How is that 8 dads from California and one New Jersey dad ranging from ages 39-55 years and a one 23 year old chef end up in Masai Mara plains of Africa for 3 day safari after which a Sumit bid of Kilimanjaro will be attempted? Good question.

Background; My lovely wife Vinita as a 40th birthday present in March 2010 gave me the opportunity to go to Kilimanjaro. Backing up 1 month, taking us to February 2010; as I was volunteering in my kids school, I was moaning to another volunteer mom that I was turning 40 and wanted to do something special. After all statistically I was halfway through my life. The mom I was chatting with was Emma. I still remember the moment as time was slowed down, "Obie, my husband John is climbing Kilimanjaro in October and it might be a fun thing to do, you should meet him sometime". Emma uttered her words in a heavy, upper class British accent as though climbing Kilimanjaro was the only civilized and meaningful thing to do for my 40th. So this is how the idea was born. In my mind, since I never met John, I expected John to be a rugged looking, serious mountain man with no patience for tomfoolery. After a few months of knowing John this image of rugged faded very quickly. Next stage was to ask all my friends to join. I think I asked about 15 people, 8 of which agreed. Though their wives look at me with disdain for putting such ideas in the heads of their husbands, I think it will be a good trip for all. In all seriousness, starting with my own, I was pleasantly very surprised at the strong support the wives provided to make the trip happen for their husbands. I am sure the wives will give such support when next year we head to eastern Europe for Ian's 40th.

So who finally ended up committing;

Hal - CFO of a insurance company, Hal brings 0 years of high altitude climbing and 0 years of African local knowledge. However he is the 2nd oldest member of the group and has the best camera equipment. If Hal only knew how to use it.

Jim - Jim is a CMO (Chief Medical Officer) of a emerging pharmaceutical company. Jim also brings 0 years of high altitude experience, though Jim does some local African knowledge. Jim is the oldest member of our group. Jim is not a practicing doctor his surgery skills should be intact even afters years of typing on computers.

Dave - CFO of an another pharmaceutical company, Dave has climbed Kilimanjaro many years ago as a 22 year old freewheeling, hippi and recent B-school graduate. Dave is the third oldest and brings local African knowledge to the team but no one knows for sure what "enhanced" state of mind Dave was in while traveling throughout Africa. Dave decided skip the Safari portion and hang with his brother in London planningk to meet up with us in Arusha, Tanzania.

Hector - Hector is the guy you go to if the s*** hits the fan in Africa. Being that Hector works for the Navy as a military doctor he should be able to summon the US Navy Seals in case we have some trouble with the local militia. Or he will get us arrested for being a foreign military spy.

John - our fearless (or full of fear) leader. John as owner of Aardvark Safaris is the one that helped arrange this entire sadistic trip. I can not tell you how much fun it is to give the tour operator s*** about minute details; "oh, I don't like this brand of water", "oh, I lost my luggage", "I can't reach the itch on my ass can you help", "why is it so cold in Africa", "I want see Leopard and Crocodiles". On and on and on. Furthermore, John's extraordinary planning has us avoiding the start of he rainy season ....