A BARRY 11-year-old has scaled Africa's highest mountain.

Ieuan Donovan, of Hunter's Ridge, set out to scale the massive Kilimanjaro on Boxing Day and finally reached the summit, which stands at 5,895 metres, on December 30.

He completed the climb with his mum Linda, who works for a local health board, and dad Paul, who is employed as a mountain guide for trekking companies Jagged Globe and Adventureworks.

Ieuan told the News: "Am I glad to be back? Yes and no. It was a fantastic experience, even if it meant spending time away from home, although we did have roast turkey on Christmas Day before setting out for Kilimanjaro."

He added: "It was really windy when we walked along the crater rim but it was fine once we reached the top."

Dad Paul added: "Ieuan acclimatised really quickly and had no problems at all getting to the top. At night temperatures fell to about minus twenty. We had really clear skies which gave us some fantastic views."

The expedition took six days to complete with the group taking the Umbwe route to the top which is the most spectacular and involves a lot of scrambling.

Ieuan, who is a pupil at Ysgol Iolo Morganwg, in Cowbridge, trekked through dense jungle and made his way through changing eco-systems before reaching the formidable Breach Wall, a 2,000-ft verticle precipice draped with hanging glaciers and icicles.

After completing the climb Ieuan and his parents went on a four-day safari and wound down with a visit to Zanzibar Island.

Throughout the trip the group ate fresh local food prepared by Tanzanian cooking staff.

Kilimanjaro, an extinct volcano, is the highest freestanding mountain in the world.

Ieuan has completed an impressive list of treks which includes summits in the Slovakian Alps, the French Alps, Scotland and the Lake District.

He is also a member of the City of Cardiff swim squad and the Cardiff Triathlon Club.