the first man to climb kilimanjaro
the first man to climb mount Kilimanjaro explore the story about the first expedition on kilimanjaro Hans Meyer was the first European man to hit the summit of Africa , he did successful ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1889 via Marangu route( Currently known as Coca-Cola route). He was German geographer and publisher, he was also an honorary professor for colonial geography and colonial policy in Leipzig , born in 22 march 1858 in Leipzig , Germany and died in 5 Jul 1929. He attended the University of Leipzig, where he pursued studies in geography and natural sciences. How many attempts does Meyer did on Kilimanjaro? Meyer did three Kilimanjaro climbing attempts. first attempt in 1887 He was accompanied by Baron von Eberstein, however he was unsuccesfuly , he made only up to the base of Kibo peak at 5486 m , but he managed not to reach at 5895 m summit. This was due to various reasons including logistical issues and difficulties with the equipment necessary to handle the deep snow and ice. However, this attempt gave him a valuable experience and insight on Kilimanjaro as laid foundation for his subsequent expeditions. Second Attempt in 1888 with accompanion of one Austrian geographer Oscar Baumann. During this expedition, Meyer was also unsuccesifuly to reach the summit of kilimanjaro for he and his companion found themselves taken into captivity during an anti‐colonial uprising or the event known as Abushiri Revolt , this led meyer to abandon his climb. Meyer and his fellow weren’t freed until a sizable ransom was paid to rebel leader Abushiri ibn Salim al-Harthi. third expedition took place in 1889 At this time he succesful hit the summit at 5,895 m of kibo peak,After two previous climb attempts failures, meyer had learned and gained experiences on how he had to do so as his desires can be accomplished, so at this time he prepared very well and he came with a very good strategic approach to tackle previous critical issues that hindered them from geting to the summit. He established multiple high-altitude camps with with pllenty supply of food and water, this include Abbott Camp at 3,894m, Kibo Camp at 4,263m, and a camp near a lava cave at 4,578m.He maintained resilience and with the help of expert guidance of the local Chagga guide, Yohani Kinyala Lauwo made him suceed , at thiat day he Planted the German flag on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and named the summit as Kaiser Wilhelm peak, he did so to honour German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm and the whole germany coloniarism , however later after tanzania has gained independence renamed the peak as ‘Uhuru’ Peak in 1964 to mean ”the peak of freedom” Also at this time he was accompanied with one Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller. So with the help of one local guide named Yohani Kinyala Lauwo,two local headmen, nine porters, three local supervisors, and a cook made meyer succeed to reach the summit of kilimanjaro. Meyers expedition at kilimanjaro mountain opened the doors to Kilimanjaro, leaving a mark on both the mountain and mountain tourism.Each expedition was followed by the publication of elaborately designed books manyer’s achievements is subject to criticisims from scoolars, arguing on the question as to whether mayer was the fist person to climb kilimanjaro?, posing there argument that , How about the local Chagga people whose had lived alongside kilimanjaro for generations?, how many unnamed African guides had already stood on that peak?, perhaps even before any European countries knew that the mountain existed. Local Chagga people had certainly climbed high on the mountain for generations, though oral histories don’t definitively confirm summit attempts. According to Lauwo, who was only 18 years only during expedition he and other local guides constantly demonstrated their kilimanjaro knowledge and experience by saving the Europeans by showing them where to find water, which routes to avoid, how to read the mountain’s moods, but while Meyer’s name appears in every history of Kilimanjaro, Yohani Kinyala Lauwo remained largely forgotten. Furthermore the mountain held spiritual significance they were going to pray in Kilimanjaro, why would they need to stand on its highest point to prove anything?. Further more there are other european who made several attempts to climb kilimanjaro however none of them succeeded to hit the summit, these argument put mayer’s achievement in uncomfort zone.
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