African Majestic Adventure

Who was the first person to climb Kilimanjaro?

The true story of Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller, and the unsung African heroes of 1889

For centuries, the Chagga people who lived on Kilimanjaro’s fertile slopes never attempted the summit – they believed the icy peak was a throne of their god Ruwa, too sacred to tread. The first recorded ascent did not happen until October 6, 1889, when a German geographer, an Austrian mountaineer, and a team of local porters finally stood on the highest point of Africa. But the full story is more complex, more human, and more fascinating than a single date.

The men who reached the top

The first two Europeans to conquer Kilimanjaro were Hans Meyer (German geographer) and Ludwig Purtscheller (Austrian mountaineer), assisted by a Chagga chief named Mansur and a team of over 80 porters. Meyer had attempted the mountain twice before – in 1887 he was forced to turn back due to lack of equipment; in 1888 he was taken prisoner during a local rebellion. But on his third attempt, with Purtscheller’s alpine experience, they succeeded.

“We stood on the summit of Africa. A feeling of indescribable exaltation seized us. The sun rose, and the shadow of Kilimanjaro fell like a dark spear across the plains below.” – Hans Meyer, from his memoirs

But were they truly the first?

There is compelling evidence that local Chagga people may have reached the snowline centuries earlier – and possibly the summit itself. In the 1880s, a German missionary named Johannes Rebmann reported that Chagga elders spoke of a “white mountain” that could be climbed in a day (a clear exaggeration, but suggesting knowledge of the upper zones). Oral traditions mention a warrior named Orombo who reportedly ascended the peak in the early 1800s, though no written record exists. However, without documented proof, Meyer and Purtscheller are officially recognised as the first climbers to stand on Kaiser-Wilhelm-Spitze (later renamed Uhuru Peak).

Did you know? Meyer and Purtscheller named the highest point “Kaiser-Wilhelm-Spitze”. After Tanzania’s independence in 1961, it was renamed “Uhuru Peak” – Swahili for “Freedom Peak”.

The unsung heroes: African porters

While history remembers two European names, the ascent would have been impossible without the extraordinary efforts of local porters – men who carried supplies, cooked meals, and built camps at altitudes that would challenge any modern climber. Chief Mansur (also called Mangi Rindi) provided protection and logistical support. The porters endured freezing nights without proper gear, yet their names are rarely mentioned in expedition journals. Today, organisations like the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) work to ensure that modern porters are paid fairly and treated with dignity – a small thank‑you for the role their forefathers played in making history.

The route they took

Meyer and Purtscheller climbed via the Marangu route (now known as the “Coca‑Cola” route), but their itinerary was far longer than today’s standard. They spent weeks acclimatising, and they constructed two makeshift huts that later became the foundation for the modern Mandara and Horombo huts. Their summit bid started at midnight, just as climbers do today, and they reached the top at 3 am – not for a sunrise view, but because the snow was hardest (safer to walk on) at night.

What happened after the first ascent

Meyer returned to Germany a national hero. He later published a book, “Across East Africa”, which sparked European fascination with Kilimanjaro. Purtscheller continued mountaineering in the Alps and the Andes. The first woman to summit Kilimanjaro came later – Sheila MacDonald (British) in 1927. The first widely recognised African climber (after the porters) was a Chagga guide named John P. “Lema”, recorded as reaching the summit in the 1920s.

Timeline of key ascents

  • 1889 – Hans Meyer & Ludwig Purtscheller (first recorded ascent)
  • 1927 – Sheila MacDonald (first woman)
  • 1930s – First documented African guides reach the summit (names lost to history)
  • 1961 – Uhuru Peak renamed after Tanzanian independence
  • 1989 – Centenary celebrations; over 1,000 climbers in a single year
  • Today – 35,000+ climbers attempt Kilimanjaro annually

Travelers’ Most Asked Questions

Was there any earlier European attempt before Meyer?
Yes. In 1861, German explorer Baron Karl von der Decken reached 4,300 m (14,000 ft) on the eastern slope. In 1887, German geologist Hans Meyer (first attempt) got to 5,400 m before lack of gear forced retreat. The Scottish missionary Charles New also explored the mountain but never attempted the summit.
Did any African climb Kilimanjaro before the Europeans?
Almost certainly yes. The Chagga people lived on the mountain for centuries; oral traditions speak of warriors who reached the “place of ice”. However, no written records exist, so the claim cannot be proven. The first verifiable African summits came with the early European expeditions, where local guides often went all the way to the top.
What equipment did Meyer and Purtscheller use?
They carried iron-tipped alpenstocks (early ice axes), heavy woollen clothing, leather boots with hobnails, and primitive canvas tents. No down jackets, no GPS, no modern waterproofing. Their iron pitons and rope were state‑of‑the‑art at the time.
How long did the 1889 expedition take?
The entire expedition from the coast (Pangani) to the summit and back lasted about 40 days. The actual climb from the mountain’s base to the peak took over two weeks – far longer than today’s 6‑8 day routes.
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