More couples exchange marriage vows on Africa’s roof

 

 

Bridegroom Richard Miller is seen putting a wedding ring to Sara Lee's finger,his bride,on of top of Mountain Kilimanjaro on Sunday

 Tourism  authorities on Monday commended the move by two American nationals to exchange vows on the Africa's highest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This came a day after the two American nationals -- Richard Miller and Sara Lee -- exchanged vows on Mount Kilimanjaro, located in the northern part of Tanzania to fulfill their long-time dream.

 

Pascal Shelutete, a spokesperson of Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), described the event as unique that needs to be emulated by other stakeholders in tourism industry and ordinary people in and outside the East African nation.

"We have never experienced such wedding held on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro," Shelutete said.

 

Cyril Akko, executive officer of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), also hailed the move which he said is unique in the Tanzania's history.

He said: "The event is going to be catalyst that would promote Tanzania's tourist destinations across the globe."

"Sometimes back during the last Christmas in Minnesota, United States of America, we had an engagement event with my hubby Richard Miller and committed ourselves that the wedding event must be done on the roof top of Africa and this is none other than Kilimanjaro Mountain," Lee said.

 

"Thereafter, we started planning for this historic and unique event by raising money for our trip to Tanzania and in particular Mount Kilimanjaro," she said, noting that their parents and other relatives were aware of the wedding plan.

Miller and Lee arrived in Tanzania last week and started their seven-day Kilimanjaro expedition through Machame route on September 20, spending an overnight at Machame Hut waiting eagerly for their wedding on the following day.

 

On Monday, Richard and Lee proceeded with their Kilimanjaro climb up to Baranco point and they are expected to summit on the rooftop of Mount Kilimanjaro today, and to descend through Mweka Gate tomorrow.

This is not the first time couples are exchanging their vows on the roof of Africa.

 

In 2011, having not wanted to organise a traditional wedding ceremony, a happy couple, Larry Holt and Victoria, climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro where they exchanged their vows as the sun rose over the famous 19,000 ft peak.

They were joined by a party of 30 guides and daring friends and relatives as they officially became man and wife on December 1.

 

Instead of a big white dress and a dapper morning suit, the bride and groom kept wrapped up in warm climbing gear – only donning a veil and a top hat to mark the special occasion.

The couple, from Redgrave, near Diss, then spent the first night of their married life huddled together in a tiny tent with two thick sleeping bags before heading down the slope and back home.

 

Holt, 34, a business advisor, first met her future husband through work about 16 years ago. They got back in contact about three years ago and Holt, 51, an automotive engineer from Canada, proposed in the spring.

“One day, right out of the blue, Larry popped the big question and asked if I’d marry him and then uttered the immortal words of ‘I thought we could do it on top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania’,” said Holt.

 

 “He swapped his suit and me my wedding dress for climbing boots and gaiters for what must have been the most challenging and arguably the most romantic exchanging of vows at 5,895 metres.”

She said 300 guests, plus their partners, were invited to join them on the climb, but most – somewhat understandably – decided to graciously decline the offer.