Kilimanjaro leopard: the amazing true story

Leopard on Mount Kilimanjaro — is it mystification, a Hemingway invention, or a real event? We will tell you everything known about the frozen leopard that was found on the summit of Kilimanjaro.

The leopard in Hemingway’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro

In 1936, the American magazine Esquire published Ernest Hemingway’s short story The Snows of Kilimanjaro. The very first paragraph describes a frozen leopard lying in the snow at the mountain’s summit:

Today, the officially recognized height of Kilimanjaro is 19,341 feet (5,895 m). But let’s not nitpick. Hemingway had been on extended safaris in Africa and knew what he was writing about. In the 1930s, the exact height of the African mountain was still uncertain. But where did the leopard in his story come from, and what was it doing at such a high altitude?

Who first found the frozen leopard on Kilimanjaro

Hemingway wasn’t making things up when mentioning the frozen leopard on Kilimanjaro. It was indeed discovered in the 1920s by a group of climbers who spotted the mummified animal at an altitude of approximately 5,640 meters (18,500 ft). At the time, this was an area of snowfields and glaciers. Unsurprisingly, the body was well-preserved — it had frozen solid.

At the same time, an extraordinary individual lived at the foot of Kilimanjaro — mountaineer and missionary Richard Reusch. A German born in the Russian Empire, he was a true adventurer and a passionate lover of mountain expeditions. Reusch worked at a Lutheran mission, teaching the indigenous Chagga people of Kilimanjaro Christian doctrines and basic literacy. In his free time, he climbed Kilimanjaro and organized excursions for others. Learn more about the legendary Richard Reusch in our article.

In 1926, he embarked on yet another climb to the summit and became the first to reach Uhuru Peak. On his way, he discovered the very leopard reported by the previous group. A photo was taken showing the animal's mummified body with its curled-up paws. Standing next to Reusch is presumably Elisabeth Müller, one of the first women among commercial climbers.

Reusch also made another intriguing discovery that helped explain the leopard's presence at such a high altitude. Slightly higher up, also in the snow, he found the frozen body of an antelope. It was likely wandering upward in search of rocks to lick salt from. Animals on Kilimanjaro have been observed doing this many times, though they usually stop at altitudes of up to 4,300 meters (14,100 ft). Beyond that, narrow ridges begin, and if pursued by a predator, the antelope has no choice but to climb higher.

Apparently, the leopard was following the antelope. At some point, the weather on the mountain worsened, and a snowstorm struck, which ultimately killed both animals. The altitude played a significant role as well — above 5,500 meters (18,044 ft), oxygen levels in the air are half those at sea level. The extreme altitude and sudden storm left no chance for the antelope or the leopard at the crater rim. This was Richard Reusch’s own theory.

On that occasion, Reusch and his companions moved the leopard’s carcass to a more visible spot — onto a rock. On a subsequent climb to Kilimanjaro, Reusch found the body again and even cut off a piece of the leopard's ear as a keepsake to prove his discovery. However, on his third visit, the dead animal was gone — the rock was empty. What exactly happened to the animal’s mummy remains a mystery.

Leopards and other animals found in the mountains

That mysterious leopard and antelope were not the only unusual discoveries. The first person to summit Kilimanjaro, Hans Meyer, also reported finding leopard remains at high altitude, specifically in the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi, two volcanoes of the Kilimanjaro massif.

In 1962, a group of climbers at nearly 4,900 meters (16,076 ft) spotted a small pack of five African wild dogs. They followed the climbers for a short while before turning off. This is not particularly surprising, as large animals occasionally cross the mountain via its plateau rather than going around it. For example, even today away from tourist routes, antelopes, buffalo, occasional wild dogs, servals, and elephants can be spotted on the Shira Plateau — and very rarely, lions. Large eland antelopes also appear in the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi. In July 2024, the Altezza Travel team, flying by helicopter over Kilimanjaro, spotted a herd of elands heading toward Mawenzi. We counted around 20 animals.

Frozen leopard remains have also been discovered on neighboring Mount Kenya. In 1997, scientists studying the glaciers found part of a leopard protruding from the Tyndall Glacier at an altitude of 4,390 meters (14,403 ft). Although this is not as high as the Kilimanjaro find, it demonstrates that the Kilimanjaro case is not unique. Radiocarbon analysis of the Kenyan leopard revealed it to be approximately 900 years old.

Even today, glaciologists studying Mount Kilimanjaro’s glaciers occasionally find frozen carcasses of various animals. Discoveries include blue monkeys, klipspringers, other antelopes, mongooses, and bushpigs. What brought these animals to the staggering altitude of nearly 6,000 meters (19,685 ft) remains a complete mystery. Humans couldn’t have carried them there, as people did not reach the “Roof of Africa” until the late 19th century. Analysis of the animals’ remains indicates they date back to before that period, suggesting they ascended to these heights from the montane rainforest on their own. The reasons for these climbs can only be guessed.

Such behavior might be expected from leopards, which are known to climb high into the mountains. The highest altitude reliably recorded for a leopard by scientists is 5,200 meters (17,060 ft) above sea level. Even this is 440 meters (1,444 ft) lower than where the Kilimanjaro leopard was found. It seems its story will forever remain a mystery.

Want to learn about another mystery? Check out our article on the Zanzibar leopard. Is it extinct, or does it still roam the forests of Zanzibar Island? Read more to find out.

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