Climbing Kilimanjaro

I will be climbing Kilimanjaro as part of an organised trek with German-based mountain operator Adventure Train. Our group will consist of between 8-12 climbers, a head guide, assistant guide, cook and a number of local porters. For a group of 12 climbers there should be around 35 staff.

Despite the misconceptions, climbing Kilimanjaro can be dangerous. In normal weather conditions, climbers run a risk of death less than 1 in 5000. The main issue on the mountain is altitude sickness. No trekking below 5,000m altitude can prepare you for this. It is believed that almost all climbers suffer from some form of altitude sickness, although the severity varies. Approximately 25% suffer symptoms severe enough to warrant their immediate removal to lower altitudes. Fingers crossed I am one of the other 75%!  

Statistics show that having two nights rest between your flight and climb instead of one nights rest increases your chances of success by a 5% estimate. Thankfully I arrive on the morning of July 23rd and do not begin my climb until the morning of 25th July.

Rather than travelling to Kilimanjaro straight away I will be climbing nearby Mount Meru (14,981ft/4566m) which will help me to acclimatise. Climbing Mount Meru not only improves my chances of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, but also means I should find the ascent less demanding and ultimately more rewarding.

There are a number of ways to approach and climb Kilimanjaro. Since independent trekking was banned in 1991, all trekkers must now follow one of the established routes, of which there are ten.


Kilimanjaro: Facts and Figures

Location: Tanzania
Coordinates: S3° 04’ E37° 21’
Elevation: 5,895 metres (19,340 feet)
Facts: Uhuru Peak is Africa’s highest peak
Facts: Kilimanjaro comprises of 3 dormant volcanoes. Kibo (5895 metres), Mawenzi (5149 metres) and Shira (3962 metres).


Kilimanjaro – A Brief History

The geographical origin of the Kilimanjaro massif is strictly related to the formation of the Rift Valley, dating back to the early Pleistocene, about one and a half million years ago. Since those times the mountain's volcanic activity was merely concentrated in three locations: the craters of Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi. They evolved separately but, a few hundreds of thousands of years ago, their summits were all above 5000mt. Slowly Shira first, and Mawenzi later on, became extinct, whereas only Kibo remains active.

Kibo’s eruptions covered up with lava parts of the eroded Shira crater, originating the plain today known as “Shira Plateau” and creating the almost flat lava plain called “The Saddle”, towards Mawenzi.

Kibo’s last eruption occurred 100,000 years ago, when it reached a height of more the 5,900 metres. In all, nine lava groups associated with earlier eruptions have been identified by geologists. At present Kibo is a dormant active volcano: a strong sulphur smell sometimes prevails inside the crater and fumaroles still escape from the inner ash pit.

The origin of the name “Kilimanjaro” is still shrouded in mystery. In Kiswahili, the word Kilima literally means "small hill", while -najaro means "greatness". The last word also means "caravan" in Kichagga, the language of the skilled people settled around the lower slopes. According to ancient myths, Njaro is also the name of a fearful demon who was living on the summit. Last but not least: for the Waswahili people, drivers of caravans during the past centuries, the word Kilimajyaro was meaning “landmark”.