10/08/2026
The History of Reaching the Glaciers of Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro, standing at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level, is the highest mountain in Africa. Its highest point, Uhuru Peak, is located on Kibo, the highest of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanic cones.
The history of reaching the summit goes back to the 19th century. In 1887, the German explorer Hans Meyer made his first attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, but he was unable to reach the summit because of the difficult ice, snow, and steep terrain.
In 1889, Hans Meyer returned with the Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller, together with local guides and porters, including the legendary Tanzanian climber Yohana Lauwo. On 6 October 1889, they successfully reached the summit of Kilimanjaro.