Geza Ulole
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- Oct 31, 2009
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Messi at Kilimanjaro Peak
Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania
Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania
- Thread starter Geza Ulole
- Start date
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
- Thread starter
- #563
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
- Thread starter
- #565
Famous Celebrities Who Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – You’ll be Surprised Who Didn’t Make It!
Being one of the most spectacular mountains on earth, Kilimanjaro attracts thousands of visitors every year, including the odd celebrity! In fact, celebrities are a common sight on the mountain as climbing to the roof of Africa is a great way to raise awareness for charities. Below we have listed the most notable celebrity climbs and how they got on in their bid to conquer the mountain
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1. BT Red Nose Climb on Kilimanjaro
One of the most notable and publicized celebrity climbs of Kilimanjaro came in 2009 when a team of 9 celebrities attempted to conquer the roof of Africa for comic relief. The celebrities climbing were Alesha Dixon, Gary Barlow, Ben Shepard, Denise Van Outen, Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles, Fearne Cotton, Kimberley Walsh and Ronan Keating. The celebrities took the 8 day Lemosho route and, amazingly, every single one of them summited! However, it was reported that nearly every climber suffered some form of altitude sickness along the way. The aim of the climb was to raise awareness and money for Malaria which is a huge killer in Tanzania. The team raised just shy of a million pounds.
2. Martina Navratilova
9 times Wimbledon champion, Martina Navratilova, gave the mountain her best shot in late 2010 but sadly failed to summit due to altitude sickness. 4,000 feet shy of the summit, the tennis legend had to call for a rescue as a combination of mountain sickness and a stomach infection made it impossible to continue. The rescue took all night and the 54 year-old was given emergency oxygen before being carried in total darkness down the mountain by porters on a makeshift stretcher. It turns out that Martina came very close to dying from High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) – a condition caused by fluid seeping into the lungs as a result of the body adapting to high altitude.
3. Duncan Bannatyne
Swapping his luxurious lifestyle for a week of physical endurance, the Dragon’s Den star made it to the summit in 2013 with a team of 26 people, including his daughter and four war wounded amputees. The 63 year old was climbing for the charity Pilgrim Bandits. “It was quite amazing. You get there and you realise that you want to take a photo and you can’t because your Blackberry is frozen. You can’t feel your hands in your gloves,” he said. Out of the 26 climbers, 20 made it to the summit, including 2 of the 4 war wounded amputees.
4. Robbie Savage
Former Wales football star, Robbie Savage attempted to climb Kilimanjaro in 2013 but sadly didn’t make it after falling to altitude sickness. Climbing the 7 day Rongai route, the footballer fell ill on the second day at 9,000 feet and had to be rushed to hospital. Like Martina Navratilova, Robbie suffered High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) which is a life threatening condition if not treated. Robbie said it was “an awful and scary situation” and added that I “Thought my head was going to explode, dangerously low oxygen in blood.”.
5. Summit on the Summit Team
Hosting some of the most famous celebrities to ever step foot on the mountain, the Summit on the Summit climb was conducted to raise awareness about the global clean-water crisis. Among the celebrities was Jessica Biel, Kenna, Emile Hirsch, Santigold and Lupe Fiasco. The group battled snow, sleet, rain and freezing temperatures, however, all the team made it to the summit, including the documentary team and the 248 porters! The documentary was filmed as one off 90 minute special for MTV.
6. Ann Curry
In 2008, Today Show host – Ann Curry attempted to climb the mountain as part of the show’s ‘Ends of the Earth’ series. However, Curry never made it as she was turned around at 16,000 feet due to altitude sickness. The t.v presenter described it as one of the toughest things she’s ever done saying that “Every moment we had was suffering” and that…We were in bad shape.” Curry made things tough on herself by choosing the most dangerous route (the Western Breach route) and climbing in new gear that was not worn in.
7. Roman Abramovich
Billionaire and owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, had to give up his summit bid after collapsing at 15,100 feet. The 43 year old started to experience severe breathing problems and, after collapsing, was taken straight back down to hospital. Like Ann Curry, Mr Abraovich’s small group of 6 tackled the toughest route on the mountain and took with them over a 100 porters!
