Mount Kilimanjaro Facts

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano located in Tanzania, Africa. It is famous for being the highest mountain in Africa and is one of the ‘Seven Summits’ of the World. Let’s find out the Mount Kilimanjaro Facts.

It has many notable and oft-repeated claims, but also some lesser-known traits and stories that are also fascinating. To enlighten all you curious minds out there, we've put together a list of Interesting Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro.

Not only is it Africa's tallest mountain, it can also make many other interesting Facts we better you never knew! So we all need to know about the facts before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Location

Mount Kilimanjaro can be found in East Africa, and is located in the northern part of Tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is located128 km from Arusha, or just a one hour drive from Kilimanjaro airport, and it covers an area of 1,668 sq. km.

Coordinates

The Mount Kilimanjaro latitude is 3.0674° S, while the longitude is 37.3556° E.

Elevation

The elevation for Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,895m (19,341 ft).

Prominence

In topography, prominence refers to and characterizes the height of a mountain's summit by the vertical distance between it and the lowest contour line encircling it but containing no higher summit within it. The prominence for Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,885m (19,308 ft).

Parent Range

When looking at a mountain range, many have sub-ranges within them and is best described as a parent-child relationship. Kilimanjaro is a freestanding mountain range, however, the East Rift Mountains are considered to be the parent range.

Peak

Mount Kilimanjaro is composed of three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo's crater rim and is listed at a height of 5,895m (19,341 ft).

Length

The shortest hiking route on Mount Kilimanjaro is 53 km in length, and the longest route is 98 km.

Arrival

Mount Kilimanjaro can be accessed from the town of Moshi or Arusha, and is just an hour's drive from Kilimanjaro Airport.

Success Rate

Kilimanjaro Success Rate can vary from 50% to 95%, depending on the chosen route and length of the hike. On average, the Northern Circuit Route gives the highest chances of reaching the top with success rate of almost 95%, while the title of the least successful route belongs to Marangu Route, with a success rate of 50%.

See The Mount Kilimanjaro Facts For More Information:

Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) high.
Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano made up of 3 volcanic cones: Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo.
The last time Kilimanjaro erupted was over 150,000 years ago.
The largest volcanic cone is Kibo, and measures over 15 miles wide.
Kilimanjaro is the highest volcano outside of South America.
Around 1000 square kilometres of Kilimanjaro is forest.
The Kilimanjaro Summit is covered with glaciers and snow-caps, although these have retreated in recent years.
The first people to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro were Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller on October 6th, 1889.
Before 1889, many different people attempted to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro but failed due to bad weather, snow and ice.
The fastest ever ascent and descent of Kilimanjaro took just 6 hours and 42 minutes, when Karl Egloff ran to the top of the mountain and back.
The oldest person to Climb Kilimanjaro was an 87-year-old French man.
Many people have died Climbing Kilimanjaro due to falls and high altitude sickness.
Around 25, 000 people Climb Mount Kilimanjaro each year, but only 2/3 of these actually reach the summit.
The average temperature at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is -7°C (19°F).
Snowfall on Kilimanjaro is common in November and March to May.

Mount Kilimanjaro Facts & Faq’s

Who was the First Person to Reach the Top of Mount Kilimanjaro?

Hans Meyer, a German professor and Ludwig Pursheller, an Austrian mountaineer were the first persons to reach the top of Mt Kilimanjaro.

How Many People Climb Kilimanjaro Each Year?

Every year, 15,000 to 16,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro.

Is Mount Kilimanjaro the Tallest Mountain in the World?

No, Mt Kilimanjaro is not the tallest mountain in the world. It is the tallest mountain in Africa.

What is the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro?

The Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro is probably January to March. It’s true that January is much colder than June or July but the ice slopes are quieter during these months. Thus, these are the preferred months.

Does Mount Kilimanjaro have Snow?

Yes, the Mt Kilimanjaro has thick snow and ice caps almost all year round. The highest peaks of the mountain consist of ice walls and massive glaciers. Lately however climate change has caused much of the ice caps on Kilimanjaro to disappear.

Without a doubt, Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s most interesting places. Kilele Climb have covered most fantastic facts about this incredible mountain.

How many of these Mount Kilimanjaro Facts did you know? Make sure to keep them in mind as you embark on Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro!