THE HISTORY OF PARAGLIDING & HANG GLIDING ON mOUNT kILIMANJARO
A THRILLING EVOLUTION OF HIKE & FLY ADVENTURES
THE HISTORY OF PARAGLIDING & HANG GLIDING ON mOUNT kILIMANJARO
A THRILLING EVOLUTION OF HIKE & FLY ADVENTURES
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Photo: Andrew Smith, 1st solo paraglider from Kilmanjaro, 16 Sep 2011 (©Marianne Schwankhart & ParaglideKilimanjaro.com)
The History of Paragliding and Hang Gliding on Mount Kilimanjaro
A Thrilling Evolution of Hike & Fly Adventures
(last updated 10 feb 2025)
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, has long attracted adventurous souls eager to push the limits of extreme sports. Since the late 1970s, daring hang glider and paragliding pilots have soared from its icy summit, turning dreams into reality and making history in the world of free flight. These high-altitude flights have not only fulfilled personal ambitions but also contributed to the global recognition of paragliding and hang gliding as extreme adventure sports.
For decades, free flying within Tanzania’s National Parks was prohibited, sparking debates within the paragliding and hang gliding communities. However, ParaglideKilimanjaro.com emerged as the pioneer of these aerial adventures, playing a crucial role in advocating for and ultimately legalizing paragliding on this iconic mountain.
The Legalization of Paragliding & Hang Gliding at Mt Kilimanjaro
In the year 2000, South African paragliding pilot Linda Willemse, director of ParaglideKilimanjaro.com, began negotiations with Tanzanian authorities to legalize free flying activities on Mount Kilimanjaro. After a decade of persistence, official permission was granted in 2010.
The following year, Linda organized the first legally sanctioned paragliding expedition, bringing together 14 adventurers from South Africa, Namibia, and the United States. On 16 September 2011, Andrew Smith made history as the first person to solo paraglide from Kilimanjaro. He was soon followed by pilot Pierre Carter, who flew tandem with passenger Marianne Schwankhart, and Namibian legend Chris Lotter, marking a major milestone in free flight history.
This groundbreaking expedition laid the foundation for ParaglideKilimanjaro.com, which continues to organize expeditions in close collaboration with Tanzanian authorities and stakeholders.
Alistair Stuart, with the support of Linda Willemse and Pierre Carter, co-authored the official guidelines for paragliding in Tanzania’s National Parks, particularly on Kilimanjaro. Their invaluable expertise extended beyond the national parks to the Civil Aviation Authority, helping shape the future of paragliding in the region.
Today, after more than two decades, ParaglideKilimanjaro.com remains at the forefront of high-altitude paragliding, offering pilots and adventurers the rare opportunity to soar above one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes.
A Legacy of Adventure
With decades of experience in Africa, the ParaglideKilimanjaro.com team has been hiking and flying across the continent since the late 1980s. Specializing in bespoke hike & fly expeditions on Mount Kilimanjaro, they offer unforgettable wilderness adventures that blend high-altitude flight, challenging hikes, and safari exploration across Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes.
1970s: The Pioneers of Hang Gliding on Kilimanjaro
The story of free flight from Mount Kilimanjaro began in the 1970s, when pioneering pilots tested the limits of hang gliding at extreme altitudes.
1975: Austrian pilot Herbert Kühr disappeared in November 1975 when he tried to hang glide from the mountain in and was tragically found dangling from a tree months after his attempt, highlighting the risks involved with the activity.
1976: Rudi Kishazy was the first recorded person to hang glide off Mount Kilimanjaro, pioneering the way for future adventurers. The same year, he performed the first-ever loop and series of loops with a hang glider at Grands Montets, France. Earlier, in 1973, he achieved the first hang glider flight from Aiguille du Midi in the Mont Blanc massif, solidifying his legacy in free flight history.
1976: Thomas Finsterwalder's Historic Flight
As the New Year of 1976 approached, Thomas Finsterwalder, Albert Leutenmaier, and Heinz Walter made history by successfully hang gliding from Kilimanjaro’s 5,950-meter summit. Bearing the timeline in mind, these were the first succesfull flights from the Africa’s highest mountain.
Their remarkable achievement showcased the evolving capabilities of modern hang gliding, setting a new precedent for aerial explorers. Finsterwalder, a pivotal figure in hang gliding innovation, hailed from a family dedicated to aviation advancements. His father, Dipl. Ing. (Aero) Ulrich Finsterwalder, founded the Finsterwalder Company, which played a crucial role in designing safer and more advanced hang gliding equipment. Thomas continued this legacy of innovation, significantly contributing to high-altitude flight technology, enabling safer and more controlled descents.
This historic flight remains one of the defining moments in Kilimanjaro’s free flight history, inspiring more hang gliders and paragliders to take on the challenge of soaring above Africa’s highest peak.
Banned
Following multiple hang gliding expeditions in the mid-1970s, Tanzania National Parks officially banned activities such as parachuting, cycling, skiing, and hang gliding on Mount Kilimanjaro. This restriction remained in place for several decades, limiting extreme sports on the mountain.
