The goal to climb Kilimanjaro draws people from all walks of life. With its accessible routes and lack of technical mountaineering requirements, it is said that anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can reach the top.
Though many summit every year, there are always risks when dealing with high altitude alpine environments. Even well-prepared climbers have faced tragedy here. Here is a list of celebrities that failed on Mount Kilimanjaro, with some paying the ultimate price.
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States. He is celebrated for his humanitarian efforts and diplomatic legacy, winning the Nobel Peace Price in 2002 for his achievements. During a private visit to East African in 1988, Carter attempted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with his family. At 63, he climbed to Gilman’s Point, located at 18,647 feet— just 693 feet shy of the summit. The former President turned back without a public explanation for his retreat.
Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova is a legendary tennis champion. She won 59 major titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles and claimed 18 Grand Slam singles crowns. Navratilova held the WTA No. 1 singles ranking for 332 total weeks and held the top doubles rankings for 237 weeks. She entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000. At age 54, she tried climbing Kilimanjaro in 2010 for charity. Halfway up, she developed altitude sickness. Navratilova was diagnosed with high altitude pulmonary edema, a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen exchange. She was evacuated off the mountain.
Ann Curry
Ann Curry is an American journalist known for her reporting on global humanitarian crises. She spent over two decades at NBC, anchoring shows like Today and reporting from conflict zones worldwide. In 2008, she attempted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro at age 51 with a team from NBC. However, she failed to summit due to altitude sickness. The crew intended to broadcast live from the peak, but they topped out around 16,000 feet.
Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis is a former NFL linebacker recognized for his long, successful career with the Baltimore Ravens. He is listed at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighs about 240 lb (109 kg). He earned 13 Pro Bowl selections, won two Super Bowls, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. At age 38, he joined a 2013 charity trek called TackleKili. However, he didn’t actually fail on Kilimanjaro; he never showed up. Lewis abandoned the attempt due to an injured foot and fever.
Gugu Zulu
Gugu Zulu was celebrated as South Africa’s fastest racing driver. He started racing in 1999 and quickly earned respect on the track, gaining the nickname of “the fastest brother in Africa.” In July 2016, at age 38, he joined the Trek4Mandela expedition on Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for women’s health issues. During the ascent, he encountered breathing difficulties and was turned around. As he descended the mountain with his wife, he passed away, likely due to severe acute mountian sickness.
Robbie Savage
Robbie Savage is a Welsh former professional football midfielder. He played for Premier League clubs including Leicester City and Birmingham City. He earned 39 caps for the Wales national team between 1995 and 2004. After retiring, he became a media personality, appearing on BBC’s football coverage and radio shows. In 2013, at age 38, he attempted Kilimanjaro for a charity initiative. However, he developed high altitude pulmonary edema and was brought to the hospital, where he recovered fully.
Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich is a Russian-Israeli oligarch and influential businessman. He is best known for owning Chelsea Football Club. Today, as the primary owner of the private investment company Millhouse, Abramovich remains a notable figure in global business. In 2009, at age 42, Abramovich attempted to climb Kilimanjaro. However, it was reported that he did not train properly and developed respiratory problems. He allegedly collapsed around 15,100 feet and was subsequently carried down to safety. Abramovich’s team denies this occurred.
Aleksander Doba
Aleksander Doba was a Polish adventurer renowned for his solo transatlantic kayak expeditions. Known as the “Ocean Kayaker,” he completed multiple Atlantic crossings. Each journey covered thousands of miles of open water. Doba was awarded National Geographic’s “Adventurer of the Year” title in 2015. At age 74, he aimed to summit Kilimanjaro in 2021. Reports say he reached the summit without showing any signs of difficulty, sat down to rest, then lost consciousness. His guides were uable to resuscitate him. Doba likely died from a heart attack.
Ian McKeever
Ian McKeever was an Irish mountaineer and charity fundraiser. He was the former world record holder for completing the Seven Summits in just 156 days in 2007. In 2013, at age 42, he was leading a group of more than 20 climbers on Kilimanjaro. The team experienced heavy rains on the ascent. As they headed to Lava Tower, McKeever was struck and killed by lightning.
Scott Dinsmore
Scott Dinsmore was an entrepreneur and founder of Live Your Legend, a global community that helps people find and pursue meaningful careers and lives. His TEDx talk, “How to Find and Do Work You Love,” went viral, reaching millions worldwide. In 2015, at age 32, he and his wife were on a world travel tour. They decided to climb Kilimanjaro. On the way to the summit, Dinsmore was struck by rockfall, causing fatal injuries.
These stories remind us that while the mountain’s call is irresistible, its dangers are real. We respect those who challenged themselves on the mountain and honor those who paid the ultimate price in their quest.
