Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa, standing tall at a height of about 5,895 meters above sea level.
While Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, followed by Mount Kenya, which is in Kenya in East Africa.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a great mountain that is 300km south of the equator in Tanzania on the African continent. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain at about 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) above sea level and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, which means it is not part of a mountain range. Also, it is one of the Seven Summits in the world.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano, Scientists estimate that the last time it erupted was 360,000 years ago. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kibo is the summit of the mountain and the tallest of the three volcanic formations. While Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, Kibo is dormant and could possibly erupt again. The highest point on Kibo’s crater rim is called Uhuru.
The mountain is also known for its snow-capped peak; however, scientists project that the snow-capped peak to disappear between 2025 and 2035. In 1889, German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller became the first people on record to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Since then, Kilimanjaro has become a popular hiking spot for locals and tourists.
In 1973, the mountain and its six surrounding forest corridors were named Kilimanjaro National Park in order to protect its unique environment. The park was named a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1987.
Compared to some of the world’s highest summits, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is easier, yet it is no small task. Over the years, many mountain climbers from Africa and abroad have been inspired to climb to the very top of Mount Kilimanjaro. There are seven main Mount Kilimanjaro routes that lead to the summit, Uhuru Peak. These routes are Machame, Lemosho, Marangu, Shira, Rongai, Umbwe, and Northern Circuit. One of these routes starts on the northern side of the mountain and the rest on the southern side.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro takes between five to nine days to reach Uhuru Peak. It is better not to ascend the mountain in haste as it could negatively impact your success rate. Your body needs more time to acclimatize to the altitude hence the more days you spent on the mountain, the more likely you will reach the summit successfully. Normally, a Mount Kilimanjaro hike starts from either Arusha, to the southwest of the mountain, or Moshi, directly south.
The peak time for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is July to October. Climbers must adequately prepare for the undertaking by getting all the needed equipment. They have to register with the Kilimanjaro Parks Authority and, accompanied by a guide, they can set off. They are obliged to sign in and sign out at each camp along the way up the mountain. And as part of the rules, it is forbidden for a climber to do wild camping or shelter in caves.
