Hans Meyer Cave

Hans Meyer Cave Elevation / Altitude: 5,150 meters

Hans Meyer Cave is located on the southeastern of Kibo Peak, the highest peak on Mount Kilimanjaro which is where the main summit, Uhuru Peak lies.  Lying South East of the Reusch Crater, Hans Meyer is an amazing picnic site on the mountain where climbers usually use it as a resting point to shield themselves from the strong alpine winds and minimize fatigue plus altitude sickness.

Apart from Williams Point standing at 5000 m or 16400 ft, the other only landmark that you may use to catch a break from the trekking challenge on your way to the summit is Hans Meyer Cave standing at 5150 m or 16900 ft.

Location of the Hans Meyer Cave

Located on the South West of Kibo and South East of the Reusch Crater, the Hans Meyer Cave is only approximately two and a half hours from Kibo Huts.

Since Hans Meyer is located in the arctic zone of Mount Kilimanjaro, the area experiences aggressive winds and chilly temperatures and leaving this area on your way to the summit, you will encounter “Jamaican Rocks” which was aptly named due to the terrain being mostly rocky. Navigating past these rocks would require you to take huge steps and caution as they can be slippery and as you approach Gilman’s Point at 5,681m above sea level which is about 5-6 hours away from School Hut, the slope becomes steeper. On reaching Gilman’s Point towards Stella Point, you will meet a more gradual slope.

In order to reach the summit at Uhuru Peak, climbers are forced to wake up at midnight, a journey that passes through Gilman’s point  to Stella Point

To reach Hans Meyer Cave where you can take a short rest it would take you about 3 hours. Then another 3 hours to Ratzel Glacier, Johannes Notch and Gillman’s point which is located at the rim of Kibo crater. it will take you a further 2-hour trek from Stella point to Uhuru peak, where you will soak in the stunning views of sunsets before you descend to Horombo Hut.

Hans Meyer Climb on Kilimanjaro

Hans Meyer reached the base of Kibo on his first attempt to climb Kilimanjaro in 1887, but he was compelled to turn around. He lacked the tools required to navigate Kibo’s treacherous ice and heavy snow. He visited the Usambara region in 1888 with the help of the Austrian geographer Oscar Baumann with the intention of moving on to Mount Kilimanjaro. The so-called Abushiri Revolt events, however, prevented the two explorers from continuing. Within a few days, Baumann and Meyer were apprehended and imprisoned. The two men weren’t freed until a sizable ransom was paid to rebel leader Abushiri ibn Salim al-Harthi.

Meyer made a third attempt at Kilimanjaro in 1889 with the renowned Austrian climber Ludwig Purtscheller.

Two local headmen, nine porters, a chef, and a guide made up their climbing crew. Meyer and Purtscheller began pushing toward the crater rim on October 3 before turning around and returning to Kibo’s base. On October 6, Purtscheller’s 40th birthday, they finally made it to the top on the southern rim of the crater. Meyer gave the name “Kaiser Wilhelm Spitze” to this summit, today known as Uhuru Point. They attempted to climb Mawenzi after descending to the saddle between Kibo and it and only made it as far as a subsidiary peak (Klute Peak) before turning back due to sickness. However, Hans Meyer Peak is the name given to Mawenzi’s highest summit in Meyer’s honour.

The first ascent of Hans Meyer Peak happened only in 1912, and the peak of Kibo wouldn’t be reached for another 20 years.

Who was Hans Meyer?

Hans Heinrich Josef Meyer was a German geographer and professor from Hildburghausen who lived from March 22, 1858, until July 5, 1929. This is a guy from outside of Africa who was the first to ascend Africa’s Uhuru Peak, Kibo Peak, successfully. Although he initially attempted to climb Kibo in 1889 and was successful, he first faced the obstacle in 1887. Professor Hans Meyer, a German geographer, attempted to climb Kilimanjaro for the first time in 1887 with the help of Baron Von Eberstein.

The local leader chosen by Chief Marangu to lead Hans is Yohani Kinyala Lauwo. On October 5th, 1889, Lauwo led Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller to the highest peak in Africa.

The locals have gone on several treks for various reasons, but they never considered making an attempt to climb Kibo Peak. One of the causes is that locals lacked the proper hiking equipment for glaciers, snow, and ice.

Hans Heinrich Josef Meyer received recognition from Tanzania’s tourist authority as one of the top Kilimanjaro attractions. Hans Meyer Cave is a famous volcano rock and cave on Mount Kilimanjaro’s Marangu Route. The Hans Meyer cave on the Marangu trail is 5150 meters high (16900 ft.). After a brief break while trekking from base camp Kibo Hut, stop at Hans Meyer for lunch. As a result, climbers who use the Marangu and Rongai routes up Mount Kilimanjaro can explore Hans Meyer Cave.

A brand-new Kilimanjaro track, the northern circuit route offers hikers the chance to traverse the mountain from west to north while passing via Hans Meyer Cave.

There is a Hans Meyer monument at the Marangu Gate, on the entrance of Mount Kilimanjaro using the Marangu Route.

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