Why I’m Climbing Kilimanjaro: The Moment Behind Project-K

The Trigger

It was really nothing more than a push notification from my smartwatch on Christmas Day.

Challenge completed: Kilimanjaro

No summit, no ice, no Uhuru Peak. Nothing.
Just a watch telling me during a walk: With the elevation gain you’ve accumulated over the past few months, you’ve theoretically climbed Kilimanjaro.

I was sitting in the car, somewhere between the Spreewald and home. Christmas. Silence. Empty roads.
And suddenly, I couldn’t stop thinking about that notification.

Not euphoric.
Not loud.
Just quiet. Heavy. Persistent.

• What kind of mountain is it?
• Where is it?
• What makes it special?
• What if this were more than just a statistic?
• What if I actually did it?

I immediately started researching. Not in a structured way. Not sensibly. Just out of curiosity.
Random Google searches. Videos. Routes. Elevation profiles. Pictures of people who looked exhausted. Happy. Broken.

I was hooked.
And at the same time, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into.

This was the moment when a small notification turned into an idea.
And an idea turned into a project.

But first, the facts:

Kilimanjaro – Facts & Conditions

What Is Kilimanjaro?

Kilimanjaro is a vast mountain massif in northeastern Tanzania. At 5,895 metres above sea level, it is considered the highest mountain in Africa and the fourth-highest of the Seven Summits – the highest peak on each continent. This also makes it significantly higher than any mountain in Europe, Australia, or Antarctica. It is generally regarded as the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano with three main volcanic cones: Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo, the highest of the three. The rim of Kibo’s crater is home to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the African continent. Wikipedia

Location & Protected Area

The mountain lies near the Kenyan border within Kilimanjaro National Park, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

Elevation & Characteristics

• Elevation: 5,895 m at Uhuru Peak – the highest point in Africa.
• Type: Volcanic mountain massif and stratovolcano, formed through tectonic activity along the East African Rift.
• Glaciers: Glaciers and ice fields still remain near the summit, but they are shrinking rapidly as a result of climate change.

Climate Zones

On the way to the summit, climbers pass through five distinctly different climate zones – similar to travelling from the equator to the Arctic within just a few days:

1. Cultivation zone (approx. 800–1,800 m): Tropically warm and used for agriculture.
2. Rainforest zone (approx. 1,800–2,800 m): Humid, with dense vegetation and abundant wildlife.
3. Heath and moorland zone (approx. 2,800–4,000 m): Cooler, with open landscapes and heath vegetation.
4. Alpine desert (approx. 4,000–5,000 m): Extremely dry, with dramatic fluctuations in temperature and weather.
5. Arctic zone (approx. 5,000–5,895 m): Icy, with temperatures often far below 0°C and almost no life.

Temperatures

• At the foot of the mountain, daytime temperatures can often reach 20–30°C.
• Temperatures drop sharply with increasing altitude. At night, temperatures near the summit can fall to −10°C or well below −20°C.

Challenges & Dangers

• Altitude sickness (AMS): With air pressure and oxygen levels decreasing dramatically at higher elevations, proper acclimatisation is essential.
• Rapid weather changes: Conditions can shift quickly between rain, heat, and extreme cold.
• Glaciers & snow: Ice near the summit can be slippery and dangerous. It is also becoming increasingly unstable as a result of climate change.
• Accidents: In emergencies, even technical means such as helicopter evacuations may be required – accidents do happen.