A spectacular natural feature in northern Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is famed the world over. It has a lot of notable and frequently repeated claims, but it also has some less-recognized traits and another equally fascinating story. In order to enlighten all you curious minds out there, we’ve put together a list of 10 interesting facts about Mount Kilimanjaro.
Near Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro can be found in the northeastern region of the East African nation of Tanzania. A part of Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro National Park, the mountain is located approximately 300km south of the Equator, 160km east of the East African Rift System, 225km south of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, and 280km from the Indian Ocean.
There are 6 panoramic trails in the Kilimanjaro Climb that draw people from all over the world. Each year, more than 35,000 climbers attempt to summit this adventuresome mountain. If you’d like to learn more about Mount Kilimanjaro, please read through the most interesting facts about Kilimanjaro here.
Kilimanjaro Statistics: The Highest Mountain in the World
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain, making it one of the seven summits. From the tallest to the smallest, these are the seven peaks.
- Asia’s highest peak, Mount Everest (29,035’/8850m), is located in the region.
- South America’s Aconcagua (22,834’/6960m)
- A geographical high point in North America: Denali
- Africa: Mount Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet/5895 meters)
- The European peak of Elbrus (5642m/18,513ft)
- The Carstensz Pyramid (16,023’/4884m) in Oceania
Kilimanjaro is a popular choice for both expert hikers and first-time adventurers because it is considered the most accessible of the seven summits. A rope, harness, crampons, or ice axe are not required to scale the peak. As a result, it is neither mountaineering nor climbing peak but rather a hiking or “walk-up” mountain top.
At 19,364 ft/5,895 m, Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest mountain. This is what the sign at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro reads, which you’ll find on the internet. In 1952, British cartographers arrived at this conclusion. Hans Meyer’s groundbreaking climb of Kilimanjaro 60 years ago estimated the mountain’s height (he was the first person ever to reach the Uhuru peak).
Meyer estimated that the height of Africa’s highest mountain was estimated to be 6045 meters by Meyer at the time, and this figure dominated the academic world in Europe for more than six decades afterward. Amidst the lack of appropriate tools, Meyer still managed to arrive at a reasonably accurate estimate.
Kilimanjaro’s true height was remeasured in 1999 by a group of enthusiasts, who determined that it was 5892.55 meters. As we can see, the margin of error was small, and the British team had estimated Kilimanjaro’s height forty years earlier.
Kilimanjaro was remeasured in 2008 and found to be 5,891.8 meters high, a new record for the mountain. The research team used GPS and gravity methodologies; we believe this is the most accurate figure yet. Kilimanjaro may be shrinking, but it isn’t clear whether the previous gaugings were done before 2008 were incorrect. However, the difference between the British estimate in 1952 and the later estimates is not significant enough to be concerned about. Kilimanjaro’s official elevation is listed as 5,895 meters by most websites, including Altezza.
Where is Kilimanjaro, and How to Get there?
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is located between Arusha City and Moshi Town, the closest town to Mount Kilimanjaro, is the best airport to fly into for climbers.
To your hotel from the airport
Moshi Town is the closest town to Mount Kilimanjaro, making it easier to stay there a day before your climb. Mount Kilimanjaro is a little over an hour’s drive from Arusha, where some climbers prefer to stay. Kilimanjaro International Airport is 40.7 kilometers from Moshi Town, requiring a 48-minute drive. Three kilometers separate, Kilimanjaro International Airport from Arusha City is approximately a one-hour and eleven-minute drive.
The drive from Moshi Town to Mount Kilimanjaro takes 56 minutes and covers a distance of 31.7 kilometers. Other nearby airports like Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) or Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) are options for your Kilimanjaro flight. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is frequently served by KLM flights from all over the world, including major hubs in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Our Top 9 Interesting Facts About Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain on Earth. It is also the highest point in Africa, located in Tanzania, East Africa. The summit of the mountain is located at an altitude of 4,711 m (15,872 ft) above sea level and lies within Tanzania.
The Kilimanjaro is a massive volcanic massif with a central peak rising to 4,711 m (15,872 ft) above sea level and rising more than 1 km above surrounding mountains. The massif has no known source for its formation and was formed by tectonic movement along the eastern margin of the East African Rift System about 3 million years ago. British explorer Henry Morton Stanley first climbed it in 1868.
1.Three volcanic cones formed it.
As previously stated, Kilimanjaro was formed as a result of volcanic activity. Kibo, Shira, and Mawenzi were the three volcanic cones that once dotted the mountain’s landscape.
- Kibo (19,340 feet/5,895 meters)
- Mawenzi (16,893 ft/5,149 m) is the tallest mountain in the world.
- Shira (3,962m)
The tallest and most central cone is Kibo. Kilimanjaro’s highest point can be found here. Approximately 460,000 years ago, it was first formed. The craggy peak of Mawenzi is Africa’s third-highest mountain, following Kibo and Mount Kenya (12,549’/3825m). The Rongai and Northern Circuit routes provide excellent views of Mawenzi. Shira has ceased to be a high point in the landscape. The Shira Plateau, on the mountain’s western side, was formed when it fell from its original height of 16,000 feet. This feature is traversed by the Machame, Lemosho, and Shira routes.
Hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro
2. The meaning of Kilimanjaro is unknown to everyone.
The origins of Kilimanjaro’s name are unknown. A European explorer named the mountain Kilimanjaro in 1860 based on its Swahili name. According to The Nuttall Encyclopedia from 1907, the mountain was known as “Kilima-Njaro.” Kilima means “mountain,” and Njaro means “whiteness.”
German missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf wrote in his Missionary Labors (1860): “The Swahili of the coast call the snow-mountain Kilimanjaro, “mountain of greatness”. It may also be a nickname for caravans (kilima – mountain; jarom caravans), a landmark for caravans seen from afar, but the locals of Jagga call it Kibo, “snow.” It is also possible that Kilimanjaro is a European rendering of the KiChagga phrase, meaning “we failed to climb it.”
3. More than half of those who attempt Kilimanjaro never reach the summit.
Kilimanjaro is now climbed by around 30,000 people each year. There’s a common rumor that half of the climbers fail, but this has never been proven. This is surprising because Kilimanjaro isn’t considered one of the most difficult peaks in the world. You don’t need superhuman strength to reach the top because it isn’t a technical peak.
Why are so many people unable to succeed? This is primarily because of the effects of altitude sickness. Choosing the wrong path is a common blunder. The Marangu Route, the quickest (five days round trip) to the summit, is often chosen by those who don’t succeed. But the best way to climb is to use a longer route to help you adjust to the altitude.
In addition, a large percentage of those who attempt the climb are first-timers in the backpacking world. There is a lack of preparation in terms of having the proper gear, training, and enlisting the services of an experienced and trustworthy guide.
4. Kilimanjaro is a distinct entity.
Besides being the highest point in Africa, Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. Located at an elevation of 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), the summit is referred to as Uhuru Point.
It is common for mountains to be part of larger mountain ranges, such as the Himalayan Mountain Range around Mount Everest. A process called plate tectonics is responsible for forming these. Multiple tectonic plates compose the Earth’s crust. As a result of ongoing geological processes, these plates have been in motion since the dawn of time.
Slabs of rock are thrown into the air when plates push against each other. Fold mountains are the most common type of mountain, and they’re also the most common type. Tectonic plate movement causes blocks of rock to be pushed upwards, resulting in a mountain range known as a fault-block range. A block mountain is formed by lifting the blocks. In most cases, freestanding mountains like Kilimanjaro result from a volcanic eruption. During an eruption, magma is deposited on the surface of the Earth, forming volcanic mountains.
5. Snow has melted almost completely from Mount Kilimanjaro.
In 1861, German officer Baron Karl Klaus von Decken became the first European to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – he only reached a few thousand feet. Still, his ascent was not wasted because it allowed scientists to resolve the debate about whether tropical Africa had any frozen snow or ice, especially so close to the Equator. It has and still does: scientists believe glaciers shrink and reappear during the ice ages. However, over 85% of the snow caps have melted since 1912, so perhaps one day, there won’t be any ice there.
Glacier on Kilimanjaro
6. Kilimanjaro was the site of the world’s highest cricket match, which took place there.
The Crater Camp on Mount Kilimanjaro hosted the world’s highest-ever game of cricket, which took place at an altitude of a staggering 18,865 feet above sea level. In September of 2014, a group of thirty cricket players, including both men and women, and an official made the ascent. After reaching the peak, they descended back to the base camp to play cricket before continuing their journey.
They even brought a proper pitch mat up the mountain with them so that they could play the game correctly, and they brought extra balls with them because, at Kilimanjaro’s altitude levels, balls carry much further. The players participated in the game to raise money for various causes, including Cancer Research and Tusk Trust, an organization that works to preserve wildlife in Africa.
Many people have broken Guinness World Records while visiting Mount Kilimanjaro. After a record-breaking year in 2016, Pizza Hut set a new world record for the highest pizza delivery on land. Athletic teams have also broken the world records for the highest football and cricket matches.
6. Mount Kilimanjaro is an ideal location for tourists.
Just 205 miles north of the Equator divides the northern and southern halves of our planet, Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro can be found. There are over 120 African tribes in Tanzania, most of whom live in rural areas and eat the food they grow and harvest. Among the many reasons why people travel to Tanzania is to go on safari, boating, canoeing, or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
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7.Mount Uhuru is the highest point in Africa.
Hikers try to reach the summit of the Kibo crater, called Uhuru. In Swahili, the word “Uhuru” means freedom. Each year, 35,000 people ascend Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbing the mountain is relatively safe and is the easiest of the seven summits. Getting to the peak doesn’t require specialized equipment or much experience. Despite that, the hike to the summit is still an exhausting five-day journey through a varied landscape. Approximately 30% of climbers do not reach the summit and turn back due to altitude sickness and other health problems.
8.There are a Variety of Ecosystems there.
