I didn’t plan to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. But over seven days, I found myself hiking through jungle, desert, and ice—with strangers, who became family—facing altitude, exhaustion, and doubt. This is the story of how the mountain let me through.

I wasn’t a hiker, but I trained like one. Here’s how zone-based cardio, strength workouts, and mobility drills helped me summit Kilimanjaro—and what actually mattered when the air got thin.

Planning a Kilimanjaro climb in July? Here's the complete packing list I used—what to wear, what to bring, what to rent, and why lighter is better when you’re heading to 19,000 feet.