Bengaluru Brothers Aged 8 and 11 Summit Mount Kilimanjaro

Two young brothers from Bengaluru, 11-year-old Sahas Disan and eight-year-old Samarth Disan, have successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro's Uhuru Peak in Tanzania. Reaching the summit at an altitude of 5,895 metres after seven days of trekking, the duo completed the journey up Africa’s highest peak following months of preparation.

With this accomplishment, Samarth is believed to be the third youngest Indian and among the youngest people globally to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. His elder brother Sahas is said to be among the 25 youngest people worldwide to complete the ascent. The brothers have been trekking since the age of three, encouraged by their parents, Divya Kalva and Sandeep Gudibanda, who have previously taken on endurance challenges such as the Everest Base Camp and Ironman competitions.

To prepare for the high-altitude expedition, the young climbers underwent two months of strict physical conditioning. Their preparation routine included repeatedly hiking Nandi Hills, walking on an inclined treadmill for 30 minutes every day, and climbing the 16 floors of their apartment building twice daily. They also incorporated strength training three times a week, practiced pranayama, and relied on endurance built from training for over 50 hours a month as competitive tennis players.

The final leg of the climb presented severe conditions for the young mountaineers. On the seventh night, temperatures dropped to -20°C during the night summit push. After sleeping in a basic tent in the rain forest, the brothers endured a 12-hour trek across hot, rocky terrain the following day without lunch, reaching their camp at 4 p.m. while dealing with severe fatigue, headaches, and nausea.

Reflecting on the climb, Sahas shared that mutual encouragement between the brothers helped them push through the most challenging moments of the trek. Describing the summit as an experience rather than a conquest, he stated that the journey was deeply humbling and taught them to appreciate simple daily comforts after enduring harsh wilderness conditions.