About Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro was an active volcano in its youth and is the world’s largest freestanding mountain. This means it is not part of a mountain range, but seems to ‘grow’ from the surrounding plains into a snow-capped peak.
Where is it?
Mount Kilimanjaro is almost on the equator in the northeast of Tanzania in East Africa. It lies just south of the Kenyan border in the Kilimanjaro National Park – the park starts at the 2700m contour. The nearest town is Moshi. The mountain is about 130km from Arusha and just one hour from the Kilimanjaro International Airport. Kilimanjaro-Experience’s trekking office is based in Arusha.
What to expect
Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world, but a large part of its appeal lies in its accessibility. You don’t need to be a seasoned pro or at peak fitness to summit, though you will need plenty of willpower. We give you a detailed rundown of what to expect along the way, from your accommodation before you begin, right through every aspect of your experience on the mountain.
History
While Kilimanjaro’s geological history can be relatively accurately traced, the origin of the mountain’s name is harder to identify and has spawned a number of theories, while many groups from the region had their own names for the iconic mountain. The first recorded person to stand at the top of the mountain was a German by the name of Hans Meyer, though it is likely that plenty of locals got there before him.
Weather
With so many different climate zones and changes in altitude, the weather on Kilimanjaro can be rather unpredictable. Average rainfall and temperatures vary depending on the season, but at any time of year climbers are advised to prepare for both warm and cold weather and rain and dry conditions.
FAQs
There is a lot to consider before embarking on your mission to tackle the Roof of Africa. For peace of mind, we’ll do our best to answer your frequently asked questions before you set off.