania's Mountain Crew

Their enthusiasm and care are second to none. They took the time to walk and talk to everyone and checked in every day to make sure you were well and coping with the trek. They were friendly, polite and thoughtful, proud of their country and respected the mountain we were all climbing.

Each team member had a role in ensuring the trek ran smoothly, and they all knew what they were responsible for. The camp was always set up and ready for us, which was such a welcome sight at the end of each day. It was incredible that they could do all this so effortlessly (very much the swan effect, I'm sure).

Nothing was too much trouble, and there was always a smile and "Jambo" (hello) when you saw any of them throughout the day. The respect I have for those men and women is immeasurable – they are the stars of the mountain.

Essential Kit for Climbing Kilimanjaro

Trekking poles, hand warmers and lip balm.

I'd also say the dry bags were a must, as they let you keep your kit so organised (and dry), and summit night mittens – I wish I'd had better gloves!

It's surprising how much stuff you don't need in the cold light of day. Looking back now, less is definitely more on the mountain, and layering is key (luckily, I had packed well for this). It's easy to overthink packing, especially if you haven't done this before, so trial packing at home and weigh your trek bag. Plus, you won't need half the snacks you pack as you eat so well – I was pleasantly surprised by how few of my own snacks I actually ate.

My Advice for Anyone Considering Kilimanjaro

Do it. You won't regret the decision.

Every step is an achievement, and summit or not, being on the mountain is a very special experience – one I'll never forget.

What Summiting Africa's Highest Peak Really Means

I'm one proud Mumma!

I love that I can say to my children, "Anything is possible when you put your mind to it," and that I can actually remind myself, at the age of 48, that I'm not done yet.

Ready to take on your own Kilimanjaro adventure? Learn more about our Trek Kilimanjaro experiences and join a community of adventurers who prove that extraordinary achievements start with a single step.