On Thursday, November 21, 2024, I was going about my normal duties of picking up our climbers at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, but I was not aware that they were celebrities in the mountain world until I realized I had misplaced the name holder and pickup sign. It happens to the best of us sometimes, haha, no, just kidding. It rarely happens, but when it does, we try our best to pick their face from the crowd. At the time, I was communicating with Jan, the husband, whose profile picture caught my attention, Mount Everest. So something just tells me to look up their names on Google to see if I can see a picture of them. Lo and behold, I see tons of articles praising Lenka as the first Slovak woman to smash so many records. I was to pick up such an inspiring and powerful figure in the world of mountain climbing. She had a huge fedora hat on and a white t-shirt printed with the words “Koruna Zeme“, and I could see her red hair just like in the pictures online. We had good conversations in the car, very sweet people, and humble. It was an eye-opening moment before I dropped them at the Maridadi Hotel in Moshi, before they could start their hike the following day. In the crisp early morning hours of Friday, November 22, 2024, Slovak mountaineer Lenka Poláčková stood triumphant on the summit of Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. At 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), she had just ticked off another continent on her relentless quest for the Seven Summits — and she did it in spectacular fashion. Accompanied by her husband, Ján Poláček, and supported by the expert team at Tranquil Kilimanjaro, Lenka didn’t just climb Kilimanjaro. She powered through the iconic 7-day Lemosho Route itinerary in an astonishing 4 days, showcasing the same superhuman endurance that has made her a trailblazer in the world of high-altitude mountaineering. Click here to see the 7 day Lemosho Route program.
This wasn’t a casual warm-up trek. For Lenka, Kilimanjaro represented the African chapter in her “Crown of the Earth” journey — coming fresh off her historic 2024 ascent of Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen (making her the 10th woman in history and the first from Slovakia to achieve it). Just months later, she would go on to summit K2 (8,611 m), again without oxygen, becoming the first Slovak woman to stand atop the world’s second-highest peak via the demanding Abruzzi Spur route on August 11, 2025. But let’s rewind to that unforgettable November morning on Kilimanjaro and dive deep into how this elite adventurer turned a standard Lemosho expedition into a masterclass in speed, strategy, and sheer willpower.
The Choice: Lemosho Route with Tranquil Kilimanjaro
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Lenka and Ján selected the Lemosho Route — widely regarded as one of Kilimanjaro’s most scenic and acclimatization-friendly paths — for good reason. Starting from Lemosho gate past the remote Londorossi Gate on the mountain’s western slopes, the 7-day itinerary winds through lush rainforest, misty moorlands, and dramatic high-alpine desert, offering breathtaking views of the Shira Plateau and the iconic Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. It’s a route that rewards patience with its gradual profile, giving climbers time to adapt to the altitude before the final summit push from Barafu Camp.
Tranquil Kilimanjaro, a premier Tanzanian operator known for safety-focused, high-quality climbs, handled every detail. Their professional mountain guides, led by Hamis and Eliasa, porters, and support crew ensured the couple had top-tier logistics, fresh meals, and constant monitoring for altitude-related issues. As one Tranquil representative later shared on social media, the team was “proud of Lenka and Ján” for not only summiting but completing their Seven Summits challenge with this African leg. What made this climb remarkable? Lenka didn’t follow the leisurely 7-day schedule. Leveraging her elite fitness from ultra-running and extreme altitude experience, she and Ján compressed the itinerary into just 4 days. They moved efficiently through the forest zones, powered across the Shira Plateau, and tackled the steep sections with the precision of athletes chasing personal bests. Early mornings, strong pacing, and seamless teamwork with their Tranquil guides allowed them to reach Uhuru Peak well ahead of schedule — all while staying safe and enjoying the journey.
Our Guide Hamisi Shares his journey, from porter to guide
The Speed Demon Behind the Summits
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Lenka Poláčková isn’t your average mountaineer. She’s an ultrarunner and speed-record holder who thrives on pushing human limits. Just weeks after Kilimanjaro, in January 2025, she shattered the women’s Fastest Known Time (FKT) on Aconcagua (6,961 m) in South America — summiting from base camp in 6 hours, 19 minutes, and 23 seconds, with a round-trip of 8 hours, 17 minutes, and 34 seconds. That performance shaved over an hour off the previous women’s record. Her approach to Kilimanjaro mirrored that mindset. Even on a “standard” route like Lemosho, Lenka treated every day as an opportunity to test her limits. The couple’s rapid ascent highlighted her exceptional aerobic capacity, mental resilience, and ability to manage acute mountain sickness — skills honed from no-oxygen climbs on 8,000-meter giants like Everest and K2. Fresh off the summit, Lenka’s competitive fire was already burning brighter. She proposed an even bolder challenge: a full-speed ascent and descent of Kilimanjaro to challenge the women’s record held by Danish ultra-runner Kristina Schou Madsen. In 2018, Madsen set the fastest female ascent time at 6 hours, 52 minutes, and 54 seconds via the Mweka Route. Lenka’s idea? To go faster, round-trip, and etch her name into Kilimanjaro’s speed-record books.
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From Slovakia’s Tatras to the World’s Highest Peaks
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Lenka’s story is one of relentless progression. Growing up in Slovakia, she drew inspiration from her grandfather’s tales of the Tatra Mountains. Her serious mountaineering journey accelerated in recent years, but her feats speak for themselves:
- Everest (8,848 m), May 2024: First Slovak woman without supplemental oxygen — a grueling no-O2 ascent that placed her among an elite group of just 10 women worldwide.
- K2 (8,611 m), August 2025: First Slovak woman to summit, again without oxygen, in challenging conditions.
- Seven Summits: Completed with Kilimanjaro as the African crown jewel, including Denali as the final North American peak in a whirlwind 12-month, 2-week campaign.
With her husband Ján often by her side (they’ve shared multiple expeditions), Lenka embodies partnership, preparation, and pure passion. Whether it’s navigating the death zone on K2 or cruising through Kilimanjaro’s ecological zones in record time, she proves that determination, smart training, and the right support team can turn dreams into history.
Why This Matters — And What’s Next?
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Lenka’s Kilimanjaro climb with Tranquil wasn’t just another summit. It was a bridge between continents, a celebration of speed and safety, and a reminder that even the world’s most accomplished athletes value expert local support. Tranquil Kilimanjaro’s guides didn’t just get her to the top — they helped her do it on her terms, efficiently and joyfully. As Lenka continues her “Crown of the Earth” odyssey, one thing is clear: she’s far from finished.
Whether she attempts that Kilimanjaro speed record or sets her sights on the next 8,000er, the Slovak powerhouse inspires a new generation of adventurers to dream bigger, train harder, and climb smarter. Congratulations, Lenka and Ján! Slovakia — and the global mountaineering community — is cheering you on. The mountain isn’t the end goal; it’s proof of what’s possible when heart, hustle, and the right team come together. Here’s to the next summit — and to breaking more records along the way.
