I sold my car to live my Himalayan dream. Your dream is worth everything! ~ Gitonga Wandai, Hikemaniak Beyond.
Happy Thursday! 😀 Welcome to our new blog series, “The Traveler’s Chair.”
In this recurring series we’ll feature some of our favorite travelers, in Kenya and beyond! Are you ready to ramble? 😀
First in the Traveler’s Chair is Gitonga Wandai, the ‘hikemaniak’ who sold his Starlet to trek Mount Everest Base Camp! Inspiring, right?! Come along for the ride…
I met Gitonga Wandai, some years back, through my brother. Since then, I’ve followed his work with Hikemaniak Beyond, and his daring adventures continue to dazzle and inspire!
‘May we love Mount Everest, and may Mount Everest love us back’, is Wandai’s famous phrase before he embarks on any adventure.
Adventures of The Hikemaniak
Who is Gitonga Wandai?
I am a traveler with a weakness for the mountains; a minimalist, a nomad, a father, an adventurous soul and lover of the unknown living in the now!
Have You Always Been A Hiker?
No, I am a trained Demographer, and before I started hiking fulltime, I worked as an M & E Expert.
However, my love for adventure was born way back in 2004, when I joined the International President’s Award (PA), at Kenyatta University. The values and experiences of PA made a huge impact in my life.
I would recommend it to anyone in High school or College.
The Birth of Hikemaniak Beyond…
Towards the end of 2015, I felt the strong call of the mountains, but I didn’t know how to go about it… Moreover, I was struggling at work, and didn’t fit in anymore.
There was only one explanation- I was a maniac who loved hiking! Hence, in mid- 2016, Hikemaniak Beyond was born; an adventures company that organizes mountain climbs, hikes, and adventure sports like skydiving, paragliding and water rafting.
I’ve faced my fair share of challenges and fears. But like with all matters of the heart, you have to take a leap of faith. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don’t, but with each experience, I keep soaring higher. ~Wandai

Gitonga’s Son~ Wandai
Tell us about your experiences on the mountain…
If I said that I’ve had it easy with the big mountains, especially Kilimanjaro, I would be lying. With the biting cold, sharp blizzards, struggling body organs due to low oxygen and long summit time, it takes sheer willpower…
I’ve been up to Uhuru point 7 times and each time I question myself: ‘Why am I here again…?’
But over time, I’ve developed a relationship with the mountain and in our conversations we’ve agreed that I belong there… This truth warms my heart and gets me through the tough times, plus it always turns out to be a beautiful summit.
What’re some of your worst experiences?
In August 2016, I set out to climb Mt. Kenya’s Batian peak. As we neared the peak, it snowed in heavily with fatal rock falls… So we had to turn back. This taught me how to make tough judgement calls and that safety comes first. You can always return to finish what you began.
On another occasion, while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, one of our Hikemaniak clients got severe altitude sickness that developed into Pulmonary Edema, resulting in emergency evacuation from Tanzania to Kenya.
It was Hikemaniak’s first major trek. This took me by shock, but the experience has since informed and bettered our safety preparedness.
The Everest Base Camp Experience…
How did you raise money to trek the Everest base camp?
In 2016, told my friend Mercy: ‘I’m saving to trek the Everest Base Camp at the beginning of 2017. If I won’t have enough cash, I will sell my car’.
As fate would have it, by December 2016, I didn’t have the money. So I put up my car for sale on OLX. But all went quiet. The car’s insurance was up for renewal by 1st January 2017.
But I delayed a little bit… But by the 3rd of January, nothing had happened! Furthermore, I knew I was pushing my luck with the authorities…
I was starting to doubt my odds, when I got a call from a buyer… I honestly didn’t take him seriously, though it was the only offer I had on the table.
The guy showed up the following day, and turned out to be a childhood friend from Sunday school! It all happened so fast! He filled KRA forms etc., we exchanged cash and voila! It was done; my 1996 Toyota Starlet was sold! 😀
The next day I bought plane tickets and got the visa!
I believe that, when you really want something the whole universe conspires in your favour- this was true for me.
What did it take to plan the Trip?
A year of research! 😀
I researched trekking the Everest Base camp on Travel blogs and the Nepal Tourism Department website for gear, flights, meals, accommodation, how much to pack, the trail and whether I’d need a guide & porter…
I later decided to do it on my own, without either guide or porter!
Tip: Focus most of your research on the basics and leave room for imagination and self-exploration.
Through social media I made connections with Nepalese friends, like Umesh, a year before the visit! 🙂
And Waithira Njunu, a Facebook friend, wrote to me asking me if I was interested in meeting Steve Obbayi, a Kenyan who’d attempted the Himalayas.
She arranged for us to meet at her downtown stall in Imenti House. You could feel the mountain’s beauty in that small stall, as we talked for hours. With a Kenyan face to the Everest trek I felt more confident. 🙂
Who left a mark in your life on the Everest Trek?
I got help at nearly every step… One of my clients from the United States shared a contact in Nepal, where I spent one night, thus saving on accommodation costs.
At the domestic flights in Tribhuvan Airport, Kathmandu I met Joe, Vish both from Uk and Marcel from Germany. With aligning interests we decided to trek together, making the trail moments ever so lively.

Meeting Umesh, in Nepal
Joe, a Film Maker, later asked to do a documentary about me, titled ‘Gitonga’; currently in editing. He’s such an inspiration; he resigned from a finance job to pursue his love for film!
Towards the end of our Trek, we spent an evening with the first man to do a winter summit on Everest. He is a former tourist police officer with the Nepal Police Service.
