Icelandic paraglider Anita Hafdís Björnsdóttir will be among a group of 200 adventurers from across the world who will attempt to jump from the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, next January.

Photos courtesy of Anita Hafdís.

The Tanzanian government has granted the group, led by Australian paraglider pilot Adrian McRae, permission to paraglide from the mountain, an activity which is usually banned.

The aim of the group, called Wings of Kilimanjaro, is to raise USD 1 million (ISK 123 million, EUR 772,000) for three charities working in Tanzania.

The group will take their time making their way to the 5,895-meter peak of Kilimanjaro. According to a press release from Anita Hafdís, around 25 percent of those who attempt to climb Kilimanjaro fail due to altitude sickness. The team will be aided by more than 1,000 porters, guides and crew.

Paragliding over Skálafell in Iceland.

Over 300 pilots from 60 countries applied to take part in the project, of which 150 pilots have been accepted after a strict screening process to ensure participants have the necessary experience to take part in the jump.

Anita Hafdís has been traveling the world for the past five years and is based in South Africa for part of the year where she teaches paragliding. She is hoping to raise USD 5,000 (ISK 613,000, EUR 3,900) which will go to the three charities chosen by Wings of Kilimanjaro: The One Foundation, which works with schools in the Kilimanjaro region; Plant With Purpose, which focuses on creating alternatives to deforestation in the area around the mountain; and WorldServe International, which specializes in safe water projects.

Anita Hafdís has been updating her followers on Facebook of her rigorous exercise program in the lead-up to the event.

For more information about the project visit Anita’s Facebook page and blog.

ZR