Describing it as “one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life”, singer, songwriter and actress Mandy Moore has just fulfilled a dream that she has had since she was 18yrs old – that is to climb Kilimanjaro.
My Quick Takeaways:
Wondering what it’s like to climb Kilimanjaro? Just ask Mandy Moore! Here’s what her experience can teach you:
- Even Celebrities Struggle: Mandy trained hard for the climb, but Kilimanjaro’s altitude and challenges pushed her limits—preparation is key!
- Acclimatisation Matters: She took a slow, steady approach to adjust to the altitude, proving that pacing yourself is crucial for success.
- The Right Team Makes a Difference: Mandy climbed with expert guides and a supportive team—something every trekker should prioritise.
- Incredible Views & Emotional Moments: From breathtaking sunrises to the sheer accomplishment of reaching the summit, her journey was unforgettable.
- Anyone Can Do It (With the Right Mindset): You don’t have to be famous to climb Kilimanjaro—just determined, prepared, and ready for the adventure!
Mandy Moore’s climb is proof that climbing Kilimanjaro is tough but absolutely worth it. Ready for the full summit story? Let’s get going!
Whilst on a break from filming, the This is Us star in partnership with outdoor outfitter Eddie Bauer, accompanied by her fiancé Taylor Goldsmith and a group of friends, successfully summited Kilimanjaro on a 7 day trek that is typical of the climb.
Mandy recounts her journey, which began on the 23rd March in a series of photos and videos on Instagram @mandymooremm which show just how much fun her and her friends had on their expedition.
She speaks of how climbing Kilimanjaro was a deeply bonding experience for the group, and how the simplicity of the daily ritual forced them all to focus on one thing, putting one foot in front of the other in order to accomplish their goal of summiting.
The trek was not without its’ challenges though and Mandy describes the tough conditions that they had to overcome on the night of their summit to Uhuru Peak, 5,895m above sea level.
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“On the night of our ascent to the summit, we woke up at 11pm (after a few hours of napping) to enjoy a couple of nervous minutes together with a cup of coffee before it was time to gear up in my our warmest layers and start the nearly 8 hour trek to highest point in Africa – 19,341 ft. In total darkness, we took it pole pole (slow slow) and trudged through rain, sleet and snow, where seemingly everything on our person managed to freeze (water bottles, backpacks, our eyelashes, hair, fingers, toes, etc…) Oddly, I’ve never felt more determined to tackle such a physical challenge before and yet the combined elements of exhaustion and extremely cold weather made it much trickier than any of us were prepared for.”
“All of that aside, ultimately reaching the threshold of the true summit was more emotional and overwhelming than I had thought possible. Kilimanjaro demands a lot from those who traverse her trails. You have no choice but to show up. And we did. There’s nothing more empowering than realizing that we are all capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for.”
Despite describing herself to Vogue as “not particularly outdoorsy” and never having camped or slept in a tent before, Mandy seemed to have a great time of it and in a comment on her Instagram photo, told Alpenglow Expeditions who led her trek that she “can’t wait to find our next adventure”. Well done from us Mandy!
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My Final Thoughts
And there you have it: An inspiring story about climbing Kilimanjaro. Think you can follow in Mandy's footsteps and summit Kilimanjaro? Let me know in the comments below and let's share the love.
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There is a route that does not require an 8-hour trek to summit and then more hours to descend. It is the Western Breach Route and it involves doing some bouldering and sleeping in the crater before summit day. The hike to the top is maybe an hour and a half.
Hi Odojoe, that is indeed true, but the Western Breach is significantly more challenging from an altitude perspective. Cheers!
Actually, a 9-Day Lemosho Western-Breach Route has a higher summit success rate than 5,6,7 day climbs.
It is definitely not more challenging than any other route, and its actually more scenic and secluded than other routes. We even get to camp next to the glaciers and see them in person up close (with what odojoe says, a short 1-2 hour trek to the summit)
Hi Tom, yes, a 9 day trek would beat 5 and 6 day climbs from an acclimatisation perspective. But 8 and 9 day climbs on the Machame or Lemosho are are far superior from a safety perspective than a Western Breach approach, which is known for fatal rockfalls and requires camping in the crater, which although amazing, comes with more risk than the standard southern circuit routes. All the best!
It was a tradeoff, risk for success. My guide says I would have never made a different route.