At the beginning of October, Tristan Phipps, Verity Bowditch, Simon Phipps and Born Free’s Sarah are all taking part in Born Free’s Climb for Conservation – a gruelling trek of Mount Kenya.

The surrounding forest where we’ll begin our trek, is a biodiversity hotspot and home to 2,500 elephants, the critically endangered mountain bongo and a number of endemic bird species. However, this challenge is not to be underestimated and will see us trekking up to eight hours a day up the extinct volcano, through five biomes, camping overnight, till we reach the summit of Pint Lenana; with an altitude of 4,985m, where the temperature can drop to around -10ᵒc.

We are raising money for the Born Free Foundation and the Mount Kenya Trust. Born Free is an international wildlife and animal welfare charity that works in over 20 countries with the aim to keep wildlife in the wild. The charity opposes the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and protects species in their natural habitat, through policy work, conservation programmes, education and campaigning.  The Mount Kenya Trust protects the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the species within living in the landscape, through their numerous wildlife ranger teams, tree planting schemes, establishment of a safe elephant corridor and environmental education in local schools.

Wildlife is a huge part of the Phipps’s life; Tristan spent a number of years as a safari guide in Botswana and South Africa. While there, he was firmly bit by the Africa bug and after passing rigorous tests to be a wildlife ranger, he began to lead groups of tourists on foot safaris to see the wildlife. During his time there, he saw first-hand, the damage that poaching and exploitative activities can do to natural world and this motivated him to make the change, from the tourism sector, to activism and inspiring others – starting with his father and girlfriend, who are joining on this challenge!

Together, the Born Free challenge team are raising money to make a difference but we need your help! Please sponsor us to make our goal of £10,000 – every little helps!