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You'll love the way we climb & trek™ |
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Crime against tourists is uncommon in Tanzania and frowned upon by the local people. |
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Climber Safety
KILIWARRIOR clients and crew were not injured in the January 2006 tragic rock fall above Arrow Glacier. We express our deepest and most sincere regrets to the families and friends of the climbers who lost their lives and suffered injuries. Unfortunately, the outfitters involved have chosen not to release information about the injuries to their porters. While the international coverage focused on the three Americans, we hear that several porters were critically injured but this part of the tragedy is still unfolding.
There are many versions of what happened. Our team reports that the climbers were on the Breach route below the lunch spot and not in their tents as is widely reported. The impact area is indicated in this image:
Here is a statement by Eben who was in Arusha at the time of the incident:
At 10am on January 4th, 2006, a group of climbers and porters from several companies got caught in a rockslide on the Western Breach somewhere between Arrow Glacier and the normal lunch area. Unfortunately, there were 3 fatalities and several porters were seriously injured (some may have died but these details have not been released). We share in the grief of the families for those who lost their lives on this beautiful mountain and we wish a speedy recovery for the injured.
Our company has always been vocal about the dangers of climbing Kilimanjaro – we are the only company to publish information about mountain fatalities so climbers can become aware that at least 10 tourists die on the mountain each year. The Western Breach route has a greater potential for rock falls than the other routes, although rockslides can occur anywhere on the mountain. Only very experienced guides should lead Western Breach climbs.
Recently it has been very dry with little snow and ice. As a result the rocks are loosened due to the lack of ice that “glue” them together. In strong winds or warm conditions some rocks may fall down – causing mostly just very minor rock slides but this time it was different.
Kind regards
Eben
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Every climber who plans to climb Kilimanjaro should read the tragic article about a recent fatality involving a Canadian family. The well-written article that appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on Feb 22, 2005 is a lesson for all outfitters and climbers.
F&S Kiliwarrior monitors all events concerning the safety of tourists in Tanzania. KILIMANJARO IS A DANGEROUS MOUNTAIN - as these recent mountain deaths show. Please be very careful who you choose as an outfitter and please take the mountain very seriously. We (outfitters) are helpless against natural deaths such as heart attacks, but F&S Kiliwarrior believes that by restricting our groups to 8 or less, each guide has a better chance to recognize trouble before it is too late. Also, as of October 2004, we are the only company with AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators). These are devices that look at a person's heart rhythm (through special pads placed on the torso) and can recognize ventricular fibrillation (VF), also known as "sudden cardiac arrest" or SCA. If SCA is present, an AED will advise, and will talk the responder through some very simple steps to defibrillate. AEDs are designed to be used by lay rescuers or "first responders". Please read our safety section for more information.
Mountain deaths happen more frequently than most would like to admit - at least 10 per year. Details are often confusing as this is extremely bad press for the outfitters involved. When porters die, the event is even more hush-hush. It's a shame.
AGAIN: WE CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH (please read the report below of recent mountain deaths):
1. Don't climb with an outfitter whose guides don't receive intensive altitude training. The training provided by the park services is completely inadequate. Trust us on this. Our guides and the guides from top outfitters receive at least 80-hours of high-altitude training each year.
2. Don't climb without safety equipment. Oxygen, stretchers, altitude chambers, helmets and AEDs are required equipment for the Western Breach route. Your life is worth much more than the costs of these devices. And make sure your guides know how to use this equipment. Let them demonstrate it at some point during the climb.
3. Get a medical checkup before departing for Africa. In particular, check your heart and lungs.
4. Get adequate insurance. Be prepared for the unthinkable.
5. Don't depend on your own judgment. Common sense is first to go with altitude sickness. This is one of the reasons why top climbers die on mountains around the world every year. Your guide must have the knowledge and authority to make decisions for you on the mountain. If your guide lacks these skills, you may be in trouble from the start.
As the top outfitter on Kilimanjaro, we are completely aware of the dangers of Kilimanjaro and the bad press about having fatalities on the mountain. Not surprisingly, we are the only company willing to talk openly about this!
While we have been fortunate with no fatalities, we understand that anything can happen at any given moment. With our well-trained guides and the best safety equipment on Kilimanjaro, we are committed to make each climb as safe as possible. However, should we ever have a fatality on one of our treks, please know that we will provide details here - bad press or not.
Recent Kilimanjaro Deaths - please contact us if you have information about these or other events
There has been several deaths since January 2006. We have been so busy on the mountain and we neglected to update this report. We apologize, especially to the friends and families of those lost who depend on us to provide the unbiased truth of tragic events on Kilimanjaro.
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Sergeant Jason Allan Lhotka, Grand Junction, Colorado, passed away on October 4, 2007, while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. He was 37. |
F&S Comment
It is so tragic to hear bad news about someone so young. We are waiting for the final autopsy reports. He climbed with a very well-known international outfitter.
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We heard a lady died on the Rongai route near Horombo Hut in September 2007. |
F&S Comment
We cannot confirm this.