1979: Slipped through the Cracks
On 18 January 1979, UK pilots Ashley Doubtfire, David Kirke, and Simon Keeling successfully hang glided off Kilimanjaro, marking a major milestone in the sport (Source: Wings Magazine, BHGA 1979).
The trip was organised by the Dangerous Sports Club, a collective of extreme sports pioneers known for pushing boundaries. Out of seven participating pilots, only three managed to take flight, as the expedition faced numerous challenges along the way.
At the time, hang gliding was still officially prohibited within Kilimanjaro National Park, making their mission both risky and unconventional. In an attempt to avoid drawing too much attention to their lengthy hang gliders, the team first flew into Kenya before crossing overland into Tanzania. They ascended Kilimanjaro via the Marangu Route, launching from the summit and successfully landing in Moshi.
One of the most memorable moments of the expedition came when Ashley Doubtfire landed and was immediately approached by a Tanzanian police officer, who asked for his papers. Having none, Ashley simply explained that he had flown down from the top of Kilimanjaro. As he stood peeling off layers of clothing, his pile of gear growing by the second, the officer—clearly astonished—finally smiled and said, “In that case, perhaps you may be excused.”
David Kirke is famous for doing the world’s first bungee jump later that same year. Inspired by the land diving rituals of Vanuatu, he and his friends adapted the concept using elastic ropes designed for fighter jet landings. Kirke’s historic jump from Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge, dressed in a top hat and clutching a bottle of champagne, sparked the global bungee jumping phenomenon. In another of David Kirke’s daring adventures, he attempted to cross the English Channel by sitting in the pouch of a giant helium-filled kangaroo-shaped balloon. Supported by four additional helium balloons, the flight took a turn when one balloon detached, sending him soaring over 3,000 feet. After struggling with the descent, David safely landed near the coast. Despite the success, he was later prosecuted for flying without a pilot’s license. This stunt adds to his legacy of pushing the boundaries of extreme sport.
1980s: Legendary Flights
The 1980s marked a significant rise in both hang gliding and paragliding expeditions off Mount Kilimanjaro, further cementing the mountain’s reputation as a premier destination for extreme aerial adventure.
1981: The legendary Australian hang gliding pioneer Bill Moyes and his son Steve Moyes embarked on a groundbreaking expedition, successfully flying from Kilimanjaro’s summit. Their historic journey was beautifully documented in the film “Birdmen of Kilimanjaro,” capturing the breathtaking moments of their flight. As part of their adventure, the Moyes team also achieved the first recorded hang gliding flights over Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, expanding the boundaries of free flight in Africa. (Source: Birdmen of Kilimanjaro documentary & The Australian Woman Weekly, 1982)
Four decades later, on 02 September 2024 our ParaglideKilimanjaro.com made history again with the return of hang gliding at Ngorongoro Crater for the first time since Bill Moyes & Steve Moyes’s ‘The Birdmen of Kilimanjaro’ documentary! This was part of the Spirit of Adventure film crew’s forthcoming film (expected to be released later this year) in which Rishi Ramraj hopes to inspire more hang gliding pilots to take to the skies. Their journey revisited some of the sites flown in the classic 1981 film ‘Birdmen of Kilimanjaro’. Among the pilots were legendary Canadian “Bald Eagle” Michael Robertson, with over 50 years of flying experience, David Llewellyn, with 30 years of adventure under his wings, and adventure enthusiast Rishi Ramraj.
Paragliding arrives at Kilimanjaro
1987: Christine Janin and Catherine Destivelle became the first people (and first women) to fly paragliders from the Kilimanjaro. (Source: France’s Parapente Magazine, 1987).
Christine Janin is a famous French mountaineer and adventurer, known for her groundbreaking achievements, including becoming the first French woman to summit Mount Everest in 1990. Her remarkable career in mountaineering, coupled with her humanitarian work, has made a lasting impact. In recognition of her achievements, Janin was chosen as a torchbearer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay. Her inspiring story continues to motivate adventurers, athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts around the world, cementing her legacy as a pioneering force in the climbing community.
Catherine Destivelle, is a renowned French rock climber and mountaineer celebrated for her pioneering achievements in both sport and alpine climbing. She became the first woman to redpoint an 8a route in 1985 and won the first international climbing competition in 1989. Catherine also made history with the first female ascent of the Bonatti Pillar on the Petit Dru in 1990 and completed the winter free solo of the Eiger, Grandes Jorasses, and Matterhorn in the early ’90s. She later conquered Shishapangma in the Himalayas in 1995. Destivelle’s exceptional career earned her the Piolet d’Or Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
1999: Tandem Paragliding Adventures
On 15 January 1999, French adventurers Zébulon (Bertrand Roche) and Claire Bernier made history by completing a tandem paragliding flight from Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. This daring feat was part of their ambitious quest to hike and tandem paraglide from the seven highest summits on each continent.
