Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the northeastern part of Tanzania in East Africa, attracting thousands of tourists to trek its summit annually. The climb is considered safe and easy compared to other high mountains in the world, but that doesn’t mean there are no risks involved in climbing the mountain.
The beautiful mountain has five ecological climate zones. The slopes are made up of cultivated farmlands and bushlands, followed by montane rainforests, moorland and heath zones, alpine desert, and an arctic zone at the summit. Mount Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano with three volcanic zones: Mawenzi, Shira, and Kibo.
Deaths on Kilimanjaro
Climbing any of the world’s seven summits and most major mountains is quite risky. According to statistics, about 3 to 10 people die on Mount Kilimanjaro every year.
Out of the over 30,000 people who attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro every year, 10 of them die on the mountain, mainly due to altitude sickness-related issues, which is a major risk of climbing the mountain.
There are no dead bodies left on Mount Kilimanjaro because guides and porters use stretchers to descend the bodies down the mountain. Helicopters can also evacuate dead bodies from the mountain.
Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness, occurs when the body fails to acclimatize to higher altitudes while ascending. The higher you go, the thinner the oxygen gets, and your body needs enough time to produce more red blood cells to compensate. Deaths can be limited on Mount Kilimanjaro if you choose to take a longer route, which allows you to acclimatize and adapt to higher altitudes.
It’s very common for most climbers to experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness, and you must explain to your guide how you feel so that they can come up with a solution regarding whether you should continue the climb. Mild symptoms should subside as your body adjusts, and these symptoms are usually worse at nighttime. Symptoms of mild altitude sickness include nausea, fatigue, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and lack of sleep.
One of the major causes of death on Mount Kilimanjaro is hypothermia. This is a significant and dangerous drop in body temperature due to prolonged exposure to cold. Porters are usually the ones who die on Mount Kilimanjaro due to hypothermia because they don’t pack extra clothes for themselves, either because they can’t afford to or their companies don’t provide them. Ensure you pack enough warm clothes to avoid hypothermia.
Accidents are not common on Mount Kilimanjaro, but tourists using the Umbwe route, which passes through the western breach, are at risk of rockfalls. All the other routes are safe.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro can be done all year round, but the wet season is not recommended because the trails are muddy and slippery, exposing tourists to the risk of accidents that may cause death.
All tourists planning to visit Mount Kilimanjaro should book with professional and reputable companies that have experienced and knowledgeable guides who can detect altitude sickness, treat symptoms, and know when to descend to avoid severe altitude sickness. Experienced guides will conduct regular checkups for their team daily to ensure their health is suitable for climbing.
It’s recommended to drink 4 to 5 liters of water per day if you’re climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Hydrate as much as possible, as dehydration can also cause death. Also, move at your own pace while climbing because going faster exposes you to the risk of mountain sickness. You will often hear the word “pole pole,” translated to mean “slowly, slowly.”
All trekkers are also advised to undergo a proper medical check-up before climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, especially if you have respiratory or heart problems. Your doctor should recommend whether you should climb the mountain or not, as it requires one to be in good shape and healthy. Some of the people who die on the mountain do so as a result of pre-existing health issues like heart attacks and respiratory problems.
In conclusion, many deaths on Mount Kilimanjaro are preventable with proper climbing techniques. Altitude sickness, in its early stages, can be treated, and if evacuation is done before the symptoms become fatal, then the hiker has a higher chance of surviving. Book with a company that provides first aid kits and medication.
For a successful summit climb on Mount Kilimanjaro, choose longer routes, drink plenty of water daily on the mountain, dress warmly to avoid hypothermia, climb slowly to allow your body to acclimatize, and report to your guide as soon as you don’t feel well. If they advise you to descend, then listen and do just as they say.
