Why summit Kilimanjaro at night?

It takes days of climbing to reach the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. Unsurprisingly, we hike up the mountain in the daylight. But then (and here’s the part that does surprise many), the ascent up the final begins at midnight. Why? Why summit Kilimanjaro at night, when it’s icy cold, you can’t see beyond the beam of your torch, and every instinct tells you to run to your tent and dive back into your sleeping bag? There are reasons to the madness, we assure you, so please read on …

What is summit night?

Summit night is the part of the climb where we set out for the highest point of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak. It’s called summit night by some and summit day by others, and both are valid as the climb starts during the night and ends in the daytime. Specifically, the climb starts at midnight and ends late in the afternoon. During this time you trek up to the summit and then hike about half of the way back down the mountain. It’s one mammoth day of hiking that will test your mettle in every way!

The hardest part of the climb by far

Summit night (or summit day) is by far the most challenging part of the entire Kilimanjaro trek. There are a few reasons for this:

1. It’s so gosh-darn bleeping cold!!
2. The wind can be fierce, as there’s no protection at the summit
3. Starting the trek in the dark of night can be mentally daunting
4. You’re trekking on top of little (and probably poor-quality) sleep
5. It’s the steepest part of the entire trek
6. The scree can be hard to walk on
7. You hike for around 13 to 16 hours (depending on your route)
8. The air is thin so breathing is made difficult
9. The altitude can make you feel sick (for instance, dizzy or nauseous)

Why climb Kilimanjaro at night?

This is a really good question. It may seem strange that we wake up in the middle of the night to make our way to the summit. Are we looking to make things even more difficult than they already are?! Don’t worry, there are a handful of valid reasons behind the early start …

Take a look at the below article where we get stuck into this topic in greater detail:

Why summit Kilimanjaro at night? | Follow Alice | Adventure Trips