In February 2025, five intrepid Intersoft employees successfully stood at the peak of Africa’s tallest point following the adventure of a lifetime.
The Kilimanjaro Challenge, a yearly undertaking hosted by Action Challenge, sees participants trek and climb over 5,895m up the iconic mountain to reach its formidable summit.
It had been a long time coming, following a year of training, fundraising, and support from colleagues and loved ones.
The Challengers
Intersoft’s team for the event saw a stellar line up, comprising of Finance Manager Agi Singam, Scrum Master Shekhar Murahari, Sales Director Steve Sneath, Technical Development Manager Sylvia Douglas, and Managing Director James Thomas. Each member had their own reasons for committing to the climb, and each chose a charity to raise funds for along their journey. The two charities chosen were Cancer Research UK and Movember – causes close to the participants’ hearts.
Taking on the challenge was a highly personal choice.
“I love taking myself out of my normal surroundings and into a place of the unknown,” said Steve Sneath about why he took on Kilimanjaro, “Especially being able to explore new places and explore who I really am when it gets a little tough.”
The expedition was certainly a demanding challenge for the team to voluntarily dedicate themselves to. Not only was the ascent a gruelling combination of hiking, climbing and camping on the mountainside, but it also saw the climbers contend with the effects of the extreme altitude.
Sylvia Douglas explained, “Summit night was a major challenge for me due to the altitude and cold. I suffered nausea and extreme fatigue and it was a brutal 8 hours from 10pm to 6am.”
Agi, James, Shekhar, Steve, and Sylvia began the trip with an overnight flight to Tanzania. After arriving on Friday 7th February, they settled into a hotel to freshen up, meet their local guides, and get a good night’s rest before the trek began.
Day One
The adventure officially started on Saturday with a 7km trek through lush rainforest vegetation to reach Big Tree Camp, positioned at 2,780m. After four hours of trekking, the group settled in for their first night on the mountain.
Day Two
Sunday was a challenging but rewarding day with a 17km trek covering 9–11 hours and over 1,200m of ascent. Within two hours, the team left the rainforest behind and entered the Moorland zone, home to unique shrub-like flora. They then climbed the “Elephant’s Spine,” a broad ridge offering sweeping views of the plains below. The day ended at Shira Camp (3,505m) with stunning views of Kilimanjaro’s southern face and the Shira Plateau below.
Day Three
On Monday, the group trekked 9km in 6–7 hours across a barren, moon-like landscape with visible ice fields looming above. After a lunch break at the Lava Tower, they descended through scenic ravines and reached Barranco Camp at 3,972m by late afternoon. It was one of the most scenic days yet, with breath taking views at every turn.
“Spectacular views were ever present,” shared Sylvia, “As well as beautiful early morning light from 5am starts and evening sunsets after arriving in camp.”
Day Four
Tuesday saw the team tackle the steep volcanic Barranco Wall, gaining spectacular views and a real sense of achievement. After a snack break with views of Barafu and Mount Meru, they crossed the steep-sided Karanga Valley to reach Karanga Camp at 4,002m.
Day Five
Wednesday’s 5km trek brought them to Barafu Camp at 4,600m. After a hearty meal, they layered up and attempted to rest for the overnight summit push.
Day Six – Summit Day
Just before midnight on Thursday, they began the toughest part of the climb. For six hours, they trekked by torchlight up steep scree to Stella Point at 5,730m, then made the final push to Uhuru Peak, Africa’s highest point at 5,895m. The sunrise revealed stunning views of Mount Meru.
“At 6am, the wind dropped, the sun rose, and the nausea and fatigue went,” Sylvia described, “I got a bit warmer and we reached the rim of the crater. What a moment!”
Steve added, “Being able to share that journey with some of my work colleagues, seeing them succeed against all their own personal challenges and see the sunrise on the highest mountain in Africa with them was a joy.”
They then proceeded to descend to Millennium Camp at 3,112m for a well-earned sleep.
Day Seven
On Friday, the team began the final descent, making their way to the finish line of their incredible journey. They were transferred to their hotel, where they could finally take off their walking boots, enjoy a hot shower, and celebrate their achievement over a well-deserved dinner.
Challenge Complete
The entire experience was a journey like no other, and all five team members reaching their goal is an incredible achievement.
As of their return, the total raised on behalf of Cancer Research and Movember is a whopping £22,000! It’s safe to say that the challenge was worth every penny donated.
“The Kilimanjaro trip was such fun,” Sylvia summarised, “Every day was a different experience, from changing surroundings to hike through, to different goals for the day. We started in the rainforest with monkeys in the trees and ended up in the frozen icescape at the very top.”
“If you want to push yourself past your usual comfort level and have an experience that will last you a lifetime, go climb Kilimanjaro!”
