https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Forest Officer Scales Africa’s Most Treacherous Mount Kilimanjaro

2020 batch IFS officer S Bharani scaled Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro She cleared UPSC IFS 2019 and was allotted to the Andhra Pradesh cadre To learn about the challenges she faced, read the article
Indian Masterminds Stories

This Indian Forest Service Officer’s dream of conquering the skies as an Air Force pilot might have been grounded. Still, her spirit of adventure soared to new heights last week when she summited Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

DREAM TO FLY 

Born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 2020 batch IFS officer S Bharani’s initial aspirations soared high – she dreamt of an aviation career. However, life had other plans. Despite excelling in the SSB interview for the Indian Air Force, eyesight restrictions forced her to take a different path. This setback did not deter Bharani.  She set her sights on civil services, and after facing initial challenges, she cracked the UPSC IFS exam, just months after welcoming her son.

IFS officer S Bharani
IFS officer S Bharani

THIRST FOR ADVENTURE 

However, Ms. Bharani’s thirst for adventure extended beyond the bureaucratic world. An avid sports enthusiast, she started a journey of self-discovery through mountaineering. Her first attempt at scaling Kang Yatse in Ladakh, at a daunting 6,200 meters, was cut short due to harsh weather conditions. 

“I faced debilitating loss of appetite over two days due to the harsh conditions, so I had to make the difficult decision to descend,” she shared with Indian Masterminds. Yet, this only strengthened her resolve.

Forest Officer Scales Africa’s Most Treacherous Mount Kilimanjaro
Forest Officer Scales Africa’s Most Treacherous Mount Kilimanjaro

VICTORY AT MOUNT KILIMANJARO 

With meticulous preparation, she set her next challenge on the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro. The climb was no walk in the park. Ms. Bharani battled fierce winds, navigated treacherous night ascents, and pushed through physical and mental fatigue during the grueling 24-hour summit push. 

On March 7th, 2024, she reached the summit of Kilimanjaro, standing triumphantly at Uhuru Peak. Returning to the base camp on March 8th, she was filled with emotions as it coincided with International Women’s Day, adding a poignant layer to her accomplishment. 

Forest Officer Scales Africa’s Most Treacherous Mount Kilimanjaro
Forest Officer Scales Africa’s Most Treacherous Mount Kilimanjaro

“It was an incredibly emotional moment for me. I felt compelled to dedicate this milestone to all the remarkable women who have played a vital role in shaping the person I am today,” she shared. 

CHALLENGES 

Ms. Bharani shared that the fierce winds on Kilimanjaro added to the challenge of climbing, especially at night when darkness engulfed them except for the beams of their headlamps. Each step demanded careful balance to avoid falling. “The final ascent to the summit lasted 24 to 26 grueling hours, starting Monday evening at base camp.” 

Preparation involved overnight workouts to acclimate to staying awake for extended periods. The night brought additional hurdles like low oxygen, high altitude, loss of appetite, and disrupted sleep. 

THE FREESTANDING MOUNTAIN 

Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain globally, holds a special allure due to its proximity to the Kenya-Tanzania region and its diverse wildlife, including the Great Migration. “Climbing it offers a unique experience as you traverse various climates and vegetation zones, encountering diverse wildlife along the way,” Ms. Bharani shared.  

The journey spans just seven days, from lush equatorial forests to barren alpine deserts, presenting a formidable challenge requiring acclimatization. 

VICTORY FOR ALL 

“Through this journey, I discovered that I possess far more strength and capability than I ever imagined,” the officer said. She further shared that her friends, family, and fellow members of the IFS community celebrated this achievement as their own. 

“This experience has ignited a passion within me to continue exploring different mountains, learning from each one, and strengthening myself further. It marks just the beginning of my aspirations, and I believe that this pursuit of growth and challenge should remain a lifelong endeavor for me,” Ms. Bharani said while concluding.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Uttar Pradesh CM resized
UP Govt Promotes Three 1994 Batch IAS Officers to Additional Chief Secretary Rank
IFFCO DharAmrut
IFFCO to Launch ‘DharAmrut’: A Next-Gen Bio Stimulant to Boost Crop Yield and Plant Health
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
Haryana Re-employs Retired IPS Officer Alok Kumar Roy as DG Prisons Despite Availability of Senior Officers
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
Rajasthan Govt Seeks Recall of IAS Officers Rohit Kumar and Siddharth Mahajan from Central Deputation
Western Railway's Female Mechanics Drive Critical EMU Maintenance
Vijayadashami Boosts Women's Empowerment: Western Railway's Female Mechanics Drive Critical EMU Maintenance
IDES Officer Shobha Gupta
IDES Officer Shobha Gupta Appointed Director General of Defence Estates; Will Oversee 18 Lakh Acres of Defence Land
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
Controversies Lead to Transfer of 8 Out of 24 IAS Officers in Madhya Pradesh; Key Collectors Removed Following Disputes with Legislators
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
Senior Bureaucratic Movements Cleared by ACC: Repatriations, Curtailments, and Extensions Notified
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Uttar Pradesh CM resized
UP Govt Promotes Three 1994 Batch IAS Officers to Additional Chief Secretary Rank
IFFCO DharAmrut
IFFCO to Launch ‘DharAmrut’: A Next-Gen Bio Stimulant to Boost Crop Yield and Plant Health
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT