Kilimanjaro area map and tours overview

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro, also called the Roof of Africa, is the African continent's highest mountain, and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
Hikers move through snow, alpine desert, moorland, rain forest and ice over a distance of approximately 90 km's, and gain 4000 m in altitude in doing so. This all occurs virtually on the equator!

"Discovered" by western society in 1848

Modern man has been intrigued by Mt Kilimanjaro for over a hundred years. The mountain was first mentioned among westerners in 1830, but was only "discovered" by western society in 1848, when a missionary from Germany, Johannes Rebmann, explored the bottom slopes of the Roof of Africa.

Rebmann submitted his findings to the Royal Geographic Society, although "experts" doubted these finds of an African mountain capped with snow.

First successfully summitted in 1889

After Rebmann's submission, many failed attempts at summiting the mountain were made. The first successful attempt was made on 6 October, 1889 by a Dr. Hans Meyer, who was accompanied by experienced alpine mountaineer, Ludwig Purtscheller and many porters, guides and advisors. It took the party more than five weeks to finally reach the top of the mountain.
A guide that took part in the first summit was still alive in 1989, a century after the event!

Topography of Kilimanjaro National Park

From about 2000 m above sea-level the mountain rises to 5895 m above sea-level. The only mark that Mt Kilimanjaro was at once stage a volcano is a fumarolic ash pit.
Two lesser peaks, Mawenzi and Shira, flank the main peak, Kibo. Both of these lesser peaks serve as fantastic photographic backdrops.

One mountain - five ecological zones

There are five distinguishable ecological zones on Mt Kilimanjaro:

• Lower slopes - cultivated and used mainly for agriculture
• Moorland and heath
• Montane forest
• Summit capped with ice
• Alpine desert

Tanzania, and particularly the lower area of Kilimanjaro National Park, has a climate ideally suited for the growth of coffee, one of Tanzania's best-known export products. Just above the lower coffee plantation area a belt of rain forest encircles the mountain. Further up the surrounds change to heath and semi-desert moorland, and eventually complete desert. After this the hiker will pass through alpine terrain, where ice glaciers form a permanent part of the mountain.
The terrain at the top of the mountain becomes more difficult to manage due to scree-loose stone that resembles gravel-that covers the area.

Permanent glaciers

Kibo has a number of glaciers edging their way down its slopes. These include Arrow, Rebmann, Decken, Heim and a few smaller ones. It is said that they are receding due to global warming.

Kilimanjaro National Park climate

Kilimanjaro National Park is influenced by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone passage, due to the area lying only three degrees south of the equator.
Mt Kilimanjaro has two rain seasons, and has a continual summery feel.

Rainfall

Highest rainfall in the area occurs from March till approximately the end of May. This is the monsoon period. Another rain period stretches from October to November, and sometimes into December. The latter period does not offer as much rain as the former.
Throughout the year Kilimanjaro's weather remains fairly constant, with the exception of the two rainy periods.

Kilimanjaro National Park's forest belt receives the most rainfall. As much as 2000 mm can fall annually in this region. In contrast to this, the summit receives as little as a 100 mm per year. During a tour it is not strange to encounter rain and sometimes even snow (at higher altitudes) at any given time of the year.

Temperatures range from between 25 to 30º C at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro, to between 10° to 20° C at the summit. At 3000 m daily temperatures range from 5° - 15° C, while night time brings frost.

Will I be able to manage the climb?

Summiting Mt Kilimanjaro does not require a person to have mountaineering skills. A better term than "climb" would therefore be "hike". Roughly 22,000 visitors set out to reach the summit annually, but many find out that, although no mountaineering skills are necessary, it is still a tough expedition. The hike to Uhuru (Mt Kilimanjaro's summit) is physically and mentally demanding, and should not be underestimated. Roughly 40 per cent of people setting out to conquer Kilimanjaro never do so.

Mt Kilimanjaro does offer extreme climbs, including some grade 3+ climbs. These are best left for professional alpine climbers and experienced mountaineers, however. Of those summiting Mt Kilimanjaro, the bulk is made up of hikers with no professional level skills. This is why Mt Kilimanjaro is such an attractive climb option. It is one of the highest peaks in the world accessible without mountaineering knowledge.

If you're above the age of twelve, have a reasonable level of fitness and prepare correctly, you can reach the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. At age 87, Frenchman Valtee Daniel reached the summit successfully.

Reaching the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro requires one thing: preparation; both physically and mentally. This is where Climbing Kilimanjaro's value comes into play. We've garnered valuable information over a period of more than fifteen years, and have hands-on experience in climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. We've carefully listened to customer feedback, and acted upon it. Our online guide should be of great assistance in helping you prepare for climbing the Roof of Africa.

Choosing A Kilimanjaro Route

Please visit the different routes page for more information regarding the different routes on Kilimanjaro.