Macon Dunnagan (forefront) atop Mount Kilimanjaro on his 33rd climb, on June 28, 2014. (Photo by Bradford Group based in the US)
A report from Karen Hoffman, President of the Bradford Group based
in the US who is also the Tanzania Tourist Board representative there
and in Chanel LeMond, indicates that, he will climb the mountain to
attract more travellers to Tanzania to see the country’s exceptional
blend of scenery of wildlife and human culture.
According to her, Macon Dunnagan, continues to prove that age is
not a factor as he plans his 35th climb to the “Roof of Africa”, the
world’s tallest freestanding mountain at 19,341 feet.
When asked why Dunnagan climbs the same mountain over and over
again, he replied “I enjoy taking other people up the Kilimanjaro and
giving them an appreciation for the mountain, what it is, the
environment and the people of Tanzania.”
Recently, he broke a record for making the most Kilimanjaro summits
in one month when he climbed four times in 28 days. At 54 years old, he
serves as an inspiration for others as he still has climbs scheduled
through 2017.
Presently Dunnagan already holds the Kilimanjaro National Park Record for Climbing the Most Summits in One Month.
Dunnagan made his first ascent in February 1999 with little hiking
and no mountain climbing experience and has yet to look back. He has
since become a Kilimanjaro specialist and Expedition Director for Zara
Tanzania Adventures, a Tanzanian tour company based in Moshi, in 2013.
In 2013, the Tanzania Tourist Board named Dunnagan as a Goodwill Ambassador of Tourism for Tanzania.
Apart from that in 2005, his wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer
and she succumbed to the disease in August, 2007. He has since
dedicated a number of his climbs to raising awareness and funds for
ovarian cancer research and treatment by partnering with Ovarian Cancer
Canada’s "Expedition of Hope.”
Macon Dunnagan has also “tackled” polio, bringing new awareness
through his summits, in collaboration with Rotary District 7680’s "End
Polio Now.” Though only a few countries still feel the effects of polio,
Dunnagan believes it’s important to continue with eradication efforts
until the disease is extinct.
He has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for both causes and will continue to do so for as long as possible.
In addition to his mountain climbing skills, Dunnagan is also a
published author. Sons of Kilimanjaro is his debut novel and it details
the summit of four men up Mt Kilimanjaro, the individual reasons they
have for climbing it and the lessons they learned along the way.
Elaborating on Tanzania, she said, Tanzania is the largest country
in East Africa that is focused on wildlife conservation and sustainable
tourism, with approximately 28 percent of the land protected by the
government, the largest percentage of any country in the world.
Presently it boasts of 16 National Parks and 32 Game Reserves, 50
Game Controlled Areas, one special Conservation Area (the Ngorongoro)
and three marine parks.
Also it is home to the Serengeti, home to the "Great Animal
Migration" that was named the New 7th Wonder of the World, by USA Today
and ABC TV's Good Morning America, the world acclaimed Ngorongoro
Crater, often referred to as the "Eden of Africa" and the “Eighth Wonder
of the World.
Others include Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind, Selous, the
world’s largest game reserve, Ruaha, now the second largest National
Park in Africa, the Spice Islands of Zanzibar, and seven Unesco World
Heritage Sites.
Most important for visitors, the Tanzanian people, with a rich
history and diverse blend of cultures, are warm and friendly. Tanzania,
is an oasis of peace and stability with a democratically elected and
stable government.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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