8. Ray Lewis
Retired 13-time Pro Bowl linebacker and Superbowl Champion, Ray Lewis, climbed Kilimanjaro in 2013. Sadly, Lewis did not finish due to an injured foot and illness. Climbing with a group named TackleKili, the team were trying to raise awareness for the charity group World Serve International and Pros for Africa. The charity tackle sustainable drinking water issues and Lewis said that “Since retiring, I have explored the best direction for my commitment and belief– shared by all generations of the Lewis family – to serve others. When I learned that 4500 children die every day from illness because of a lack of clean water I said ‘Even one child lost is an unbearable loss.’ Through TackleKili everyone can do something”.
9. Lucy Mecklenburgh
The former TOWIE star, Lucy Mecklenburgh , climbed Kilimanjaro earlier this year with her personal trainer Cecilia Harris and the people behind her exercise programme ‘Results with Lucy’. The group were climbing in an attempt to raise money for the charity Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The team were successful and Lucy described as the toughest thing she’s ever done. “There were many times we wanted to break down but we pushed through! It has confirmed that once you put your mind to something you can achieve absolutely anything”.
10. Rhod Gilbert VS Kilimanjaro
Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert tackled the mountain in 2013 and left the Welshman crying for an hour in relief and pain. “Apparently I cried for a solid hour through a mixture of exhaustion and euphoria…I was a broken man”. Before his trek, the Welsh funny man stated that “However bad it gets up that mountain – however dehydrated or stricken by altitude sickness I get – nothing can compare to the backstage facilities at Rhyl Pavilion. Gilbert was climbing for Velindre Cancer Care.
11. Brian Blessed
Actor Brian Blessed famously climbed Kilimanjaro in 1988, however, it is his other mountain exploits that have garnered him more attention. The actor has attempted Mount Everest 3 times, coming within a 1,000 feet of the summit in 1993! He has also climbed Aconcagua and is the oldest man ever to reach the North Magnetic Pole on foot! Oh, and he’s survived a plane crash into the Amazon! A true adventurer!
Are we missing any?
Feel free to suggest any celebrities that we are missing in the comments section below!
Famous Celebrities Who Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – You’ll be Surprised Who Didn’t Make It!
MY TAKE
Where is the news for Mt Kenya or no one knows Mt Kenya?
nomasana, MK254, sam999, NairobiWalker, hbuyosh, msemakweli, simplemind, Kimweri, Bulldog, MK254, Kafrican, Ngongo, Ab_Titchaz, mtanganyika mpya, JokaKuu, Ngongo, Askari Kanzu, Dhuks, Yule-Msee, waltham, Mzee Mwanakijiji, Mwananchi
Being one of the most spectacular mountains on earth, Kilimanjaro attracts thousands of visitors every year, including the odd celebrity! In fact, celebrities are a common sight on the mountain as climbing to the roof of Africa is a great way to raise awareness for charities. Below we have listed the most notable celebrity climbs and how they got on in their bid to conquer the mountain
Share to FacebookShare to Twitter
1. BT Red Nose Climb on Kilimanjaro
One of the most notable and publicized celebrity climbs of Kilimanjaro came in 2009 when a team of 9 celebrities attempted to conquer the roof of Africa for comic relief. The celebrities climbing were Alesha Dixon, Gary Barlow, Ben Shepard, Denise Van Outen, Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles, Fearne Cotton, Kimberley Walsh and Ronan Keating. The celebrities took the 8 day Lemosho route and, amazingly, every single one of them summited! However, it was reported that nearly every climber suffered some form of altitude sickness along the way. The aim of the climb was to raise awareness and money for Malaria which is a huge killer in Tanzania. The team raised just shy of a million pounds.
2. Martina Navratilova
9 times Wimbledon champion, Martina Navratilova, gave the mountain her best shot in late 2010 but sadly failed to summit due to altitude sickness. 4,000 feet shy of the summit, the tennis legend had to call for a rescue as a combination of mountain sickness and a stomach infection made it impossible to continue. The rescue took all night and the 54 year-old was given emergency oxygen before being carried in total darkness down the mountain by porters on a makeshift stretcher. It turns out that Martina came very close to dying from High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) – a condition caused by fluid seeping into the lungs as a result of the body adapting to high altitude.
3. Duncan Bannatyne
Swapping his luxurious lifestyle for a week of physical endurance, the Dragon’s Den star made it to the summit in 2013 with a team of 26 people, including his daughter and four war wounded amputees. The 63 year old was climbing for the charity Pilgrim Bandits. “It was quite amazing. You get there and you realise that you want to take a photo and you can’t because your Blackberry is frozen. You can’t feel your hands in your gloves,” he said. Out of the 26 climbers, 20 made it to the summit, including 2 of the 4 war wounded amputees.
4. Robbie Savage
Former Wales football star, Robbie Savage attempted to climb Kilimanjaro in 2013 but sadly didn’t make it after falling to altitude sickness. Climbing the 7 day Rongai route, the footballer fell ill on the second day at 9,000 feet and had to be rushed to hospital. Like Martina Navratilova, Robbie suffered High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) which is a life threatening condition if not treated. Robbie said it was “an awful and scary situation” and added that I “Thought my head was going to explode, dangerously low oxygen in blood.”.
5. Summit on the Summit Team
Hosting some of the most famous celebrities to ever step foot on the mountain, the Summit on the Summit climb was conducted to raise awareness about the global clean-water crisis. Among the celebrities was Jessica Biel, Kenna, Emile Hirsch, Santigold and Lupe Fiasco. The group battled snow, sleet, rain and freezing temperatures, however, all the team made it to the summit, including the documentary team and the 248 porters! The documentary was filmed as one off 90 minute special for MTV.
6. Ann Curry
In 2008, Today Show host – Ann Curry attempted to climb the mountain as part of the show’s ‘Ends of the Earth’ series. However, Curry never made it as she was turned around at 16,000 feet due to altitude sickness. The t.v presenter described it as one of the toughest things she’s ever done saying that “Every moment we had was suffering” and that…We were in bad shape.” Curry made things tough on herself by choosing the most dangerous route (the Western Breach route) and climbing in new gear that was not worn in.
7. Roman Abramovich
Billionaire and owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, had to give up his summit bid after collapsing at 15,100 feet. The 43 year old started to experience severe breathing problems and, after collapsing, was taken straight back down to hospital. Like Ann Curry, Mr Abraovich’s small group of 6 tackled the toughest route on the mountain and took with them over a 100 porters!
8. Ray Lewis
Retired 13-time Pro Bowl linebacker and Superbowl Champion, Ray Lewis, climbed Kilimanjaro in 2013. Sadly, Lewis did not finish due to an injured foot and illness. Climbing with a group named TackleKili, the team were trying to raise awareness for the charity group World Serve International and Pros for Africa. The charity tackle sustainable drinking water issues and Lewis said that “Since retiring, I have explored the best direction for my commitment and belief– shared by all generations of the Lewis family – to serve others. When I learned that 4500 children die every day from illness because of a lack of clean water I said ‘Even one child lost is an unbearable loss.’ Through TackleKili everyone can do something”.
9. Lucy Mecklenburgh
The former TOWIE star, Lucy Mecklenburgh , climbed Kilimanjaro earlier this year with her personal trainer Cecilia Harris and the people behind her exercise programme ‘Results with Lucy’. The group were climbing in an attempt to raise money for the charity Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The team were successful and Lucy described as the toughest thing she’s ever done. “There were many times we wanted to break down but we pushed through! It has confirmed that once you put your mind to something you can achieve absolutely anything”.
10. Rhod Gilbert VS Kilimanjaro
Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert tackled the mountain in 2013 and left the Welshman crying for an hour in relief and pain. “Apparently I cried for a solid hour through a mixture of exhaustion and euphoria…I was a broken man”. Before his trek, the Welsh funny man stated that “However bad it gets up that mountain – however dehydrated or stricken by altitude sickness I get – nothing can compare to the backstage facilities at Rhyl Pavilion. Gilbert was climbing for Velindre Cancer Care.
11. Brian Blessed
Actor Brian Blessed famously climbed Kilimanjaro in 1988, however, it is his other mountain exploits that have garnered him more attention. The actor has attempted Mount Everest 3 times, coming within a 1,000 feet of the summit in 1993! He has also climbed Aconcagua and is the oldest man ever to reach the North Magnetic Pole on foot! Oh, and he’s survived a plane crash into the Amazon! A true adventurer!
Are we missing any?
Feel free to suggest any celebrities that we are missing in the comments section below!
Famous Celebrities Who Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – You’ll be Surprised Who Didn’t Make It!
MY TAKE
Where is the news for Mt Kenya or no one knows Mt Kenya?
nomasana, MK254, sam999, NairobiWalker, hbuyosh, msemakweli, simplemind, Kimweri, Bulldog, MK254, Kafrican, Ngongo, Ab_Titchaz, mtanganyika mpya, JokaKuu, Ngongo, Askari Kanzu, Dhuks, Yule-Msee, waltham, Mzee Mwanakijiji, Mwananchi
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
- Thread starter
- #568
all of those celebrities have been in tanzania as a matter of fact Bill Gates has a private in Zanzibar.