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Marcel Bujold from Carlton Quebec, died on March 23 2007. He was a member of a large charity climb group of 31 climbers. He was 65. |
F&S Comment
Mr. Bujold climbed with a large and well-known outfitter. We are not a fan of large charity groups on Kilimanjaro. We understand the meaning and and we understand the goals but to raise more money it is tempting to assemble more and more climbers (some are physically not ready but feel compelled to join) - and in the end the group sizes are huge and it becomes almost impossible for guides to closely monitor each and every climber. We do not know the circumstances of his passing but news reports point to altitude -related symptoms before his death.
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An unknown lady died in early August 2006 at Barafu Hut on the way to the summit after showing serious signs of altitude sickness as early as Barranco Camp. |
F&S Comment
Our guides suspect she died from clear symptoms of pulmonary edema. She was climbing with a budget outfitter in Arusha who is under equipped and inexperienced on Kilimanjaro. This outfitter is small and popular with French speaking climbers. We think her guide had no idea how seriously ill she was.
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Another South African fatality.
Cape Town pediatrician Dr Michael Martin, 52, who accompanied his son,
Daniel, as part of an 18th birthday present, tragically died in October. |
We don't have the details but percentage-wise the number of South African deaths are troublesome. We urge the South African outfitters (most are just agents) to reconsider their quests to offer the cheapest climbs and to stop selling Kilimanjaro as a walk in the park. The statistics don't lie - you are putting your clients at risk on the mountain. We know who you are and if this trend of unfortunate events continue to occur we will have no other option but to post your company information on this site.
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On the morning of July 21, 2005 our guides and clients reported seeing a fatality near Arrow Glacier camp. Our team was on their way to the Crater camp when they saw the unfortunate incident. Our team saw the body of a young man at the lunch stop on the Breach route. He looked to be in his early twenties. |
F&S Comment
We now know that the young South African climber was on a 6-day Umbwe-Breach expedition with 2 others that started on July 17. He booked with a South African outfitter who subcontracts to a budget outfitter in Moshi. This local outfitter was totally under-equipped and understaffed for this strenuous and rapid ascent.
We have been contacted by many eye-witnesses and this information were forwarded to the young man's family. Unfortunately, his outfitter and their agent have been stone-walling the family. Shame on both the agent and the outfitter. It is very tempting to post your company details here for the world to see. This young man died because of your inexperience and bad decisions on the mountain.
Since our team was in the vicinity it is heart-breaking news. Maybe our safety equipment could've helped if only we knew about the tragedy unfolding a few hundred meters above our camp. Eyewitnesses contacted us and made it clear that the young man had clear symptoms of severe AMS. He was staggering with a pale complexion and a blueish color on the lips. Why did his guide allow him to continue?
We want to express our deepest regrets to his family and friends.
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We are sad to report that 2005 started with tragedy. Our mountain teams saw 2 climber fatalities in January 2005. |
F&S Comment
We know one of the deceased (a young male) climbed with a well-known USA outfitter. The other climber was a Canadian lady. Here is a detailed report of this tragedy from the Ottawa Citizen. [ “Material reprinted with the express permission of: “Ottawa Citizen Group Inc.”, a CanWest Partnership."]
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Our team reported seeing a body of a young male at Stella Point on the morning of August 31, 2004. Apparently the climber was part of a group that camped near the summit. |
F&S Comment
Details are sketchy but we know he climbed with a well-known USA outfitter. Witnesses think the deceased was American and in his early 30s. Our guides know the guide in question and he was experienced and well trained. Indications are that the outfitter had the usual safety equipment but no AEDs. We believe the itinerary used does not allow for proper acclimatization. It is believed that the climber simply collapsed (heart attack?) after reaching the summit.
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South African Barry Clements, who was 57,
died of a heart attack while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on August 5, 2004.
Ever since he was a youngster, Clements had been a keen sportsman and
climber. One of the highlights of his life was an attempt on Mount Everest
in 2002, although fatigue prevented him from reaching the summit. He also
ran 10 ultra marathons and competed 5 times in canoe marathon events. |
F&S Comment
Details are sketchy and we don't know which outfitter he used and what the circumstances were. He collapsed about 4 hours after leaving Barafu Camp on the way to the summit. All who have climbed the mountain express their deepest and most sincere regrets to the family and friends of this courageous individual.
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Namibia’s most famous chef, Jürgen Raith died on July 29 2004, two months before his 40th birthday, about 500 meters after reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with 3 friends. |
F&S Comment
Details are sketchy and we don't know which outfitter he used and what the circumstances were. After reaching the summit, he started stumbling and walked very slowly while the rest of his team moved ahead. After about 500 meters, he collapsed and died next to a friend. Sources say that he was very fit and planned the climb for almost 2 years. He was an avid cyclist and runner, apparently he ran several miles every morning!
All press releases state AMS as the cause of death. If true, it's a huge tragedy since the severe forms of AMS are recognizable by properly trained mountain guides. There seems to be a lesson here but without the facts we have to leave it at that.
Recent Crime Events - please contact us if you have information about these or other events
Crimes committed against tourists are rare in this wonderful country but we must remain vigilant. When crime happens, we must not to try and hide it from other tourists - in case it may scare them away from our country. It is best to talk openly about crime, and to learn from each unfortunate event.
1. Some tourists that were part of a Church group were robbed in July 2007 on the Lemosho road. No-one was injured and the robbers were caught. Apparently they were tipped off by employees of the budget safari company responsible for the tourists.