The summit was first reached by the Marangu army scout, Johannes Kinyala Lauwo, who climbed it nine times  before realising there was a crater. Lauwo served as a guide for the first ascent by nonindigenous climbers, German Hans Meyer and Austrian Ludwig Purtscheller, on October 6, 1889.

Two other peaks are also extinct volcanoes: Mawenzi (5,149 metres), the third highest peak in Africa (after Mount Kenya) and Shira (3,962 m). Johannes’ Notch is named after Lauwo.
In 1989 Lauwo was presented with a house at Ashira Marangu by the West German government in recognition of his role on the Meyer expedition. His relative, Trilas Lauwo (1952- ) was the first Tanzanian woman to reach the summit via the Mweka route in 1972.

An ascent of Mawenzi requires rock climbing and/or snow/ice climbing skills. The climb to Uhuru Peak is considered to be a relatively straightforward endeavour; however, ample time must still be provided for proper acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness.
The three easiest routes, Marangu, Rongai and Machame can be climbed by a person of good health, and require no mountaineering experience. Many who climb employ altitude-sickness medication and find this to be helpful in preventing the pounding headaches that plague many travellers.

Those who travel on the Marangu route usually take 4-5 days to complete their climb. Huts with cooking facilites, bathrooms, and (sometimes) electricity are available at the end of each day’s journey. The final part of the climb, from Kibo hut at 15,500 ft. to the summit, is generally undertaken at night, because the scree is frozen together, making the climb significantly easier.


Gilman’s Point, on the rim of the crater, but about 1 ½ hours hike from Uhuru, is attained at 5:00 - 6:00 am; those who have the strength to continue may then hike on to Uhuru in the growing sunlight and rising temperatures.
Another route is the Western Breach, which is much more technical in nature.



The rapidly retreating Furtwängler Glacier is near the summit.

The sign at the top is covered in travel stickers from past trekkers who have left their mark on the top of the peak. Near this famous sign is a box containing a log that many climbers have signed.


Due to the equatorial location as well as huge height, climbers can experience almost every climate type on earth during the journey to the top. Kilimanjaro is also the highest point in the world to be covered by a GSM mobile phone network.
Mount Kilimanjaro was the inspiration and backdrop for Ernest Hemingway’s classic short story The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1936). He also wrote a non-fiction account of his safari experiences in the 1950’s, posthumously published as Under Kilimanjaro (2005).

Mount Kilimanjaro is mentioned in Toto’s 1982 hit, Africa (“I know that I must do what’s right, sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti”).


 

We also run several other gap year climbing programmes.