MOSHI, Tanzania, May 28, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Adventure tourism has continued to increase dramatically in the past several years and with it so have the number of women who opt for outdoor-oriented holidays in exotic locations instead of run-of-the-mill tropical beach vacations. The stereotype that women cannot or should not tackle extreme physical challenges in faraway places is being dispelled quite clearly.
One destination that is seeing its fair share of female visitors is Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. As the world's tallest freestanding mountain, it stands 19,341 feet above sea level is a demanding hike due to the extreme elevation.
Peak Planet, a professional guide company on Mount Kilimanjaro, has observed the increase in the female climbers over the years. "When we first started operating more than ten years ago, our climbs were comprised of approximately 30% women," said Dana Wentzel, Executive Director of Peak Planet. "The current balance of male and female clients is essentially equal. Furthermore, we have found that the sex of the climber has no bearing on the summit success rate whatsoever."
In short, women can achieve just as much as men on Kilimanjaro.
To celebrate International Women's Day, Peak Planet has opened a women-only group climb. The adventure begins on March 1, 2020, and summits on International Women's Day, March 8, 2020, using the beautiful and unspoiled Lemosho Route. This is an ideal trip for solo female travelers and women who want to meet like-minded, active people like themselves.
"Growing up, I was consistently bombarded with the message 'you can't do that' simply because I was a woman. Traveling and exploring nature in the process helped me realize that I can," said Rhonda Sommer, a 29-year-old trail runner who recently returned from her successful climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. "I think all women can benefit from doing something big like climbing Kilimanjaro. It does wonders for your confidence which affects all aspects of life."
Nancy Porter, who has also climbed Kilimanjaro, said, "When my children left home and my husband decided he was done with long distance travel, I decided to go it alone. Best thing I ever did."
As an experienced hiker, she stated that Kilimanjaro was her most ambitious climb. More than pleased with her performance, Porter, who is retired, is looking for more challenges. "Kili was going to be my swan song, but the experience was so amazing and so rewarding that I'm planning another long-distance trek at altitude," she stated.
Climbing Kilimanjaro does have risks. It is reported that half of those who attempt to summit fail. The primary reason is due to acute mountain sickness, which can occur when the body fails to adapt quickly enough to low oxygen levels at high altitudes.
Peak Planet's guides conduct health checks twice daily to ensure the safety of the climbers. Measurements of pulse rate and oxygen saturation are taken, as well as body temperature and blood pressure. Having this data helps the guides assess how well a person is coping with the altitude.
"Our health protocols are second to none," said Wentzel. "From certified Wilderness First Responders to emergency oxygen and helicopter evacuation, no other climbing company provides such a comprehensive safety program."
To learn more about Peak Planet's women-only International Women's Day climb in 2020, visit https://peakplanet.com.
ABOUT PEAK PLANET
Peak Planet has been setting the standard for climbing Kilimanjaro since 2008. As one of the few specialist companies organizing high-quality Mount Kilimanjaro climbs, Peak Planet is consistently recognized as one of the best operators on Kilimanjaro.
SOURCE Peak Planet
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