Early Explorers & First Ascent

1846 - 1860s: Era of Johann Robenn & Dr. Ludwig Krapf

As early as 1846, London based Church Missionary Society representatives Johann Rebmann and Dr. Ludwig Krapf were the first Europeans to venture into the forests of Kilimanjaro to attempt its summit. In May they sighetd the mountain, a day's travel from Taveta. On their 2nd Expedition, in Novemebr they reached "Majame" and were able to describe the shape of the enormous mountain.

“There are two main peaks which arise from a common base measuring some twenty five miles by as many broad. They are separated by a saddle shaped depression, running east and west for a distance of about eight or ten miles. The eastern peak is the lower of the two, and is conical shape. Western and higher represents the magnificent dome, and is covered with snow through out the year, unlike its eastern neighbour which loses its snowy mantle during the hot season. By the swahilii at the coast call it “Kilimanjaro – mountain of greatness”. But the wa-jagga call it Kibo, from the snow with which it’s perpetually capped.

Great Debate:

The reality of snow on these twin equatorial mountains Kilimanjaro and Kenya was not at first accepted in London, and learned discussions took place on the subject took place before the royal geographic society, wrote Halford John Mackinder, the explorer to make the first ascent of Mt. Kenya. The argument was not over weather snow existed on these peaks but were these peaks tall enough to have snow.

In August 1861, German explorer Baron Karl Von der Decken and English geologist R.Thornten attempted to climb Kilimanajro and spent three days trying to penetrate the forest zone on the mountains lower slopes. They were eventually forced back by bad weather, having reached only 2500m. In 1862 Von der Decken returned with Dr. Otto Kersten. Starting from Moji (Moshi), in December the two became the first white men to climb beyond the forest zone having reached a height of 4300. “During the night it snowed heavily” Von der Decken recorded in his journal, and the next morning all lay white around us.” Von der Decken and Kersten estimated the height of Kibo at 5700m, its snow line at 4998m and its vegetation line at 3657m. They estimated Mawanzi at a height of 4953m. Their findings ended, for most part, the intense debate. By the late 1880s ascenst to the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi were common place, and the village of Marangu was generally accepted as the best starting place for attempts on Kilimanjaro, as it’s highest point on mountain that could easily be reached.

First Ascent

Hans Meyer made the first ascent in Oct 1899 with porters and two more companions