Aged between 40 and 60, the group will climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania from 22 September to 4 October. All are members of Bloemfontein’s Maoto Mpepe Hiking Club and have been preparing for the expedition since last year.

The climb will be a first for the hiking club and is intended to celebrate resilience, health, and the belief that “Impossible is nothing”. Their normal year-round hiking routine has intensified significantly since the six women committed themselves to attempting Kilimanjaro.

Preparations have included high-altitude and endurance hikes at Thabana Ntlenyane in Lesotho, Leloti in Qwaqwa, and the Rhebok Hiking Trail in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The team has also trained on local routes at Happy Valley, Thaba Nchu, Glen, and Tom’s Place.

From left are Pamela Mayiyane, Sophra Molale, Karabo Lefu, Mamosa Thamae, and Palesa Sebete. Photo supplied

Club member Karabo Lefu said the women normally train in both morning and afternoon sessions, but greater endurance has become essential for Kilimanjaro. She encouraged other women to prioritise their physical and mental wellbeing and pursue activities that bring them happiness.

“I would like to say to my sisters: love yourself enough to be selfish about your own health, mentally or physically. Be courageous enough to say yes to something that makes you happy and no to something that steals your joy.”

Starting something beneficial does not have an age limit, Lefu believes. Her message to women is to begin with manageable goals, remain committed, and keep moving forward. “Start small and never give up. Pole pole (a Swahili expression meaning ‘slowly, slowly’) is the way until you summit your own Kilimanjaro.”

The Kilimanjaro idea developed naturally as the hiking group continued searching for increasingly demanding mountains and trails. Pamela Mayiyane said the women eventually began researching Africa’s highest peak and sharing information about what would be required to attempt the climb.

“Every time you climb a mountain, you find a more challenging peak. You just keep going. Through the journey of hiking, Mount Kilimanjaro crossed our minds, and we decided this is what we want to do.”

For Mayiyane, reaching Kilimanjaro will fulfil a personal dream and mark another challenge she is determined to overcome. The expedition also carries a broader message for women who may believe age should prevent them from pursuing demanding or unfamiliar experiences.

“As women between the ages of 40 and 60, what I can say is it’s never too late to start something challenging, exciting and exhilarating. It’s scary. I guess we are just dealing with our fears at the moment.”

She believes women already overcome their own versions of Kilimanjaro through the responsibilities and difficulties they face every day. “They raise nations, they carry nations, they build families, and they are strong enough to conquer any mountain.”

Teamwork will be crucial during the climb, particularly as nerves increase closer to departure. Mayiyane compared the physical mountain with the spiritual and emotional challenges women face and said the six will depend on one another throughout the expedition.

Members remaining behind in the Free State will also support the climbers from home. Beyond hiking, Maoto Mpepe Hiking Club participates in community projects and has donated school uniforms and shoes to needy learners in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo, while members have also taken part in community clean-up campaigns.

OFM News/ Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs

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