After a life-saving liver transplant in 2017, Peter Matthews set a lofty recovery goal: to trek Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. It took years of training and fortitude, but he finally set out to achieve this in 2021, when his trek to Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak began. Here is Peter’s incredible story of recovery, growth, and overcoming adversity—an inspiring journey that highlights what’s possible with determination and support from experienced guides like those at I Artist Adventure.

“I couldn’t stand on one foot”

Peter’s condition was bleak in 2017. He was fighting liver disease and uncertain about the future. Thanks to an anonymous donor, Peter was able to receive the organ he needed to survive. “I’m not being melodramatic,” Peter said. “It was either get a transplant or check out. The fact that a donor organ was available really did give me another life.” Though the hardest part of his treatment was behind him, Peter faced a long recovery. He was under 50% of his original body weight and had no muscle tone. “I was using a walker to learn to walk again,” Peter said. “I couldn’t stand on one foot. It was a long, really tough recovery.” What kept Peter going was a memory from the early ‘80s, when he worked in Kenya and first saw Mt. Kilimanjaro across the Tanzanian border. He promised himself he would climb it one day if he ever got the chance. Recovery training was that chance. “I decided, ‘I’m going to get through this. I’m going to go climb that mountain,’” Peter said.

Returning to Africa with I Artist Adventure

Years of recovery and training finally brought Peter back to East Africa. “I had a rush of memories of being in Kenya,” he recalled. “Little things like the smells in the air came back to me. I felt at ease. I was excited. I was ready to roll.” Peter joined a trek arranged by I Artist Adventure, choosing the Grand Traverse route—a challenging 10-day trek designed to maximize acclimatization. This route circumnavigates Kilimanjaro with three days spent around 13,000 feet, giving trekkers plenty of time to adjust to the altitude. Peter felt confident, though cautious. “I’d read about failed attempts and knew my weakness was aerobic,” he said. “I felt good about my muscle tone, but could my lungs fuel them?”

The Trek

The early days tested everything Peter had. Each morning started at 7 a.m., hiking through diverse terrain—gravel that felt like ball bearings, rocky paths demanding careful steps. “Kilimanjarо is not subtle,” Peter said. “She asks for all your senses, physical and mental strength. Completely and continually. Half measures will not do.” Despite no dizziness or nausea thanks to good acclimatization, Peter battled knee troubles and a torn rotator cuff. Every step required focus to avoid falls on the steep trails. Even as fatigue weighed in, Peter’s personal motto, “Never quit,” kept him moving forward. “There was zero question whether I was going to find whatever I could to keep taking one step after another,” he said. “I was going to go until I couldn’t go any further.”

Support from Porters and Guides

Behind Peter’s success was a dedicated team of 30 porters and guides arranged by I Artist Adventure. Each morning, they set out ahead, carrying tents, food, and supplies to the next campsite. By the time Peter arrived, everything was ready. “Some days, they would come back on the trail to meet us and carry our packs to camp,” Peter said. “I was and am stunned by their generosity of spirit.” Peter’s personal porter, Riziki, stayed close throughout the trek, reminding him to drink water, take breaks, and focus on each step. “He encouraged me, patted my back when I needed it,” Peter said. “The porters were so invested in our success. They called me ‘babu’ — grandfather. They were wonderful.”

“Five Miles of Mars”

On day seven, Peter reached the Saddle, a barren five-mile plateau connecting Kilimanjaro’s peaks at 14,500 feet. “It’s five miles of Mars, alpine desert,” Peter said. “I could see the giant rising from the other side.” When he asked guides if the path zig-zagged, they said, “Not exactly.” The group trudged straight up the Saddle, step after exhausting step. That night, Peter faced his toughest moment yet. “I had an unsettled feeling like, ‘Can I do this?’”

Surreal Summit at Uhuru Peak

Summit day began at 4 a.m. in darkness. Peter and his group set out with their guides and Riziki. He avoided looking up, intimidated by the mountain’s mammoth presence. Near the last thousand feet, his body sent a message: You can’t do this. “I stopped climbing with my body and started climbing with my mind and my heart,” Peter said. After eight days of trekking and years of recovery, Peter reached Uhuru Peak. The sun bathed the mountain in golden light, and calm weather greeted him. “I’ve read stories about rain and clouds at Uhuru Peak, and I was thinking, ‘How freaking lucky am I?’” Peter said. “It was a wonder I made it. I told my kids, ‘I felt like I could reach out and touch the sky.’” Peter hopes his story of recovery and triumph inspires others to believe in their own strength. “If you have a big challenge, decide you’re going to do it and never, ever quit,” he said. “If a 68-year-old grandfather with a newly transplanted liver can do it, anyone can.” Ready to experience Tanzania like never before? Book your Kilimanjaro trek or safari adventure with I Artist Adventure today and start your own incredible journey.