Summer Getaways: 4 Far-Flung Destinations
10:00 AM PDT 7/18/2013 by Mark Ellwood, Leslie Van Buskirk, Ken Scrudato
The M/Y Grace
Hop an international flight to Leonardo DiCaprio's Tanzania retreat, Prince Harry's African island of choice and other exotic locales.
This story first appeared in the July 26 issue of The Hollywood Reporter [2] magazine.
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Grace Kelly's former private yacht is now enjoying a second life as a luxury cruise vessel in the famed Galapagos (reachable via a three-leg, 24-hour flight from LAX). The M/Y Grace (quasarexpeditions.com; doubles from $5,800 a person) features nine cabins, all renovated in 2012. Shell out $99,900 and the entire ship can be requisitioned as a private charter. Built in 1928 for the chairman of the Prudential Insurance company in Britain's Southampton, the vessel later was conscripted into the navy. Once the war was over, the craft was snapped up in 1951 by shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who gifted it to Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly as a wedding present five years later. Onassis had funded a princely renovation, and the pair used it on their seven-week honeymoon around the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia. Now, the yacht takes passengers on a seven-night itinerary serving inclusive meals on deck and weaving through 18 islands that together host the most impressive zoological hoard anywhere. It isn't just its storied heritage that gives M/Y Grace an advantage over other ships -- its size does, too. At just 147 feet, it can pit-stop at some of the most remote and delicate sights in the archipelago, where larger vessels cannot reach or would interfere with wildlife.
STORY: Summer Getaways: 25 Fresh Escapes from Los Angeles [9]
MAURITIUS
A stunning volcanic 42-mile-long island off the southeast coast of Africa -- and once the home of the extinct dodo bird -- Mauritius is not a quick getaway (from L.A., it's nearly 24 hours, including a stop in Paris via Air France). But perhaps that's the point. The allure of being far away from it all but still blanketed in luxury draws the likes of Serena Williams and Prince Harry to this hideaway, renowned for a climate with little or no wind and warm-water currents. "It's more than the quintessential tropical paradise," says David Rubin of luxe tour agency DavidTravel. "Our clients love its unique fusion of cultures -- Indian, French, African, Asian and British." The latest star on the island, already home to a Four Seasons and an Oberoi, is the new St. Regis Mauritius Resort (rooms from $480). It lies on a glorious stretch of the Indian Ocean at the foot of Le Morne mountain (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Each of its 172 rooms and suites has a butler to facilitate everything from kite surfing and dolphin-spotting excursions to making sure your offspring are occupied while you have a coconut mango bath in the spa. Among the property's restaurants is Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar's Simply India. Of course, you could simply have your cocktail and nibbles delivered to a prime spot beneath a banyan tree by the turquoise sea.
PHOTOS: Best of Hollywood: 28 Ways to Create a Perfect Summer Weekend [10]
TANZANIA
Don't be surprised to see Leonardo DiCaprio sunning poolside at the new Four Seasons Safari Lodge (rooms from $890) in the heart of the Serengeti; he ponied up $22,000 during a spirited auction at this spring's GLAAD Media Awards for a trip to this lavish hotel in Tanzania. The Serengeti's name derives from the local Maasai word for "endless plains," and it's such a standout among safari destinations that the park has earned UNESCO World Heritage status. The popular country in East Africa has been on the vacation itineraries of such names as the Katzenberg family and actor Josh Radnor in the past year.
Certainly the setting is one noteworthy feature of the Four Seasons hotel, located deep within the 12,000-square-mile park amid herds of gazelles, zebras and buffalo. This isn't a standard luxury safari setup, though, which usually involves the glossy take on camping known as "glamping." Rather, this hotel -- a midmarket lodge reconfigured in December by the five-star chain -- is a permanent structure, with 77 rooms and villas linked by elevated walkways. This confers several advantages in that the amenities can be expanded drastically: The hotel offers satellite TV, air conditioning and Wi-Fi, plus a full spa, an educational facility for kids and three restaurants. Plan on a three-leg, 26-hour flight on KLM to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, then a 90-minute local flight to the nearest airport, an hour's ride from the hotel.
