First day of celebrity Comic Relief trek kicks off in Kenya
The've swapped their cosy
lifestyles for a gruelling trek across the Kaisut desert in Kenya - and today saw the first part of the arduous celebrity charity challenge for Comic Relief.
Strictly Come Dancing singer Kara Tointon ditched her dancing shoes for some rather hefty hiking boots, and was joined by trek teammates including, Dermot O' Leary, Craig David, Lorraine Kelly, Scott Mills, Olly Murs, Nadia Sawalha, Peter White, and comedian Ronni Ancona.
The nine-strong team of stars arrived in the capital Nairobi last week before a nerve-shattering ride in a light aircraft bumpily took them to their start point in the barren north.
After a day acclimatising themselves to the harsh temperatures, the team set off with the plan of covering 100 kilometres in just five days in searing temperatures of up to 38C, which plunge again at night.
But it's not the temperatures we'd be worrying about - the area contains some of Africa's deadliest snakes, including black mambas and puff adders.
The celebs will be accompanied by a host of camels on-hand to carry their gear on the trip, which sees the stars raising money for poverty-stricken communities in the UK and across Africa.
Blind BBC presenter Peter White will also be helping to raise awareness about people who's sight is threatened or impaired, highlighting the issues faces by those losing their sight or in need of urgent eye care as they meet people suffering from eye problems on the journey.
A documentary about the trek will be broadcast on BBC1 in the run up to Red Nose Day on March 18.
And if you aren't doing something funny for money, contribute to Comic Relief by sponsoring the team at rednoseday.com/trek
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