It is not every day that you come across a whole book based on a single experience but such is the narrative with Stephen Ndiyamba’s new book One Week in December: Summiting Kilimanjaro — a tale of adventure,fun, camaraderie and triumph.
Ndiyamba is a husband, father and engineer with over three decades of experience in the mining industry in Zimbabwe and South Africa. He is currently employed as an executive manager at a local mining company.
What immediately struck me were the paradoxes or should I say antitheses within his career and latest exploration which triggered him to pen his debut book.
First and foremost, how his professional career is linked to underground operations, secondly how his exploration or expedition leads him to summiting Kilimanjaro — one of Africa’s highest mountains and the highest stand-alone mountain in the world which towers enigmatically like an ethereal island in the sky, wreathed in mists, at 5 895 metres above sea level.
Ndiyamba’s story seems to be a narrative of a man and his team who were too much familiarised with the underground operations and dared to re-energise by exploring Africa’s highest summit.
It was in December 2022 that Ndiyamba, being part of a twenty-member team of hikers, set off braving the tumultuous eight-day trip with the ultimate climax of their journey having been to raise the Zimbabwean national flag as well as various participating company's flags on Uhuru Peak after 16 of them managed to summit the mountain. He described the experience as humbling and fulfilling (pp.11).
In the book, Ndiyamba says it had taken a push from his two friends Chris and Elija to embark on the refreshing exploration.
“I sat on my desk, gazing out at the sprawling countryside through my window. My mind wandered far beyond the confines of my office walls longing for something more, perhaps an escape. For as long as I could remember, I had always been drawn to adventure and the enchantment of nature’s marvels. And Kilimanjaro, Africa’s majestic peak, seemed the right kind of wonder, embodying that very allure I had been seeking”(pp.14)
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Ndiyamba added: “Yes I had previously encountered fascinating stories about the legendary mountain each more captivating than the last. One article I had stumbled upon detailing the experiences of mountaineers who had successfully reached the pinnacle of Kilimanjaro resonated deeply with me. Their tales not only recounted the physical and mental challenges they had faced but also paid homage to the personal growth and self-discovery they had experienced along the way. A deep stirring within me urged me to embark on this extraordinary adventure and Elijah’s timing could not have been more perfect.(pp.14)
In essence the book One Week in December: Summiting Kilimanjaro seems to be a charge to action to employers to prioritise the physical and mental well-being of their employees given how Ndiyamba exemplary leads a team of workmates to summit Kilimanjaro,
“As we discussed the Kilimanjaro hike further, it dawned on me that this was a good challenge for us and a perfect opportunity to include hiking in the mine’s wellness programs…The Kilimanjaro hike would, therefore be perfect for galvanising and motivating employee participation”(pp.19)
In the book, Ndiyamba also explores the beauty of Zimbabwe and it’s various local hiking tourist resorts including Mount Nyangani,Chimanimani Mountains, Mount Selinda, Ngomakurira and Domboshava Hills which they explored as they prepared for their gigantic date with Kilimanjaro.
He shares the benefits of hiking, including how climbing mountains can be a spiritual journey by referring to folklore stories and the belief that mountain air carries the whispers of ancient tales.
“Those who claim to know say that if you take a moment and pause to listen then you will hear the echoes of ancient wisdom, reminding you of the interconnectedness between nature and our journey through life” (pp.25).
During his daring Kilimanjaro summiting experience, at one time Ndiyamba endured what he termed “a maelstrom of emotions” as the euphoria he and his team had when they left Harare seemed to have dissipated in the face of the challenging reality which now confronted them,
“Many nights I would lie awake in my tent, tossing and turning, consumed with worry about the health of my team members particularly when the symptoms of high altitude sickness started to appear. The burden of carrying such a responsibility was overwhelming, yet it brought me a sense of fulfilment and gratification(pp.61).
Ndiyamba also describes the summiting experience as one of the greatest challenging hiking experiences in his life.
“No words can really do the summit night justice. It was the hardest thing I have ever done an perhaps will ever do. The terrain challenged our every step, threatening to send us tumbling into the abyss below. The thin air made even the simplest task feel like Herculean feats. Yet we pressed on, our determination unwavering”(pp.120).
One key take away from Ndiyamba’s One Week in December seems to be that hiking, summiting and exploring challenging encounters with nature is always fulfilling and more of a spiritual experience than it is a physical one judging by how he described his view from the summit.
“We stood at the top of the world, surrounded by clouds, an awe-inspiring beauty. The view took my breath away, both literary and figuratively. At that moment, I understood the true essence of life’s peaks and valleys. Kilimanjaro taught me that the toughest challenges often have profound rewards. There I made a silent promise to myself. I would carry the spirit of Kilimanjaro within me reminding myself of the heights I can reach, the challenges I can overcome and the beauty that awaits those who dare to blaze trails into the unknown” (pp.130).
It is Sir Edmund Hillary who once observed “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves” and Ndiyamba’s Kilimanjaro summiting experience validates this assertion.
- Fungayi Antony Sox is a seasoned communications and publishing specialist who has advised and consulted for CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, youth-focused start-ups, businesses, several institutions, and organisations. For feedback contact him on 0776 030 949, connect with him on LinkedIn on Fungayi Antony Sox, or write to him on fungayisox@gmail.com
