No, Mount Kilimanjaro does not have a death zone.

Kilimanjaro is 19,341 ft (5,895 m) tall, which is far below the 26,000 ft (8,000 m) threshold for the death zone. While the summit is classified as extreme altitude, it is not high enough to be in the death zone.

What Is the Death Zone?

Altitude is usually divided into categories:

• Extreme Altitude: Above 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
• Very High Altitude: 11,500 to 18,000 ft (3,500 to 5,500 m)
• High Altitude: 4,900 to 11,500 ft (1,500 to 3,500 m)

The death zone is a zone that is in the extreme altitude category. It is defined as the altitude above 26,000 ft (8,000 m). At this elevation, the air holds too little oxygen to sustain human life for long. Because climbers’ bodies cannot acclimatize, they gradually weaken and face life-threatening risks. In the death zone, oxygen-starved tissues begin to die. Blood thickens, and organs strain to function.

Climbers usually rely on supplemental oxygen while in the death zone. But even with oxygen, the body deteriorates. Experts recommend limiting time in the death zone to a day or two. Many climbers try to summit and descend before severe symptoms set in. Too much time spent there leads to acute physical and mental decline.

Mount Everest (29,032 ft/8,849 m) is infamous for its death zone. More than 300 people have died climbing Everest and there are approximately 200 dead bodies still on the mountain.

Why Kilimanjaro Does Not Have a Death Zone

Kilimanjaro is in the extreme altitude zone, but it remains under the height that marks the death zone.

Kilimanjaro’s height (19,341 ft/5,895 m) is well below the death zone’s 26,000 ft (8,000 m) mark. Climbers still deal with thin air, but they do not face the unique hazards found on high peaks like Everest. Kilimanjaro’s summit sits in the “extreme altitude” zone, but it is not high enough to be lethal in the same way.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can still occur due to rapid ascent. AMS can cause headache, nausea, and difficulty thinking clearly. Studies confirm that slower schedules are key to a safer climb.