Summit to chew on....facts about the Beaste that is Kilimanjaro

1: We used to own Mount Kilimanjaro but gave it away!

When Kaiser Wilhelm said to Queen Victoria that it was unfair that she had two mountains in Africa, she gave him one. If you look at the border between Tanzania and Kenya on a map, you will see how the line was redrawn to give Kilimanjaro to the German King. The straight line which cuts through the region has only one kink in it, much to the annoyance of pedantic colonial administrators, but then again what do you get a grandson, who already has an empire, for Christmas.

2: Centenary Man

One of the Tanzanian guides who assisted the first person to officially summit Kilimanjaro, Hans Meyer in 1889, was able to celebrate the centenary of that first climb at the ripe old age of 118 years. The secret to his longevity, fifty years dragging other peoples stuff up the mountain probably helped.

3: Oldest person to climb

The oldest person to successfully reach Kilimanjaro’s Peak was Valtee Daniel aged 87 years

4: Other Notable Climbers, no not those Sports relief tits, here are some truly inspiring stories.

South African Bernard Goosen twice scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair. The three American veterans from three different conflicts with only one good leg among them have just completed their climb last month. And in 2009 a team of eight blind climbers successfully reached the summit, of those the youngest was the then thirteen year old Max Ashton.

5: Fastest Ascent & Descent

Unofficially the record is held by local boy Simon Mtuy who Duke of Yorked it in the Grand Old time of 8h 27m. To put this in perspective we’re aiming for 6 days or 18 times slower!

6: Pandora’s Box

On Uhuru Peak there is a wooden box containing a book in which people can record their impressions of the climb and leave commemorative mementoes. Among the stranger items left at the Roof of Africa include a set of false teeth and a vibrating sex aid (without batteries!) she/he obviously decided to record the climax of their adventure with a photo instead.

7: Beer Please

Local tribe The Chagga brew a unique drink on the mountain, Mbege or banana beer is actually sold in camps on Kilimanjaro. Knowing this William Hill have lengthened the odds on Sean and Robin reaching the summit; however, it seems apt that the boys will be able to celebrate an idea born of beer in the best way they know how, with a cold brew!