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Kilimanjaro records

Fastest ascent of Kilimanjaro

In 2001 Bruno Brunod of Italy managed to reach Uhuru Peak from Marangu Gate in just 5 hours 38 minutes and 40 seconds. This remains the fastest verified ascent of Kilimanjaro. There are a couple of unverified claims, however, with Sean Burch of Virginia claiming to have made it to the top on 7 June 2005 in 5 hours 28 minutes, and Christian Stangl of Austria claiming to have achieved the summit in 5 hours 36 minutes in October 2004.Incidentally, Bruno then ran back down the same way, reaching Marangu Gate just 2 hours 56 minutes and 12 seconds after summiting. Adding these up, his total time on the mountain was just over 8 hours 30 minutes. Impressive, but it’s not the record…

Fastest ascent and descent of Kilimanjaro

This belongs to Simon Mtuy (Tanzania), who runs the Summit Expeditions and Nomadic Experience trekking agency in Moshi. On December 26, 2004, Simon acheived the incredible time of 8 hours 27 minutes. Apparently, it took Simon 6 hours exactly to reach the summit via the Umbwe Route, and after seven minutes to catch his breath, just two hours 20 minutes to complete the descent to Mweka Gate.

In fact, it’s likely that Simon will be the holder for a while. His ultrarunning background combined with the fact that he climbs the mountain regularly mean that even if his rivals do beat his time, their reign is likely to be shortlived.Nor is that the end of Simon’s record-breaking exploits, for on the 22 February 2006 Simon climbed from Umbwe Gate to the summit and back again in a time of 9 hours and 19 minutes and, in doing so, achieved the fastest ever unaided ascent and descent (by unaided, they mean that Simon carried his own food, water and clothing). This despite suffering from a nasty bout of diarrhoea, as well as a three-minute break at the top to video himself, plus two further breaks to vomit!

Fastest ascent of Kilimanjaro (female)

Rebecca Rees-Evans (UK), part of the Team Kilimanjaro organization that organizes most of these record attempts, achieved the time of 13 hours 16 minutes and 37 seconds in reaching Uhuru Peak via the Marangu Route.

Youngest person to climb Kilimanjaro

On 21 January 2008 Keats Boyd from Los Angeles successfully hauled his seven-year-old body to the very summit of Africa's Highest Mountain - and in doing so, has become the youngest person ever to reach the top of Kilimanjaro. You can read more about Keats’ climb in our news section.

An impressive feat, not least because in breaking the record Keats must also have broken all sorts of rules, including the one that says you have to be at least ten to climb Kili! The youngest person to  climb Kilimanjaro who was above the minimum age was Jordan Romero of Big Bear Lake, California, who, as reported in our Kilimanjaro News section, achieved the summit on the 23rd July 2006 at the tender age of ten years and 11 days old.

Oldest person to climb Kilimanjaro

In the summer of 2010 we had a couple of record breakers in this field. First, grandad George Solt, a retired professor from Olney in Buckinghamshire, became the oldest man to reach the summit of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, at the age of 82. Professor Solt followed the Machame Route and took a total of 8 days to reach the summit and descend again, and was accompanied on his climb by five members of his family.

(Those Kilimanjaro-buffs among you will note that Mr Solt is in fact five years younger than Valtee Daniel, the mysterious Frenchman who at 87 is accepted by some as the oldest

man on the summit. But Mr Daniel's climb has never been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, who insist on certain rules being followed in order for a climber's claim to

be accepted. In particular, the record attempt has to be verified by independent witnesses, must be filmed and photographed as well as meticulously documented in a log book. As such, the Guinness Book of Records currently have American Carl Haupt as the oldest man, (he reached the summit at the tender age of 79 back in 2004) - but will presumably have Prof Solt in the 2011 edition.)

Also in 2010, this time in September, 83-year-old Bernice Buum managed to climb to the top of Kilimanjaro - and in doing so, became - I believe - the oldest woman to get to the

summit. Ms Buum, who was accompanied by her niece and long-time trekking companion Judy Myers, took six days to complete the trek - four up, two down. She began her training by climbing the 10 flights of stairs at the Rapid City Regional Hospital at the hospital where she volunteers. She described her experience as the 'adventure of a lifetime' - but won't be

hurrying back anytime soon, though will continue to hike around the US and near her home.