Climbers reach Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Five days into a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, Karim Tabet of Lebanon, a fellow climber, Tanzanian guide Noah Sankale and the narrator began their final ascent towards Uhuru Peak shortly after midnight on June 15, 2026. The group reached the summit several hours later.

Final ascent

Under a star-filled sky and in thinning air, the climbers continued upward in silence, accompanied by the sound of boots on volcanic scree and the light of headlamps.

Sankale repeatedly urged the group to proceed “póle póle”, meaning slowly in Swahili, and insisted that they drink sufficient water. Breaks were brief and designated, while he discouraged the narrator from sitting during periods of exhaustion because of concerns about getting up again.

Experience at altitude

Sankale, who had climbed the mountain 281 times, guided the group through the demanding high-altitude conditions, where every breath became increasingly important.

The ascent required patience, discipline, focus, determination and respect, rather than strength alone.

Uhuru Peak

Several hours after beginning the final push, the group reached Uhuru Peak, known as the Roof of Africa, at 5,895 metres above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s highest free-standing mountain.