If you dream of scaling Africa’s highest mountain, but need a reason to motivate yourself to do so, why not climb Kilimanjaro for your favourite charity in 2013, and share your amazing experience with those less fortunate.

Many well-known charitable organisations offer Kilimanjaro climbs, but they quite often charge a fixed ‘donation’ or set a minimum fundraising target that can push the adventure out of your budget range.

Fortunately, there are other options available, and if you book your Kilimanjaro climb with an independent tour operator, you can still raise money for your favourite charity, you just need to get in touch, let them know what your plans are, and ask them how people can donate.

Choosing a charity that is close to your own heart will, undoubtedly, help you reach Kilimanjaro’s 5,895 metre peak, and while the first charity we contacted (a Rhino charity) didn’t seem too interested in our adventure (“if you get to the top, get back in touch with us and we’ll send you our bank details”!), the second charity we spoke to were absolutely delighted.

As we were climbing an African mountain, we thought it only right that we try to raise funds for an African charity, and when a friend suggested African Tails, an organisation in the Western Cape of South Africa, we knew we have found the perfect cause.

Working tireless to curb the suffering, abuse and over-population of township dogs, this amazing charity provides mass sterilisations and veterinary care for those who are unable to fund it themselves, and they never seem to stop working.

So, on our summit night when the temperatures dropped way below zero and the 7-hour hike to Uhuru Peak seemed like a lifetime, the thought that we might help sterilise just 10 of these innocent dogs made those heavy steps a little bit lighter, and our feeling of elation on the top of the mountain even more special.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a once in a lifetime experience, and if you can share that with others, your memories will be even more beautiful.