Emirati boy,15, climbs Africa's highest peak

Moawiya Saleh Al Shunnar, 15, has become the youngest Emirati to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa standing at 5895m and the highest free standing mountain in the world.

The 11th Grade student at Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) was able to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro last August after a 7 day ascent, with a group of 15 people, five of whom dropped out midway.

Upon his return to UAE, Al Shunnar said: " The greatest challenges were getting physically fit for the climb especially without knowing what to expect, including the cold. Temperatures at the top were -15 to -20 degrees Celsius, compounded by the fact that only 50% of the oxygen at sea level being available, in addition to the sheer exhaustion of such a climb. One more challenge was the preparation and training for the climb which we completed while fasting during Ramadan", he added.

Al Shunnar attributed the idea of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to his father who encouraged him to go on this adventure. Moawiya had just completed his bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award at school which included an expedition into the mountains of Oman, and so he saw this as a great challenge and adventure.

He has always been an active boy with interests in tennis, football, basketball and horse riding. He also plays piano and guitar and enjoys chess. And of course, as with all teenagers, electronics and computers make up an essential part of his entertainment.

Al Shunnar dedicated his achievement to the UAE and its leaders.

Al Shunnar extended his thanks to Rahalah Company and its team for their efforts which contributed to making the trip a success.

He stressed the need to be mentally and physically fit and ready before trying this challenge and to climb with the right group of leaders and organizers whose primary focus is safety, as many other groups are mourning the loss of members because they considered reaching the summit as more important than the group's safety.
 

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