Despite seeking permission from Tanzanian authorities without success, the duo proceeded with their mission, successfully launching from Kilimanjaro’s slopes. Their groundbreaking journey culminated in 2002, when they became the first to complete a Seven Summits tandem paragliding challenge. Notably, they remain the last recorded paragliders to take off from Denali (North America’s highest peak also known as Mount McKinley), as Denali National Park has since stopped all paragliding attempts. (Source: Claire-Zeb website)
2011: 1st Legal Paragliding Flights from Mount Kilimanjaro
In 2011, history was made when the first legally sanctioned paragliding flights from Mount Kilimanjaro were conducted, thanks to the negotiations and leadership of Linda Willemse.
On 16 September 2011, South African paragliding pilots Andrew Smith and Pierre Carter (accompanied by tandem passenger Marianne Schwankart), along with Namibian pilot Chris Lotter, successfully flew from Mount Kilimanjaro with official permission from Tanzanian authorities. This marked a milestone and new era for adventure sports in Tanzania National Parks. They were part of a larger party of paragliders, hikers & mountain team.
Notably, Andrew Smith became the first person to solo paraglide from Mount Kilimanjaro, cementing his place in paragliding history. This expedition was also the inaugural flight for Paraglide Kilimanjaro, a pioneering effort in high-altitude paragliding. (Other sources: Cross Country Magazine, ed. 135; The Times, 2011)
2013: One in a Hundred
During an expedition of 100 adventurers, only Babu Sanuwar of Nepal managed to launch from the summit. On the 7th of February 2013, he tandem paraglided one off the porters off Kilimanjaro. There were many experienced pilots on that ‘Wings of Kilimanjaro’ trip, who after several days of logistical and weather challenges decided to rather descend on foot. (Source: Cross Country Magazine, ed 146)
2017: Breaking Records
On 27 September 2017, our ParaglideKilimanjaro.com expedition made history with a 100% success rate, as all participating pilots successfully took flight from Africa’s highest peak.
Notable achievements from the expedition include:
- Clive Williams (UK) – First British man to solo paraglide from Kilimanjaro
- Pierre Carter (South Africa) – Tandem pilot, flying with passenger Dawn Sarasin (first lady from Switzerland to fly as a tandem passenger from Kilimanjaro)
- Charlotte “Charlie” King (UK), Cross Country Magazine’s news editor – First British woman to solo paraglide from Mount Kilimanjaro
- Harri Eskelinen (Finland) – First Finnish solo paragliding pilot to fly from Kilimanjaro
- Matias Gomez (Spain) – First Spanish solo paragliding pilot to achieve this feat
This historic expedition etched names in the annals of adventure, with ParaglideKilimanjaro.com once again leading the way. (Other source: Cross Country Magazine, ed 186)
2018: A Year of Firsts
2018: On 11 August 2018 all the ParaglideKilimanjaro.com expedition pilots & passengers launched successfully from Kilimanjaro (Kibo’s base). Flying solo were Italians Aldo Mazzochi (as part of his Zero to Level extreme adventure) and Giovanna Donin who became the first Italians to do this. Flying tandem on the same day were pilot Pierre Carter (South Africa) with Italian passenger Ottavio Tomasini (accomplished professional photographer) and pilot Adam van Renssen (South Africa) with passenger Luigi Bonomi also from Italy.
2018: 12 September 2018 saw David Hillmann (Germany) and Oliver Torlo (Sweden) become the first to paraglide inside Kibo’s crater rim on top of Kilimanjaro with ParaglideKilimanjaro.com expedition leader Hendrik van Zyl (South Africa) assisting. The next day, Oliver Torlo made history by becoming the first paraglider to deploy a reserve parachute mid-flight after taking flight from Kibo’s base. He walked away with no injuries leaving the mountain team bedazzled.
2018: On 10 October 2018, a 100% solo-paragliding pilots’ success for our ParaglideKilimanjaro.com expedition team. Chris Adams (Australia) and Anthony Robertson (New Zealand) became the first siblings to fly from the top of Kilimanjaro. Rafal Cypcar became the first paraglider from Poland and Patrick Pirel the first from Reunion Island. Also paragliding from the top of Kilimanjaro this day was Rudiger Schliffke (Germany) and Ben Arnold (South Africa).
Since then, more pilots took flight from Kilimanjaro adding their names to the growing list of history-makers.
Note:
The above timeline is based on research conducted by ourselves and per some of the resources mentioned. Should you know of anyone else who enjoyed free flight from Mt Kilimanjaro before 2013, or disagree with our timeline, please feel free to share it with us in order for us to update our records.
Join Us and Make History
From the pioneers of the 1970s to today’s adventurers, Kilimanjaro has witnessed incredible feats of courage and skill.
Now, it’s your turn! ParaglideKilimanjaro.com is ready to take you on an unforgettable adventure.
Book your paragliding or hang gliding experience today and be part of Kilimanjaro’s extraordinary story!