Cairo, August 17: Dr. Nadia El-Awady, president of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), became the first Arab and Muslim woman to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
“I made it,” Awady said in an SMS she sent to IslamOnline.net, confirming that she had successfully achieved her plan to reach the highest point of Kilimanjaro.
“Special greetings from the roof of Africa!”
The mountain located in north-eastern Tanzania, stands with its highest peak, Uhuru, at 5,892 meters.
Adventures of A Muslim Woman
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Awady reached the Uhuru peak on Saturday, August 15, at 7:30 local time (4:30 GMT).
This came after a five-day trek up the Marangu route along the mountain slope, one of six different trekking routes up Kilimanjaro.
With her successful hike, Awady became the first Arab and Muslim woman ever to climb the highest mountain of Africa.
She is expected to return to her home country, Egypt, in a few days.
Awady was a staff writer in IslamOnline.net from April 2000 until July 2008, writing many articles in English and Arabic on a variety of issues.
She founded IslamOnline.net’s Health & Science Section in 2002 and ran the section until June 2006.
Awady served as IOL deputy editor in chief from September 2005 until June 2006.
She became Director of Outreach and Cooperation for Media International, which operates IslamOnline.net, in July 2006 and served in the post for two years.
She was recently elected as the president of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ). She is the first Arab to head the prestigious worldwide organization.
Everest Next
In her blog, El-Awady explains that she has been dreaming of going up Everst for many years.
“I figured if I really wanted to go up Everest, I should try something more simple first.
Kilimanjaro immediately jumped into the picture.”
That was the start of her research more than two years ago for what was needed to achieve this feat.
“I’ve spent weeks, neigh months, getting properly equipped for this trip,” said El-Awady.
“For the past two years every time I go to the US or Europe I make sure to check off a few things from my list.”
A large part of the preparations was physical. She has engaged in vigorous exercising and training such as jogging, swimming, horseback riding and going up and down the stairs of her 10-storey apartment building.
As a final test, she went up Mount St. Catherine, the highest peak in Egypt, to simulate the effort of one day on Kilimanjaro.
The peak, standing at 2,646 meters is less than half that of the Tanzanian peak.
Now that she had achieved African’s highest peak, El-Awady has her eyes on Mount Everest, the world’s highest summit.
“Success has rarely been my goal. It’s more about the actual experience,” she says.
“I know that if I don’t try I’ll spend the rest of my life regretting it. And I’d rather try and fail than not try at all.”