More than anything, though, the Four Season's billet in the heart of the park turns safari from a juddery jaunt in a jeep into a comfy perch poolside. The hotel is surrounded by watering holes, bringing animals within view without leaving the property.
MONTENEGRO
When the tragedies of civil war receded, the Balkans took off as a 21st century destination for travelers grown tired of the same old, same old. Dubrovnik, on the coast of Croatia, first attracted the likes of Tom Cruise and Beyonce. Now Montenegro -- significantly name-checked in Casino Royale and reachable via a three-leg, 21-hour flight from LAX -- is ready for its close-up, already having drawn such visitors as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. And on the fortified Montenegrin islet of Sveti Stefan -- a fishing village surprisingly transformed during the '60s into a luxury playground (Sophia Loren and Kirk Douglas were just two of its visitors) by Communist leader Marshal Tito -- Aman Resorts has ratcheted up the high-end factor with the new Aman Sveti Stefan (rooms from $825). Its 58 rooms include modernized rustic stone cottages and a swish suite with its own swimming pool. This summer sees the opening of a new spa. Ask the concierge to book a private tasting with the Masanovic family at its legendary nearby winery.
Read about summer getaways below:
Summer Getaways: 4 Far-Flung Destinations
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
- Thread starter
- #570
13 reasons to visit Ruaha
Posted on 23 February, 2016 by Adventure Camps in Travel & Lifestyle — 1 Comment
Posted: February 23, 2016
Written by: Flo Montgomery at Mdonya Old River Camp in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
The Ruaha, as it is affectionately known by old Tanganyika hands, is the largest national park in Tanzania. At over 20,000km² it is larger than the Serengeti and the Kruger.
However, it has not always called Ruaha – Germany gazetted the Saba Game Reserve in 1910, and the British changed the name to Rungwa Game Reserve in 1946. In 1964 a large portion in the south was elevated to full park status. Usangu Game Reserve, where the source of the Great Ruaha rises, was added in 2008. The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its south-eastern margin and is the focus for game viewing.
Situated in the center of Tanzania, 130km west of Iringa, the park is composed of several ecosystems: the Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi, the Mbomipa Wildlife Management Area, the Usangu Game Reserve and several other protected areas. There are several different ecosystems represented in this extraordinary park – and, therefore, a large number of noted animals, birds and insects, including the African wild dog, which has made a recent comeback in the area. There are also over 570 identified species of birds in the park.
The park can be reached by car on a dirt road from Iringa and there are two airstrips – Msembe airstrip at the park headquarters, and Jongomeru Airstrip, near the Jongomeru Ranger Post in the West.
Here are Adventure Camps‘ 13 favourite reasons for visiting Ruaha:
- See more at: 13 reasons to visit Ruaha - Africa Geographic
Posted on 23 February, 2016 by Adventure Camps in Travel & Lifestyle — 1 Comment
Posted: February 23, 2016
Written by: Flo Montgomery at Mdonya Old River Camp in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
The Ruaha, as it is affectionately known by old Tanganyika hands, is the largest national park in Tanzania. At over 20,000km² it is larger than the Serengeti and the Kruger.
However, it has not always called Ruaha – Germany gazetted the Saba Game Reserve in 1910, and the British changed the name to Rungwa Game Reserve in 1946. In 1964 a large portion in the south was elevated to full park status. Usangu Game Reserve, where the source of the Great Ruaha rises, was added in 2008. The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its south-eastern margin and is the focus for game viewing.
Situated in the center of Tanzania, 130km west of Iringa, the park is composed of several ecosystems: the Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi, the Mbomipa Wildlife Management Area, the Usangu Game Reserve and several other protected areas. There are several different ecosystems represented in this extraordinary park – and, therefore, a large number of noted animals, birds and insects, including the African wild dog, which has made a recent comeback in the area. There are also over 570 identified species of birds in the park.
The park can be reached by car on a dirt road from Iringa and there are two airstrips – Msembe airstrip at the park headquarters, and Jongomeru Airstrip, near the Jongomeru Ranger Post in the West.
Here are Adventure Camps‘ 13 favourite reasons for visiting Ruaha:
- See more at: 13 reasons to visit Ruaha - Africa Geographic
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
- Thread starter
- #572
how is this rock supposed to be a natural attraction?rukinga hill
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
- Thread starter
- #574
there is neither sokwe nor elephant in that foto
game over
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