Mount Kilimanjaro Facts, Routes, Height, Guides, Map, Videos

Mount Kilimanjaro Facts, Routes, Height, Guides, Map, Videos – Tanzania is home to Africa’s largest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, which stands at an estimated 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) in height. It is the world’s largest mountain peak that is not attached to another mountain range.

Mount Kilimanjaro, also known as a stratovolcano (a huge volcano composed of ash, lava, and rock), consists of three separate cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kibo is the tallest of the mountain’s three volcanic peaks. Kibo is still active despite the fact that Mawenzi and Shira have both been extinguished. The last time it erupted was some 360,000 years ago, according to scientists. Uhuru, which means “freedom” in Swahili, is the name given to the summit of Kibo’s crater rim. The mountain is particularly well-known for its snow-capped peak, but scientists warn that this feature may disappear in the next 20 years at the latest.

Journey to the Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro

Hans Meyer, a German geographer, and Ludwig Purtscheller, an Austrian mountaineer, made history in 1889 by ascending Mount Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro has since exploded in popularity as a hiking destination for both locals and visitors. Tens of thousands of people every year climb Mount Everest without any prior climbing knowledge or special equipment. Still, altitude sickness, which climbers get if they ascend too quickly and which can be fatal if not treated straight once, makes the ascent risky.

Kilimanjaro National Park was established in 1973 to preserve the mountain and the six forest corridors around it. In 1987, the park was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites maintained by UNESCO. The mountain’s surroundings are home to a wide range of wildlife, including the blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis).

History About Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro, the mountainous volcanic area in northeastern Tanzania, close to the border with Kenya. Kibo, the mountain’s core cone, is the highest point in Africa with an elevation of 19,340 feet (5,891 meters). Kilimanjaro can be found around 140 miles (225 km) south of Nairobi, Kenya, and about 100 miles (160 km) east of the East African Rift System. Kibo (in the middle), Mawensi (to the east), and Shira (to the west) are the three main extinct volcanoes that make up the massif, which stretches roughly 50 miles (80 km) east to west. Kibo, the youngest and highest, has the shape of a classic volcanic cone and crater and is connected to Mawensi, the older core of a former summit at 16,893 feet (5,149 meters), by a saddle at around 15,000 feet (4,500 meters) in elevation.

Shira ridge, at an elevation of 13,000 feet (3,962 meters), is all that’s left of a former crater. From the saddle, Kilimanjaro drops in a characteristic volcanic curve to the 3,300-foot-high (1,000-meter-high) plains below. On the southern side of Kibo’s stunning snow-covered dome is a caldera (crater) of 1.2 miles (2 km) in diameter and around 980 feet (300 meters) in depth, with an inner cone displaying residual volcanic activity. The cone of Mawensi has been heavily eroded, making it jagged and steep on both the east and west sides. Only Kibo has an ice cover that doesn’t go away. There are large amounts of snow and ice in the winter on Mawensi.

In the early 20th century, the mountain and its surrounding forests were set aside as a game reserve. Mount Kilimanjaro’s upper slopes and the six forest corridors that continue downslope through the montane forest belt are protected thanks to the park’s establishment in 1973. In 1987, the park was added to the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Mount Kilimanjaro Routes

Do you need help deciding which of Kilimanjaro’s many trails to take? If you’re worried about making the wrong decision, don’t be.

There are benefits and drawbacks to every Kilimanjaro route. There are several that have stunning views but are difficult to acclimate to (Kilimanjaro, for example). While others have a high rate of summit success, they are extremely busy during peak seasons.

Let’s dive in and check out the several ways to reach the top of Kilimanjaro.

There are six basic routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak. Mweka, the seventh path up Kilimanjaro, is used solely for the return journey.

Mweka Route (descent only), Machame Route, Marangu Route, and the Lemosho Route. In order: Rongai Route Shira Route Umbwe Route. The Northern Circuit and the Western Breach are two other options for hikers.

Mount Kilimanjaro Success Rate

The average summit success rate for Mount Kilimanjaro is 66%. Over 30,000 people annually make an effort to reach the peak of the Mountain, and here is the information they’ve gathered. There are six paths to the summit of Kilimanjaro, each with its own success rate.

The success rate of a Kilimanjaro climb depends not only on the route’s suitability and acclimatization profile, but also on the climber’s experience, physical and mental fitness, the quality of their equipment, and the expertise of their guides.

How to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro (Step By Step)

How to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro is detailed here. The first step is timing, followed by traveling to Tanzania and finally reaching the summit. Everything you need to know to successfully climb Kilimanjaro!

The difficulties of the trek itself, including preparation, physical condition, altitude sickness, and cost, are all covered in detail.

You can get a solid picture of what it takes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro here, but for every issue I describe here, there is another page, frequently several pages, explaining it in detail.

Northern Tanzania in East Africa is where you’ll find Mount Kilimanjaro, not too far from the Kenyan border.

(Kilimanjaro region map | Tanzania map)

Mt. Kilimanjaro, at a height of 5895 meters (19340 ft), is both the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. (A free-standing mountain is not part of a mountain range.)

You need to put in some time and effort to prepare for your Kilimanjaro climb.

Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro

Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro: Month-by-Month Weather Tips. Kilimanjaro may be climbed at any time of the year. However, there are some months that include chillier temperatures, increased precipitation, and even snowfall at the peak.

In this post, we’ll provide you a high-level overview of the two hiking seasons that are ideal for reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.

The interaction of trade winds with Kilimanjaro’s geology has a significant impact on the mountain’s climate.

Over the Indian Ocean, the southerly trade winds provide a lot of precipitation. They are propelled upwards as they strike Kilimanjaro in March, resulting in clouds and rain. This makes the months of March, April, and May the wettest on Kilimanjaro. At this time of year, the southern slopes are most vulnerable to precipitation.

We recommend the Rongai route if you can only climb in April or May because it leaves from the northern end of Kilimanjaro and is typically drier than the southern route options at that time of year.

North-easterly winds that are counter to trade patterns are dry yet very strong. Because of the intensity of these winds, the South-East trade winds stay below them from April through October, making those months relatively dry with cloud cover and precipitation typically confined to the lower slopes.

In November, the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro get little precipitation from the North-east monsoon.

The Complete Kilimanjaro Packing List

You’ll need to pack carefully to ensure that you have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable ascent of Kilimanjaro. To assist you, we have compiled a detailed Kilimanjaro Packing list.

From the warm, humid forest and lower slopes to the extremely cold summit zone with glaciers, ice, and snow, Kilimanjaro has five distinct temperature zones to explore on foot. Kilimanjaro can have sunny, windy, or rainy days, so it’s important to pack accordingly.

Tents, camp gear, food, and cooking facilities are all provided by us. During the day of hiking, you’ll use a smaller daypack and have a porter carry your larger duffel bag with all of your gear.

Climb Kilimanjaro 2024-2025-2026 Dates and Prices

Climb Kilimanjaro with the help of our trekking service. The dates and costs for our next Kilimanjaro tours are listed below. You are excused from hiking on the dates listed below. We release them only for hikers who want to go on expeditions with people they don’t already know.

Many of our customers opt to schedule their own Kilimanjaro expeditions (at an extra fee), but they all want us to invite additional climbers to join them.

If you choose to go in a group, you can avoid the madding masses. Climbs are often limited to between 10 and 15 participants so that the guide can keep a careful eye on everyone, meet everyone’s requirements, and give everyone an opportunity to voice any concerns they may have.

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro with the Climbing Kilimanjaro Team and add your name to the list of the thousands of people who have reached the peak.