Quick Facts about Kilimanjaro

Perhaps you’re interested in learning more about Mt. Kilimanjaro, whether you plan to climb it or have already made arrangements for your ascent. While you’re likely prioritizing the practical details of your trip, it’s worth exploring some fascinating facts about this iconic mountain. For starters, do you know where Mt. Kilimanjaro is located? Read on for some insights that may inspire you as you prepare for your own summit.

Climate

According to some suggestions, trekking from the base to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro is comparable to traversing from the equator to the North Pole, due to the diverse climate zones you encounter along the way.

One of the world’s seven summit

The Seven Summits refer to the highest peaks on each continent, which exhibit significant variations in elevation, topography, and climbing complexity. While some aspire to hike all seven summits, others aim to achieve the Adventurer’s Grand Slam, which involves visiting both the North and South Poles in addition to climbing the Seven Summits.

Summit success rate

Despite the significant number of people who attempt to climb Kilimanjaro each year, estimated to be at least 30,000, the summit is not as crowded as one might expect. However, it’s challenging to determine the exact percentage of climbers who successfully reach the peak as Kilimanjaro National Park doesn’t disclose this information. Instead, we rely on data provided by other tour operators.
Nonetheless, we do know that longer routes tend to have higher success rates. This is because altitude-related complications are the leading cause of climbers failing to reach the summit. By allowing more time for acclimatization, longer routes enable the body to adjust to the altitude, increasing the chances of success for well-acclimated climbers, provided they do not experience any medical conditions or injuries

Made of 3 volcanic cones

As previously mentioned, Kilimanjaro’s origin is attributed to volcanic activity. The mountain once comprised of three distinct volcanic cones: Kibo, Shira, and Mawenzi.
Kibo, the tallest and central cone at 19,340 feet (5,895 meters), houses Kilimanjaro’s summit. It was formed approximately 460,000 years ago.

Mawenzi, the third highest peak in Africa, is a rugged peak that offers breathtaking views along the Rongai and Northern Circuit routes. It stands at 16,893 feet (5,149 meters), after Kibo and Mount Kenya (12,549 feet or 3,825 meters).

Shira, the westernmost cone, is no longer a peak. It once reached a height of around 16,000 feet (4,877 meters) before its collapse, resulting in the formation of the Shira Plateau. The Machame, Lemosho, and Shira routes cross this unique feature of the mountain.

Altitude and Oxygen

At an altitude of 19,340 feet (5,895 meters), the amount of oxygen in the air is roughly half of what it is at sea level. This is due to a decrease in atmospheric pressure at higher elevations. Although the air still contains 20.8% oxygen, it is less available due to the lower atmospheric pressure.

This decrease in atmospheric pressure and availability of oxygen can result in complications such as Acute Mountain Sickness, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema.

Record of the fastest climber.

6hours and 42 minutes in 2014 by the Swiss KARL EGLOF Sheila McDonald is the first woman to summit Kilimanjaro

The inaugural female climber to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro was a Scottish woman who had spent her childhood scaling peaks in Scotland with her father. She had also climbed Mount Etna in Sicily before traveling to Africa to visit relatives.

She joined a group of adventurers and began her ascent of Kilimanjaro. Allegedly, to maintain her strength during the climb, she consumed champagne and whiskey. Despite her traveling companions abandoning their summit attempt, she persevered and ultimately succeeded on September 27, 1927.

Yohani Lauwo and Hans Mayer was the first summit

The first known efforts by Europeans to climb Kilimanjaro started in the mid to late 19th century. Baron Carl Claus von der Decken, a German explorer, journeyed to the interior in 1861 and met a British geologist named Richard Thornton. Together, they undertook the perilous journey to Kilimanjaro and surveyed the area, estimating the mountain to be around 20,000 feet high. Notably, Thornton was the first person to suggest that the mountain was a volcano.

Hans Meyer was credited with the first official ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. However, his initial attempt in 1887 was unsuccessful, as he couldn’t climb an enormous ice wall at around 18,000 feet. Undeterred, he returned to Tanzania in 1889 with the help of experienced Alpine climber Ludwig Purscheller, a team of porters, and a local guide named Yohani Lauwo from Marangu.

On October 6th, 1889, Meyer and Lauwo reached the summit for the first time. Lauwo went on to guide expeditions on Kilimanjaro for an astonishing 70 years, living to the incredible age of 125.
It is worth noting that after Meyer and Lauwo’s successful climb in 1889, it took another two decades for the next recorded ascent in 1909.

Glaciers

The glaciers on Kilimanjaro have been around for approximately 11,700 years, but today they are a shadow of their former selves. In the late 19th century, the entirety of Kibo’s summit was blanketed in glacial ice, but this is no longer the case.

According to research conducted by the European Geosciences Union, between 1912 and 2011, up to 85% of the glacial ice has melted. In 1912, the glacial coverage was approximately 11.4 square kilometers, but by 2011, only 1.76 square kilometers of glacial ice remained.

If current climate conditions persist, it is predicted that there will be no ice cap on Kibo by the year 2060.

Routes

Currently, there are seven established routes that lead climbers to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Climbers are required to use one of these routes as it is not permitted to create one’s own route.

From the southern side, the three routes are Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe. From the western side, climbers can take the Lemosho, Shira, or Northern Circuit routes, which begin from the west but circle around to the north. Climbers can also take the Rongai route from the northern side.

All of these routes lead to one of three main base camps that are used for the final summit attempt. Climbers can reach the summit from three main routes: the southern route via Stella Point, the eastern route via Gillman’s Point, and the western route via the technically challenging Western Breach.

There are two established descent routes: Marangu and Mweka, the latter of which is solely used for descending.

Deaths on Kilimanjaro

The National Parks Authority does not publish statistics on fatalities, but it is estimated that between 3-6 deaths occur on Mount Kilimanjaro each year, although some sources report a higher figure. While tourist deaths are usually reported in the press, porters may also perish.

Most deaths are caused by altitude-related complications, although some ill-equipped porters have died from hypothermia. It is crucial to climb with an operator who prioritizes staff welfare to prevent such tragedies.

Additionally, rock slides at the base of the Western Breach have caused fatalities in the past, with four climbers losing their lives between 2006-2007. Some porters have also contracted malaria before setting off and have succumbed to the disease.

To mitigate risks, it is essential to monitor the health of all climbers, including guides, porters, and tourists, on a daily basis while on the mountain.