PLUCKY Tesni Francis-Parker is completing the final stages of her training in a bid to become the youngest person from Wales to climb one of the meanest and most majestic mountains in the world.

The Abergavenny 12-year-old is preparing to pack her climbing boots and gear and head half way around the world to tackle Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

Tesni, who attends Welsh medium Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Iscoed, and enjoys geography and PE, regularly climbs in the Brecon Beacons.

Tesni will make her school half-term attempt on the 19,340 ft Tanzanian monster with her global mountaineer accountant dad Gary.

Tesni and Gary fly out to Tanzania on Saturday, February 23 and start their six day ascent and two day descent of Mt KIlimanjaro on Monday, February 25.

Keen swimmer Tesni, a member of City of Newport Swimming and Water Polo club who trains six times a week, said, “In Wales I have climbed Snowdon, Pen-y-fan, Blorenge, Sugar loaf and Skirrid.

“I can climb up mountains from where I live in Abergavenny. I go up the local mountains a few times a week sometimes with mum and sometimes with all of us and my brother Jon and sister, Sarah. One day, for training, I went up Skirrid four times.

“Last year I went with my mum and Dad on a road trip through Spain, Pyrenees, Italy and back through France. We went up Mt Vesuvius and some mountains in the Pyrenees and Chamonix. We always go up mountains when we go on holiday.”

How do you feel about travelling to Africa and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro? “I’m excited and a little nervous.”

And how does Tesni, who enjoys swimming, walking and playing with her dog, Mabs and becomes a teenager on March 22, feel about becoming the youngest Welsh person to climb Mt Kilimanjaro?

“It’s not the most important thing but I think it will be a good thing to have done at the beginning of my mountaineering experiences. I want to climb more mountains afterwards especially in the Alps after going to Chamonix last year.

“Dad has climbed Kilimanjaro a few times and leads groups up there. I will feel safe with him. Dad says I should see giraffe and monkeys and maybe elephants on the first days on the mountain. I’m hoping we can do a safari after so that I can see lions. Maybe we’ll go to Tanzania’s Ngorongoro National Park.”

What do your friends think about your adventure? “One says don’t go its dangerous and others say I am lucky. I think I’m lucky.”

And how about your teachers? “They don’t know, yet.”

Gary is MD of Parker and Co Accountants, Waterside Court, Crindau, Newport, who leads mountaineering expeditions around the globe, has climbed Kilimanjaro six times. He says that business is an adventure – you should enjoy it.

Gary, aged 63, said, “I first climbed it by the Western Breach Route which is more of a mountaineering climb than the others some years ago. I have also climbed the Umbwe route, Machame Route a few times and the Rongai Route in 2013 when I was involved in a rescue.”

Gary, who has previously competed in Ultra events such as the Everest Marathon, Likeys 6633, Marathon de Sables and the North Pole Marathon, said, “Tesni has shown an enthusiastic interest in the mountains and I want to encourage her spirit. She was the one who suggested we could climb Kilimanjaro.

“Kilimanjaro is 19,340 feet above sea level and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. The main thing I will need to keep an eye on with Tesni is acclimatising for the altitude. At sea level there is about 21% oxygen in the air but at 20,000 feet there is less than 10%. The body has to take time to get used to this. I will be putting an extra rest day in at about 14,000 feet to help the acclimatisation process.

“Tesni loves the mountains and we walk in the mountains locally weekly. She is very determined. I think her swimming training helps with the cardio too. It’ll be just me and Tesni on this expedition.

“I’m thrilled that Tesni is following in my footsteps so to speak but I have never forced her to do any of this but I love to see the pleasure she gets out of going to the mountains and the sense of freedom it gives her. I hope it continues to give her pleasure and to make her happy.

“We will on the mountain for nine days and will hopefully be able to enjoy a two-day safari afterwards. Tesni has one week off for half term and then we are taking her out of school for a week too. But this is a life changing and indeed educational trip. She will learn about Africa, the people there and she will learn something about herself as well.

“I’m confident Tesni is strong enough and determined enough to accomplish success on this mountain. It will be a great start to her mountaineering career. I was 27 when I started!”

Gary says he believes adventure must be in Tesni’s genes. As well as his own treks and adventures to the four corners of the globe her mother Liz is an international runner and Welsh Champion and has also climbed Kilimanjaro.