Eight-Year-Old Bosnian girl climbs North Africa's highest peak

The family from Sarajevo is known for their deep love of sports and pushing boundaries, and they crossed one such boundary this May when they climbed the highest mountain peak in North Africa.

It was a feat by which the Avdic family, in a unique way, wrote a new page in the history of mountaineering in Bosnia and Herzegovina and on the African continent, as Nia, at just eight years old, according to official records, became the youngest Bosnian citizen to successfully summit the 4,167-meter-high Mount Toubkal in Morocco.

“The climb to the summit of Toubkal usually takes three days. We managed to complete it in two. Everything went according to plan, without any unforeseen situations. On the first day, we hiked from the base village at 1,800 meters up to 3,200 meters. We camped at that location overnight, and then around four in the morning we headed toward the summit. The peak is at 4,167 meters, and we reached it around seven o'clock. Usually, after summiting, people return to the 3,200-meter lodge to spend the night before heading back to the village. But we immediately returned to the starting point, and from there went to Marrakesh, which is actually the central hub for all climbing activity,” said Adin Avdic, who, together with his wife Naida, has years of experience in conquering some of the world’s highest peaks.

Still, in Morocco, the real star was eight-year-old Nia. A girl who from an early age has shown a talent for sports, swimming, gymnastics, and karate, she drew admiration from everyone on the “black continent.”

“People were truly amazed, they supported her, and we as parents were proud. Nia is the youngest person from Bosnia and Herzegovina to have climbed Mount Toubkal, and surely one of the youngest in the world to do so since this peak can no longer be climbed without an agency permit issued by the Moroccan government. Tourist agencies organizing these climbs are required to register all climbers. This regulation was introduced by the government to reduce the number of accidents,” said her mother Naida, who two years ago became the first woman from BiH to climb Ama Dablam.

The Avdic couple has already conquered the highest peak in Europe, Mount Elbrus, and are now making plans for new achievements with their daughter.

“The goal for this year is for Nia to summit all the highest peaks of the Balkans. She has already climbed Triglav, Maglic, the highest peak of Bulgaria – Musala, and Dinara in Croatia… Next are Serbia, Albania, Romania, Greece…” explained Aldin Avdic, adding that their long-term goal is Mount Everest.