KK's Kilimanjaro Walk for Water

A lot of people are asking me these days if I’m scared/nervous. Although I know everyone is probably referring to the climb, the first answer that comes to my mind is, “of what?”

The truth is, Kilimanjaro will take care of itself. I will either make it, or not. But I don’t feel that my safety will be compromised at any point in time during this point of my Tanzanian adventure. The worst that can happen is that I suffer from altitude sickness, at which point I will be sent back down the mountain, feeling pretty bad, but still safe and sound.

What most people don’t know, and what has only really started sinking in for me, is that I’m going to be travelling in East Africa alone. It’s true, the purpose of this trip is Kilimanjaro (I wouldn’t be going to Africa if it weren’t for the trek), but the trip has taken on a life of its own. What scares me more than the 6 ½ days I will be spending on Kilimanjaro are all the other days I am having to work out on my own.

My closer family seems to think I am taking the whole thing too lightly, but it’s only my pride that makes me act nonchalant. Besides, they are so overly concerned that I feel I need to be the one to be “taking it easy.” But yes, I’m scared. I’m afraid of being alone mostly, of having only myself to rely on if I have important decisions to make or if things don’t turn out as planned. I’m afraid of feeling isolated because as a woman travelling alone, I might not be able to go out and do everything I would like to do. There are some places I may not even feel safe going out at all.

Still, my fear isn’t enough to make me not want to do this. For years, I’ve said that I want to go places where I don’t feel at home, and where I will feel a little bit of discomfort. I recognize that in addition to the Kilimanjaro climb, this whole trip will also be a challenge. But to me, that’s exactly the point.