To stand on the highest point in Africa is truly an amazing experience, an adventurous local resident discovered. To make the achievement even more remarkable, the lady who conquered Kilimanjaro on September 5 is a grandmother of four.

Bibi Suzy is the nickname that the mountain guides gave Susan Caroto of Louis Trichardt, Bibi being the Swahili word for granny. With her petite frame of only five feet high in the old terms, Bibi Suzy tackled the six-day climb up and down Mount Kilimanjaro in the northern region of Tanzania. In her group were four mountaineers and two guides. The ascent took four days and the descent two days. Two of the climbers did not make it and had to turn back at the altitude of 5 600m because of altitude sickness. One guide turned back with them.

How does Susan describe the exhilarating moment of standing on the highest point of the continent?

“It was nature in its purest form, untouched and undiluted by human hand – at the Uhuru peak, the highest point in Africa, also called The Roof of Africa. I was moved in awe, while walking along the rim of the crater, to behold the beauty of the blue-white glaziers that stand firm for as far as the eye can see. And far below, I could see lovely clouds, since I found myself almost 6 000m above sea level,” says Susan. Five zones encircle the mountain for about 1 000 meters of altitude, each with its own climate, plant life and animals. The higher the mountaineer goes, the colder it gets and the lower the rainfall, limiting the number of species. These conditions demand that the mountaineers acclimatize and adapt for survival.

Susan‘s most daunting moments were when she tumbled two times in the loose lava rocks on her way down.

“At that stage, we had already climbed for 12 hours and the reflexes were on the slow side,” Susan says.

Nevertheless, adventurers are attracted to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro. But Susan can’t help wondering whether global warming will impact negatively on Mount Kilimanjaro, and how Tanzania will make up for the loss of much needed revenue, presently $1,6 million per annum?

Susan thanks Sean and Antjie at Hygea Health Lifestyle Club who made sure that her physical fitness level was up to standard.

“I want to thank my Heavenly Father for gracing me with mental power and strength to have the privilege of using the feet He gave me to climb Mount Kilimanjaro!” Susan says.