That experience affirmed my dream of summiting the Everest someday. My #Everest2022 dream still lives on!
What are some of your overall best moments?
There are so many… But hiking with my son is among the best! 😀
His first hike was going up Mount Kilimambogo at only 3. Though my friends and I carried him most of the way, he was thrilled! 😀
Now at 7, we just returned from summiting Little Meru and Rhino point in Tanzania together. Such uniting experiences have made us the best of friends. 🙂
What travel hacks have you picked along the way?
- Pack light
- Get the right gear
- Make a reference list to ensure you’ve packed the essentials
- Befriend locals & ask questions about the weather, meals, accommodation…
- Read others’ past experiences BUT do not let it cloud your own
- Allow yourself to awed by the mountains, views and the people 🙂
Any last words for aspiring hikers and climbers?
Have the courage to do the things that make your heart dance. Life is a series of heart dances. 🙂
I hope Wandai’s story has been refreshing to you! 😀
Who would you like to sit next in our Traveler’s Chair?
Share your suggestions and adventure stories with us… Don’t be shy, leave a comment down below! 😉 😀
<<Stay Inspired Always>>
P.S. You might also enjoy>> Adventures of the German Backpacker in Kenya
20 Comments
Delinah Mijide
May 19, 2020 at 4:22 pmThis is the most inspiring travel story I have read in a while.
Scrapbook Journeys
May 21, 2020 at 9:32 amIt really is right? Gitonga is such an inspiring human, and I can’t wait to see how his story unfolds!! 😀 Glad you enjoyed it Delinah 🙂
Vivian wanimo
August 17, 2018 at 4:15 amI am so inspired by Hikemaniak and his courageous heart to go for his passion. Marion thank you for bringing this story to my doorstep. I have a lot of thinking to do…..
Scrapbook Journeys
August 20, 2018 at 10:34 amMy utmost pleasure Viv! His story is truly inspirational and I’m happy to read from you! All the very best my friend! 😀 😀
Stella Nguu
August 13, 2018 at 1:17 pmTotally inspirational
Scrapbook Journeys
August 20, 2018 at 10:31 amHey Stella! Thank you for reading! And glad you feel inspired! 🙂
Hayter Grace
August 10, 2018 at 6:26 pmthat’s the guy who’s passion is my inspiration. he helped me get ready for Kili both physically and mentally. when the going got tough I would just remember his words and other 2 friends of mine. I always wish I was his eyes for the beauty they have seen and witnessed.
Scrapbook Journeys
August 20, 2018 at 10:29 amHi Hayter! Great to see you here 😀 Oh wow, always great to read from someone who’s had a 1st hand experience, and this is super inspiring! Glad to hear it! Haha I feel you, of only we could be in his eyes, my goodness! 😀
Msee Wa B4 Nesh
August 10, 2018 at 12:13 amI take cognizance that Wandai took me to my first ever hike/expedition under the Presidents Award Scheme and that was my birth of adventure thanks to him. I admire his passion and zeal while doing his programs.
One guy to interview is Rakesh of Baiskeli Adventures. That’s another story that keeps inspiring me always.
Keep up with the beautiful stories.
Scrapbook Journeys
August 10, 2018 at 12:51 amWow! That’s a nice fun-fact! I am thankful to have met him through you, because now we all get inspired by his life story!! And hey thanks for sharing the tip, will find you for that contact 😉
As always, thank you for reading! 😀
Njeri
August 9, 2018 at 11:21 pmWandai….Wow!!! The lesson on living your dreams is what I’ve drawn from knowing you…KEEP HIKING HIKEMANIAK!!!
Scrapbook Journeys
August 10, 2018 at 12:47 amNjeri! Welcome to the Scrapbook Journeys Fam! And indeed Wandai is a true inspiration! #StayInspired 😀
Mercie
August 9, 2018 at 3:05 pmWow! Always an inspiration. Beyond…..
Scrapbook Journeys
August 10, 2018 at 12:45 amHello Mercie! Glad you feel inspired! Thanks for reading and hope to see you around more! 😀
wakarindi13vonne
August 9, 2018 at 3:00 pmGoing through this and planning to summit Mt. Kenya this year…INSPIRED! Wow! true when you want something so bad the universe helps you get it.
Scrapbook Journeys
August 10, 2018 at 12:41 amHello there Wakarindi! So good to hear from you! Whoa, Mount Kenya-sounds exciting already! Go for it! And hope to read your stories of victory in the near future! Thank you for reading! :D:D
Christine Munene
August 9, 2018 at 2:20 pmAm inspired by how Marion takes time to learn from other creatives giving them audience in her writing and taking us on their journey through her eyes and theirs all at the same time!
This is very rare in this day and age!
One statement am taking from this chair of travel is and I quote ‘have the courage to do the things that make your heart dance. Life is a series of heart dances. ‘ (end quote )
Looking forward to more chairs that travel…!
Scrapbook Journeys
August 10, 2018 at 12:38 amWow Christine, thank you! That is super super encouraging! I am inspired to keep sharing these stories with us, and to let their lives refresh us, one blog post at a time! I hope you feel refreshed and take on life with that courage that allows your heart to truly dance! Cheers! 😀
Mitha
August 9, 2018 at 2:06 pmI love reading brave stories, they inspire me to be a risk taker.. Awesome read Marion
Scrapbook Journeys
August 10, 2018 at 12:36 amYess! That’s the spirit! And for sure Wandai’s story is one of courage! Thanks for reading and remember to be brave! 😀