This international expedition organized by Giripremi Adventure Foundation witnessed participation from mountaineers representing India, the USA, and the Netherlands.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Mumbai: Marking the beginning of the New Year with an extraordinary achievement, eight mountaineers from Pune-based Giripremi Adventure Foundation (GAF) successfully hoisted the Indian national flag atop Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest peak of the African continent.
Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the world-famous Seven Summits - the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.
Located in the northeastern region of Tanzania near the Kenyan border, Kilimanjaro rises to 19,341 feet (5,895 metres). Formed by volcanic activity, it is the world’s highest free-standing mountain, not belonging to any mountain range.
This international expedition organized by Giripremi Adventure Foundation witnessed participation from mountaineers representing India, the USA, and the Netherlands.
Led by GAF mountaineer Ashish Sanjay Nawandhar, the team comprising Charulata Pandit, Sanjeev Pandit, Shweta Kurade, Vilas Tarwadi, Nivedita Sharma, Neha Sikchi, and Nidhi Gautam undertook a grueling nine-hour summit push on January 1, 2026, finally reaching the summit at 8:45 am and proudly unfurling the Indian Tricolour.
Except for the final summit day, the team faced continuous rainfall and heavy snowfall throughout the expedition.
The group included climbers aged between 25 and 63 years — ranging from first-time mountaineers to experienced climbers who had completed High Altitude Mountaineering Courses.
Though most of the members were previously unfamiliar with each other, they demonstrated remarkable unity and teamwork to achieve this feat.
The team was guided locally by Joseph Majuta of Tanzania, whose expertise played a crucial role in ensuring the safety and success of the expedition.
Expedition leader Ashish Nawandhar has earlier successfully summited peaks such as Dzo Zongo, Reo Purgyil, Deo Tibba, and Friendship Peak. The team had undergone months of intensive preparation.
They received valuable guidance from senior mountaineer and recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, Umesh Zirpe, and Sameer Divekar, Head of Giripremi Adventure Foundation.