Is hiking or climbing Kilimanjaro Mountain dangerous?
Is hiking or climbing Kilimanjaro Mountain dangerous? We can say that all the safari activities that are related to adventure involve a little bit of risk, and thus hiking or climbing safaris, especially to the highest African mountains, is no different. Yes, we understand that hiking or climbing offers visitors incredible fun, especially when you reach the summit of the mountain, but remember that you will be passing through high altitudes and elevations that your body is not used to, which might cause you to have some risks associated with the climbing of safaris.
The height of Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit, 19,340 feet above sea level, qualifies it as an extraordinarily high altitude, and any altitude ranging from 8,000–12,000 feet above sea level is considered a high altitude. 12,000 to 18,000 feet is a very high altitude, and 18,000 feet or above is a very high altitude. The human body becomes stressed when exposed to extreme elevations. The cause is that as we ascend the mountain higher and higher, there is progressively less oxygen available. And this is the rest of the air that we breathe, which is made up of mainly nitrogen and oxygen, and the composition of air is inconsistent irrespective of the altitude, meaning that it will be the same at sea level and same altitude.
But as we get higher, the atmospheric pressure, the measure of air pressure in the atmosphere, declines. Because there is less pressure to compress them, there are fewer nitrogen and oxygen molecules at higher altitudes. As a result, every breath we take causes the oxygen level to decrease. Hypoxia is a condition that can occur when your body isn’t getting enough oxygen. Low oxygen levels in your tissues are known as hypoxia. Several altitude ailments can result from hypoxia.
Has Mount Kilimanjaro climbing ever killed a hiker or climber?
True, there have been reports of deaths on Mount Kilimanjaro attributed to climbing sickness, but there are no official statistics on how many people have died so far. It is impossible to determine the exact number of fatalities and whether the mountain is becoming riskier or less so as time goes on. Presumably, the lack of transparency stems from the nation’s desire to avoid deterring travelers from climbing Kilimanjaro. We are thus compelled to make informed assumptions rather than be able to examine the actual risk. In this piece, we’ll try to put the fatalities on Kilimanjaro into perspective.
The annual ascent rate of Mount Kilimanjaro should be discussed first. The average number of climbers participating in the season is about 30,000, although, in some exceptional years, that number can rise to 50,000. On Mount Kilimanjaro, there are about 10 documented visitor fatalities every year. This number, however, likely represents an underestimate of the real number of fatalities because not all deaths are reported. The majority of specialists concur that the actual death toll was two to three times higher. But there is also no evidence to back up these figures.
Why do people die while climbing the Kilimanjaro Mountain?
High elevations have less oxygen, as was already mentioned. To continue working correctly in the low oxygen atmosphere, your body must adjust. Many ailments associated with high altitude that are brought on by hypoxia are the most common causes of death in the mountains. The main reasons why people die on Mount Kilimanjaro are high altitude illness (HAI) or acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema, high altitude cerebral edema, heart attack, and rock falls. High Altitude Illness, commonly referred to as Acute Mountain Sickness or altitude sickness, is brought on by the body’s inability to adjust to the lower oxygen levels rapidly enough. Climbers frequently experience some degree of altitude sickness while on their expeditions. Going too high too quickly is the main contributor to altitude sickness. Mild, moderate, or severe altitude sickness are all possible. As long as their symptoms do not increase, climbers who have mild altitude sickness symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, or shortness of breath, may continue on their journey. Severe cases of altitude sickness include high-altitude pulmonary edema and high-altitude cerebral edema. The accumulation of fluid in the lungs causes HAPE. HACE is the outcome of fluid leaks swelling brain tissue. These two ailments need to be treated right away since they both carry a high risk of death.
High altitude can have an impact on things like blood pressure. It can have an impact on the cardiovascular system by lowering blood oxygen levels while raising the heart’s workload. As a result, climbing Kilimanjaro could be risky for people who already have cardiac problems and raise their risk of complications and heart attacks. On Kilimanjaro, rock falls are uncommon but do happen occasionally. Particularly in the Western Breach, there have been tragic rock fall incidents. It should be emphasized that Kilimanjaro does not have exposure to steep drops like other mountains do. Even the imposing Barranco Wall presents no risk. So, on proven Kilimanjaro routes, the risk of going off the mountain is not real.
