Schoolboy becomes youngest Scot to summit Mount Kilimanjaro

An eight-year-old boy has made history by becoming the youngest Scot to reach the summit of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Amos Noble, from Aberdeen, achieved the feat alongside his dad, John-William, on December 8, standing at the mountain’s peak at 5,985 metres, beating the previous record of 12 years old.

The climb, known for its extreme physical and mental demands, took several days and involved long hours of steep trekking.

John-William, who accompanied him on the journey, praised Amos for his resilience and determination, describing the experience as “unforgettable.”

“Over the past few years, I have had the privilege to go on many challenging hiking adventures with my son, Amos”, he said.

“We tackled Mount Kilimanjaro and managed to reach the summit of the mountain at a height of 5,985m.”

On the third day, Amos faced challenges with altitude adjustment, but he continued the ascent despite sickness, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

However, John-William said his son went on “without complaint”.

“It is no exaggeration to say that this would be a huge mental and physical challenge for most adults, and I am genuinely surprised at how gifted and capable my son has proved in this area”, he said.

“The journey took several days of many, many hours of hiking. On the third day, Amos had struggled with altitude adjustment, and we had a serious discussion about the fact that conditions would become worse, and the key was how he would react to them.

“Despite being sick, the challenges with breathing, the increasing dizzy feeling at high altitude, and the many hours of steep climbing, he did it without complaint.

“Amos has smashed the record for the youngest Scot to scale the mountain at the age of 8.

“He is the youngest European boy to reach the summit and one of the youngest ever to make it from entrance to summit and back down to the exit without any aid.

“An unforgettable trip with my boy.”