Another interesting fact about Mount Kilimanjaro is that the mountain has five distinct ecological zones. As you ascend, you encounter cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert, and an arctic zone. It gets colder and drier as you get higher in the mountain ranges.
9.All-time Mount Kilimanjaro record-holders
Hans Meyer from Germany and Ludwig Purtscheller from Austria were the first recorded visitors to Uhuru. In 1889, they finally made it to the top. Karl Egloff, a Swiss climber, set records on the ascent and descent of Kilimanjaro. In 2014, he completed it in an astounding time of 6 hours, 42 minutes. Anne-Marie Flammersfeld, a German adventurer, helped her set a new record for a woman’s fastest ascent and descent of Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2015, she completed it in 12 hours and 58 minutes. Currently, Anne Lorimor is the oldest person to successfully summit Kilimanjaro. – As of July 2019, she had reached Uhuru Peak at the age of 89.
What is good to know before traveling to Kilimanjaro?
Anyone, regardless of fitness or age, can accomplish the feat of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s an accomplishment and a reward that are unmatched by anything else. This mountain is located in Tanzania, a country known for its safaris and culture. To enjoy the rest of your vacation, you must first conquer Kilimanjaro. Many tourists never consider the best time of year to attempt the Kilimanjaro climb when making their plans.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
When you’re climbing a mountain, it doesn’t matter if it’s April or December. That’s not going to help anyone out in the long run, is it? When choosing a time of year, selecting one that is appropriate for you is best. Unless you’re an experienced mountaineer, it’s best to avoid climbing the mountain between mid-March and May.
There was a lot of rain and snow on the southern side of Kilimanjaro because of the Indian Ocean winds. We recommend going to Kilimanjaro from June to October in light of the rain and snow that have been written off from March to May. The dry season in Tanzania means that rain or snow is extremely unlikely, and prices are usually lower at this time, even during peak season.
Never, ever attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro without first completing some sort of training program. You’ll need to be in peak physical condition to reach the top of the mountain’s many peaks.
Work on your endurance and general fitness so that you don’t have any unpleasant surprises when you’re halfway up the mountain. If you’re unsure of how to get fit for the Kilimanjaro trek, check out some of the online fitness guides available.
Altitude sickness is a problem for about 70% of those who attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s completely normal, given that you’re suddenly ascending Africa’s tallest mountain, but it’s also somewhat avoidable.
You must begin your ascent slowly if you want to do Kilimanjaro right. Your body will be able to adapt more slowly, and you won’t be doing too many strenuous things at once because of this. We also strongly recommend that you begin your trip with an acclimatization day to help your body adjust to the higher altitude from the get-go. Drinking plenty of water can also help alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness, so there are many ways to keep yourself healthy while on the road.
Risk of death or injury while hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
One of the world’s seven highest mountains, Kilimanjaro stands at 5,895 meters. Elbrus, Carstensz Pyramid, and Elbrus are the other peaks. As a freestanding mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro is a prominent feature. Plate tectonics (the Earth’s crust colliding and pushing up rocks) is responsible for the formation of most of the other mountains. However, the volcano that gave rise to Kilimanjaro erupted millions of years ago. Mountains are formed when molten rock erupts and accumulates on the Earth’s surface. First-time and experienced hikers alike flock to Kilimanjaro because it is the most accessible of the seven peaks. If you don’t have the necessary skills and equipment, you can still enjoy the experience. Hiking/walking up to the summit is all about mental preparation.
Mount Kilimanjaro is not as difficult as the Andes or Himalayas, but the high winds, low temperatures, and altitude can pose challenges to even the fittest trekkers. 77 High altitude sickness is a common occurrence in the weather on Mount Kilimanjaro. Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea are all symptoms of this illness. Some people have died on rockslides and on the mountain’s steep slopes. Due to safety concerns, the Arrow Glacier route was closed for many years and only reopened in December 2007. A total of 25 people lost their lives attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro between 1996 and 2003. High altitude sicknesses, trauma, appendicitis, and pneumonia were the leading causes of death. Climbers die at a rate of 0.1 per 100.
Which route up Mount Kilimanjaro is the best? Mount Kilimanjaro has six major routes for climbers. Machame Route, Shira Route, Northern Circuit, Lemosho Route, Rongai Route, and Marangu Route are just a few of the many options available in the region. When Mount Kilimanjaro is at its busiest, the most popular route, Machame, can become congested very quickly. The Shira Route takes eight days and travels through the Shira Plateau’s pristine wilderness.
Snowy Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
For those looking to avoid the crowds while still taking in the scenery, this is a great choice. An 8 to 9-day trek is required to complete the Northern Circuit. A high percentage of hikers who take this path reaches the summit. From the Lemosho route, you’ll need about eight days to get to the summit, but it’s generally considered a more laid-back option. Hikers on the Lemosho route can also look forward to stunning scenery and forests. Most people use the Rongai Route, which takes only 6 days to complete. Before Machame became the most popular route, Marangu was the most popular route. Overcrowding has recently degraded the hike’s overall quality, but the route still rewards hikers with breathtaking views.
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