Germany was among the European powers to Colonize East Africa. This probably explains why the first person (Hans Meyer) to climb the Kilimanjaro was German.
The first attempt was made in 1887 by Samuel Teleki who was of Austro Hungarian Origin. He however did not reach the summit.
Later on the American Dr. Abbott whose interest was the Flora and Fauna made another attempt but was constrained by an illness.
He has a companion, Ehlers Otto of the German East African Company who pushed on and claimed to have reached an altitude of about 5904 meters above sea level.
Han Meyer was actually the first European person to reach the summit of the Kilimanjaro.
It is believed that some locals had probably hiked the Kilimanjaro before but there was no recorded evidence.
It’s actually right to say the Han Meyer was the first person to reach the summit as there were other Europeans that has attempted to hike the Kilimanjaro although they didn’t reach the summit.
Hans Meyer
Dr Abbot and Teleki played a pivotal role especially with providing important and necessary information about the conquest of the Kilmanjaro that later helped Han Meyer who was a German geologist and was a son to one of the wealthiest writers in German town of Leipzig.
He has worked for his father and later took over the business. He retired in 1888. In 1887 h had made an attempt to hike the Kilimanjaro but wasn’t successful.
After retiring, he returned in the following year to make a second attempt. He made several attempts before he succeeded in reaching the summit.
The final attempt that as successful was with his friend Dr Oscar Baumann.
During this attempt, the timing was really not the best as both Meyer and his friend were captured by the Sheikh Abushiri who was leading that Abushiri revolution that was happening at the time.
They were held hostage until a a ransom of over ten thousand rupees was paid.
Kilimanjaro conquered!
It was on his third attempt in 1889 that Meyers became the first person to reach the summit of the Kilimanjaro. Meyers was intelligent and discovers that one of the problems why attempts in the pass where not successful is because of the lack of food at the top.
He therefore set up several camps along the way. These Included the Abbot Camp at 3894 meters above sea level, the the Kibo Camp at 4263 meters above sea level and lastly the Lava cave at 4578 meters above sea level.
With these camps, Meyers was able to conduct attempts that later let him to the summit of the Kilimanjaro.
Meyer’s team
Hans Meyer had a team that helped him hike to the summit of the Kilimanjaro. Herr Ludwig was one of the people he hiked with. He was a gymnastics teacher in Salzburg-Austria.
They were joined by two local men who led the way, three local supervisors, nine porters, a cook and a guide recommended by the local chief.
Most of these people were already acquainted to him as he had been to the Kilimanjaro several times and they knew him.
Due to the size of the group, Meyers made sure discipline was key. They would not be diverted from the main goal of reaching the summit.
There were actually punishments for those that were indiscipline. There were challenges just like any other hike. Despite the fact that they had a good group and would help out each other.
Some of the team deserted even before reaching the summit.
Unlike the hikes that happen today where they begin from the bottom of the mountain. Meyers Journey begun from Mombasa which was 14 days by foot to reach the base of the mountain.
The climb
Because the Kilimanjaro was virgin and un-tampered with, there was a lot of snow and ice in the 1880s that there is today. It would start from around 4500 meters above sea level and it would snow the entire day.
Most of the hardships that the group faced during the hike are well described in the Book. Hans Meyer wrote on his conquest of the Kilimanjaro. Of course the snow was the biggest factor.
On October 6th 1889, the group managed to reached the highest point of the Kilimanjaro. Its this day that the Kilimanjaro was finally conquered.
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