In September this year two men from Northern Ireland became the first to serve fish and chips at  Kilimanjaro’s Barafu Camp, a dizzying 4662m (15,295ft) above sea level.

Alan Hanna, who runs Pitstop Fast Food in Kilkeel and Malachy Mallon, who owns Dungannon’s Dolphin Takeaway, set up what is believed to be the world’s highest ‘pop-up chippy’ to raise funds for the Fishermen’s Mission UK Charity.

Before the pair even set foot on the mountain they also served up Britain’s national dish at the Fortune Kids and Education Foundation Orphanage Center, on the slopes of Mount Meru.

When asked before the climb why they wanted to undertake such a difficult and, let’s face it, bizarre challenge, Malachy explained “It is our aim to raise lots of money for charity but we also wish to showcase the passion and unity of the UK Fish & Chip industry and promote fish & chips as healthier takeaway option. The Kilimanjaro Chippy Challenge is the perfect way to do all that in record-breaking style, on top of a world stage, and we are looking forward to the challenge!”

They were able to cook Britain’s national dish despite being equipped with only a two-ring camping stove and no running water. Nevertheless everything they cooked was, according to reports, devoured by those lucky enough to be staying at Barafu that night.

The duo raised over £27,000, with £20,000 going to the Fishermen’s Mission. This Christian charity has been operating for over a century, working alongside regular emergency services to aid fishermen in distress at sea, as well as providing welfare to fishermen and their families back on dry land.

The other £7000 went to the Fortune Orphanage which looks after children under five.

While Alan and Malachy’s climb is certainly impressive, it’s not the first time takeaway food has been seen on Kilimanjaro. Back in 2016 we reported on a pizza delivery that was made to the Roof of Africa as part of a publicity stunt by Pizza Hut.

Nevertheless, Congratulations to both Alan and Malachy on what is undoubtedly a great achievement, and on raising such a large amount of money for what is a very worthwhile charity

It finally happened. Earlier this month Dustin Smoot & Stacy M Allee were married on top of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.  Joshua Ruhimbi, one of our fellow directors at Kilimanjaro Experts and one of the most experienced guides operating on the mountain, was there to witness the occasion and guide the participants, as well as help with bringing the bishop to the top to conduct the ceremony (he had to be carried, according to reports!)

We do, of course, congratulate the Dustin and Stacy on their nuptials – and wish them many happy years together.

Morning everyone – here’s another in our occasional series of people getting to the top of ‪#‎Kilimanjaro – or in this case, getting off it – in unusual ways. Here we have 50-year-old Russian Valery Rozov making the first ever base jump from the top of the Western Breach Wall, on the lip of the main Kibo crater; about 200m below the actual summit of Kili, Uhuru Peak, but an impressive feat nevertheless!

The full video will be available soon – but here for the moment on the Redbull website, who sponsored the climb, are some highlights. https://www.redbull.com/…/valery-rozov-base-jumps-kilimanjaro

English newspapers have been full of this story for the past few days so I thought I’d share it with the rest of the world. Earlier this month a group of cricketers managed to complete a ten-over game of cricket in the crater of Kilimanjaro at 5,730m (18,799 ft), thereby beating the previous record for the highest ever game of cricket.

According to reports, The Gorillas” team, led by England women’s vice-captain Heather Knight, scored 82-5 to beat an XI led by former England spinner Ashley Giles’ and named the Rhinos, who managed just 64-9. However, only ten overs a side were managed before the weather closed in and, in true English fashion, stopped play.

Also amongst the stars playing was South African pace bowler Makhaya Ntini.

The previous record was held by a game played in Nepal at 5165m back in 2009.

I have just found on Youtube some footage of the fabled 1974 expedition by two Spanish guys who drove their motorbikes from Igualada in Spain to Kilimanjaro – and then drove up Kili too, with one of them making it to the summit.

I’m really chuffed to have discovered this, as this feat is one of those achievements that have taken on an almost mythical quality – with some people doubting that it ever happened. It did, after all, occur way back in the early seventies well before I started writing about the mountain – I was only 4 when it happened! And like many of these tales that occurred back then, there is little documentation or footage that it ever took place. (Another example of this is the Frenchman Daniel Valtee, who is said to have been 87 years old when he climbed Kili – which means that even today he would still hold the record as the oldest person to reach the top! Nothing, however, has ever been found to prove this and thus his record isn’t recognised.)

As for the motorbike ascent, I’m not sure I’d approve of people doing this today – I shudder at the ecological damage and the bad example they set! – but times were different then and you have to admire the skill of the drivers!

Anyway, the link is: Ascensión en moto al Kilimanjaro 1974

It lasts for only a couple of minutes but does give you an idea of just how difficult it must have been (but also how gloriously empty and beautiful the mountain was 40 years ago!)

Enjoy!