The following records are for incomplete speed ascents of Kilimanjaro in the sense that they begin and end some 20 linear kilometres and 1,000 metres up the mountain, at one of the park gates, rather than at the 780m high plateau where the true geographic base of Kilimanjaro actually lies.
- Read about the fastest speed ascent and descent of the entire mountain in history here.
Fastest Ever Ascent of Kilimanjaro from a Park Gate
Karl Egloff, a dual Swiss-Ecuadorian national, on 13th August 2014, is believed to have ascended Kilimanjaro in 4 hours 56 minutes, breaking Kilian Jornet's record of 5 hours 23 minutes set the previous year.
Like Kilian, Karl climbed from Umbwe Gate to Uhuru via the Western Breach, and descended to Mweka Gate. After 4 minutes' rest on the summit, he descended to the park gate in 1 hour 42 minutes. His total ascent and descent time was therefore 6 hours 42 minutes.
Video of Karl Egloff's Record Speed Ascent
Fastest Unsupported Speed Ascent of Kilimanjaro from a Park Gate
On 22nd February 2006 Simon Mtuy ascended Kilimanjaro from Umbwe Gate in 6 hours 33 minutes. After a 3 minute rest on the summit, he spent 2 hours 46 minutes descending to Umbwe Gate. His total time for the ascent and descent was 9 hours 21 minutes and 47 seconds. Team Kilimanjaro provided the verification equipment and supplied the data to the Guiness Book of World Records.
An unsupported climb means that the athlete does not make use of any support team along the route, or any re-supply points. This means that he is required to carry all the equipment and provisions needed to complete the route from the start point to the end point, via the summit. This endeavour is substantially more difficult than a supported climb on which the athlete begins in running gear, with no need to carry warm gear needed for the summit phase, and no need to carry much food either.
Simon's main challenge was finding water at the usual sources, as most of these were dry in February, being the dry season when rivers are mostly empty.