AMS Archives - Kilimanjaro Uncovered

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10 Possible Causes Of Death And Danger On Mount Kilimanjaro, And How to Avoid Them

Originally published: November 2016. Last updated: November 2018

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro can be a dangerous experience and there have been a few recorded deaths on Kilimanjaro. It can be even more dangerous if you are oblivious to the dangers that lead to death or coming close to it on Kilimanjaro. Much as the hostile conditions on the tallest mountain in Africa play a significant role, the human element contributes significantly, even when you travel with an ethical and fair treatment certified tour operator. A lack of prior planning and adequate preparation may be a recipe for disaster. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Failure to plan is planning to fail.” Conversely, as Confucius is said to have concluded much earlier, “Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.”

How difficult is it to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

January 22, 2018 / Alexandra Tanbai / 0 Comments

Considering its height of 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), Mount Kilimanjaro is a relatively easy mountain to climb. Its slopes are mostly gentle, and there are well-trodden paths. One can literally walk up to the summit. Even though it is common to refer to “climbing” or “trekking” Mount Kilimanjaro, technically it is more a hike or walk than a climb or trek. No mountaineering skills are required, and visitors usually do not carry more than their daypack as porters take care of the heavy-lifting.

The list of outstanding climbers is long and varied, from the currently oldest person to summit at the age of 88, to Kyle Mynard who was the first quadruple amputee to reach the summit.

These extraordinary feasts and the notion of a “walk in the park” leads many climbers to underestimate how difficult it can be to reach the summit. With an average summit success rate of only around 60%, reaching the summit is obviously not as easy as one might expect from a hike or walk.

The difficulty of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro arises from its altitude of almost 6,000 meters (20,000 feet). This puts most of the climb into the so-called “high altitude” zone which starts from 3,500 meters and above, and the summit into the “extreme high altitude” zone over 5,500 meters of elevation.

Travelling to the “high altitude” zone can lead to medical problems. Most climbers will experience symptoms of altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS), such as headaches or nausea. With increasing altitude, the symptoms can become more severe including loss of orientation or eyesight. If not treated properly, AMS can be fatal. The best treatment against AMS is immediate descent.

This is the predominant reason why climbers need to return from the mountain before reaching the summit. Sadly, for those who do not descend in time, their vacation may end lethally. An estimated 10 tourists die on Mount Kilimanjaro every year, and AMS is the main reason for those tragic fatalities.

Hence, it is imperative to be well informed about altitude sickness and the risks involved before attempting your climb, and to acclimatize well before and during your climb.

If you follow the golden rules of acclimatization and avoid the dangers of high altitude, it is not too difficult to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. With the right preparation and mental stamina, this bucket list goal should be well within reach for most of us.

How to get started? Fair Voyage will guide you step by step and help you book your climb with a qualified responsible tour operator – making responsible travel easy and adventures possible.

10 Highly Recommended Items For Your Medical Kit When Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

November 25, 2016 / Alexandra Tanbai / 0 Comments

When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, safety should always come first, because let’s be honest – there have been some recorded deaths on Kilimanjaro. And so, of course, that also includes the right medical preparations and packing a bulletproof medical kit for your Kilimanjaro climb. Please make sure to consult your specialist doctor for expert medical advice.

kilimanjaro-africa-medication-sanitation-safety

Highly Recommended For Your Medical Kit For Kilimanjaro

Based on my assessment and experience for my own purposes, I would always bring or take the following for my next Kilimanjaro climb:

Deaths on Kilimanjaro

July 30, 2016 / Alexandra Tanbai / 0 Comments

I find there is a great lack of transparency regarding Kilimanjaro’s death rate and a lot of wrong, biased or outdated media reporting. On the one hand, few incidents are over-hyped and – in my humble opinion – presenting Kilimanjaro to be more dangerous than it really is (for us tourists; when prepared for properly). On the other hand, incidents of local mountain crew (mostly porters) seem to be under-reported.

I am creating this post hoping to provide fact-based information and analysis. For possible causes of death and danger, as well as how to avoid them, please read here.

I will also update this post with my assessment of known lethal incidents soon. Meanwhile, should you wish to share any information regarding incidents you are aware of, I would greatly appreciate if you could share it here. Thank you.