What Happens at the Top of Mt. Kilimanjaro?

What Happens at the Top of Mount Kilimanjaro? Kilimanjaro is Kilimanjaro’s highest peak. Nighttime trekking will always be a challenge, no matter the situation! A day-long ascent is required to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. At midnight, the last Mount Kilimanjaro climb begins. In contrast to how pleasant the days are, Kilimanjaro Summit Night is incredibly taxing. The 4,000-foot climb begins in the middle of the night and is followed by a chilly, dark, and windy descent. A celebration at the summit is followed by a 9,000-foot descent for the climbers. If you’ve adapted effectively, the altitude might not hinder you. However, the sheer amount of energy needed to climb to the top might wear you out.

When we see pictures of the top of Kilimanjaro, they are typically of exhausted but elated climbers posing in front of the Uhuru Peak sign to commemorate their incredible accomplishment. However, there is much more to this beautiful mountain’s peak than just the signboard. What distinguishes the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro from other mountains, then? Why is it special? Continue reading to discover what happens at the summit of this enormous mountain.

You will start your ascent of Kilimanjaro at night and head towards Uhuru Peak. Some refer to it as Kilimanjaro Summit Night, while others refer to it as Summit Day. Both are correct because the climb begins at night and ends in the day. You will climb almost halfway back down the mountain after finishing your Kilimanjaro Trek to the summit. You will be fumbling through the deepest portion of the night on summit day. However, with the assistance of your guides, you can survive the fabled summit night and witness Uhuru Peak’s sunrise as it rises over the horizon. The hardest day of trekking is the summit day, which will put you to the test in every way.

Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo, the highest of the three cones that make up Mount Kilimanjaro, are stratovolcanoes. The last eruption of Kibo, a dormant volcano, took place about 200,000 years ago, leaving the caldera and nearly symmetrical cone that can be seen today (crater). The Reusch Ash Pit, an inner crater or ash pit located inside the caldera, is the actual center of the volcano and where sulfurous gases continue to vent, reminding us of the mountain’s volcanic past. Massive glaciers that once entirely covered Kibo’s peak formed in this crater during the previous ice age. When comparing images from today with those of Kilimanjaro, it is evident that the glaciers are melting.

The difficulty of falling asleep at night increases with altitude: That’s because people’s breathing may become labored due to the decreased oxygen. Because it is preferable to climb to the peak rather than attempt to sleep and not get a wink of rest due to the altitude, climbers must begin Kilimanjaro climbing through the night after an early night so that it doesn’t impact their breathing. You will have time to go slowly if you depart at midnight. You may not be able to reach Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit if you attempt to climb it rapidly since you will experience the sudden impacts of altitude sickness.

But that doesn’t mean the glaciers that are already there aren’t amazing! Huge ice formations stood out against the stony scree and bare boulders of this hostile location. The tallest camp in Africa, Crater Camp, is located 18,700 feet above sea level. Hikers camp below the peak on the dry, rocky scree, with just the glaciers for company, after descending into the caldera from the crater rim. The air is thin, the sun is scorching, and it is quite chilly. The only sounds are the whistling wind and the odd break as a great wall of ice moves ever so slightly. The only plant life in this area is ancient lichens, which form slowly on the black volcanic rocks. There are no animals either. You shouldn’t stay there for an extended period of time. But it’s amazing! Climbers who are well acclimatized should not pass up the opportunity to spend the night in the crater.

Station at the tallest camp in Africa

At the summit, you will also find the tallest camp in Africa: Crater Camp is located 18,700 feet above sea level. Hikers camp below the peak on the dry, rocky scree, with just the glaciers for company, after descending into the caldera from the crater rim. The air is thin, the sun is scorching, and it is quite chilly. The only sounds are the whistling wind and the odd break as a great wall of ice moves ever so slightly. The only plant life in this area is ancient lichens, which form slowly on the black volcanic rocks. There are no animals either. You shouldn’t stay there for an extended period of time. But it’s amazing! Climbers who are well acclimatized should not pass up the opportunity to spend the night in the crater.

Enjoy the ash pit on the summit. A majority of climbers fail to reach the ash pit. They pause at the signboard, take photos, and then go away. However, individuals who have planned to camp in the crater can climb to the volcano’s core. On a steep slope, around 30 to 40 minutes from crater camp, you’ll find a flawlessly circular-shaped volcanic cone. It seems to go on forever when you look down, and you can smell sulfur. It is approximately 400 feet wide, made of shale, scree, and sizable boulders, with fumaroles at the base that release steam and sulfur. No, you can’t descend because those fumarole vents are thought to be around the same temperature as boiling water. The Reusch Crater is named after Richard Reusch, a Lutheran missionary who lived in Marangu and reportedly was the first person to “discover” it. Reusch is notable for being the seventh European to sign the summit register and place a Christian flag.

How to get to the summit of Kilimanjaro Mountain

You’ll arrive at one of three primary “basecamps” on Mount Kilimanjaro, depending on how long your selected path took you to complete. The most popular route is via Barafu Camp in the southeast. School Hut and Kibo Hut lead you up to the rim from the east via Gilman’s Point. Arrow Glacier Camp has you ascending the Western Breach. It is primarily a nighttime climb from Barafu, starting from camp at about midnight and ending at the crater rim by daybreak. This allows for breathtaking morning views and gives enough time to return home in time for lunch. It is possible to peak during the day if you intend to camp in the crater. The climb to the summit is challenging. The trail is primarily made of volcanic scree. The air is extremely thin, and it is bitterly cold. The hardest part of the 7-9-hour climb is navigating the thin air, which makes it even more rewarding when you succeed in reaching the summit.

From the equatorial forest to the icy tundra, climbing Kilimanjaro is an amazing trip that doesn’t have to end at the Uhuru peak signpost. There is much more to Kilimanjaro’s summit than just that, so get in contact with us right away and we’ll set up the trip of a lifetime to this magnificent mountain if you’re looking to plan your next adventure and would like us to reveal its secrets. Please come and we will explore the summit of Kilimanjaro together at Africa Adventure Vacations.