When the going gets tough, nature-loving revenue clerk laces up her boots
Not even the rain could dampen Happy Mashinini’s feeling of accomplishment when she stood at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro at 5895m above sea level.
The mother of two, a revenue clerk at Carnival City Casino, who describes herself as an adventurer, is revelling in her latest achievement.
“I started hiking in 2019 at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve because it’s fun and keeps me fit. It is great exercise and it’s a fun way to stay connected with nature. Hiking is meditative and relaxing,” Mashinini said. Her group of eight train by hiking 10km to 20km every weekend. She was driven to hike Mount Kilimanjaro after climbing the highest mountain in South Africa in March – Mafadi in the Drakensberg. “We then challenged ourselves to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.”
The group arrived in Tanzania on Monday September 11 and started the five-day trek the following morning, summiting on the Friday. “The day of the summit was very interesting because we departed at 3am and got to the peak at 10.30am. We had been walking ‘pole pole’, which means “slowly slowly” in Swahili, for seven hours and we reached the top of Kilimanjaro. It was challenging as some of our members experienced altitude sickness. But the proud feeling of having done something difficult made it all worthwhile.”
Back home, balancing work and life sees Mashinini manage her time by prioritising tasks. “I ensure that I allocate enough time for work responsibilities as well as personal pursuits such as spending time with family, engaging in hobbies or pursuing personal goals,” she said. Her next goal also involves hiking – either climbing the highest mountain in South America, Aconcagua, or Mount Everest in the Himalayas.
“Hiking teaches you to endure and never give up even when it is no longer easy and you are unsure if you can continue, somehow you maintain and strengthen your resolve. I have learnt so much about myself and am proud to say I went after my dreams.”
