Arusha — PRINCESS Sarah Abdullah, Daughter of Jordanian King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein, was forced to abandon her quest to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro when the mountain proved tough for her.

The 18-year old princess gave up the feat after succumbing to mountain illness, despite being escorted by a huge number of guides, minders, medical personnel and other staff. She managed to reach the 4,700 metres Kibo point before she and the entourage of 24 people made an about-turn last weekend.

Many of the people in her team happened to be students from Jordan's international schools who had also planned to climb Africa's highest peak in the Moshi District of Kilimanjaro region as well as visit the legendary Ngorongoro Crater in the Ngorongoro District of Arusha.

Despite not reaching the summit at Uhuru point (peaking at 5,895 metres) the Executive Director of Big Expedition and Safaris, Nicholas Minja, who handled the team's mission to Kilimanjaro, said the princess described her experience as interesting and successful.

The Jordanian princess, however, won't be getting any certificate of achievement because such a document is only provided to climbers who succeed to reach the highest peak. "She couldn't reach the peak because the weather was not friendly and in fact she got ill during the expedition and had to be escorted down the mountain.

"However, three other people who accompanied her managed to reach the Uhuru summit," pointed out Mr Minja. He said the whole team fell ill, prompting doctors who accompanied them to advise all the 21 climbers, including the princess to call off their ascending trip and start descending down to the base promptly.

The princess, however, vowed to make another trip to Tanzania in the future and try again her mission to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro, according to sources.