WHERE IS MOUNT KILIMANJARO?
Mount Kilimanjaro is located inside Kilimanjaro National Park in the northern part of Tanzania. It lies near the border of Kenya, and you’ll need a permit to enter the park. If you want to climb the mountain, you’re required to use an official guide company.

HOW TALL IS MOUNT KILIMANJARO?
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. Its summit, Uhuru Peak, is Africa’s highest peak. It rises to a height of 5,895 metres above sea level and is less than 3 metres shorter than Mount Everest.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO’S ECOLOGY
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano. It has three volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. The only active one is Kibo (the highest peak), but its last major eruption took place more than 360,000 years ago.

Since 1912, the mountain has lost more than 80% of its ice caps due to climate change. It’s predicted that within the next 20 years, Kilimanjaro will become completely ice-free.

One of the things that makes Kilimanjaro unique is that it boasts five climate zones: 

Cultivated land (or farmland)
Rainforest
Heather and moorland
Alpine desert
The summit, where you’ll find a glacial zone and the inner crater’s ash pit – one of the largest in the world.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO CLIMB KILIMANJARO?
The best time to summit Kilimanjaro is during the dry seasons, from January to March, and from June to October. The slopes are easier to climb during this time, and you’ll have uninterrupted views of the landscape while you ascend.

If you want to avoid the crowds that climb during high season (June to September), book your trek between December and March. The weather is colder in the evenings and you’ll get to see snow on the summit.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO EVERY YEAR?
It’s estimated that 35,000 people attempt to summit Kilimanjaro every year. However, only two-thirds are successful due to altitude sickness and other health challenges that cause climbers to turn around.

If you want to improve your chances of successfully climbing the mountain, take your time reaching the summit. The longer your trek, the more time your body has to adapt and acclimatise to the high altitude.

HOW MANY ROUTES DOES KILIMANJARO HAVE?
There are seven official routes for Kilimanjaro. The Lemosho, Shira, Machame, Umbwe, and Marangu routes use the Southern Circuit to summit the mountain via Stella Point. 

The other two routes (Rongai and the Northern Circuit), ascend from the northeast and use Gilman’s Point to reach the summit.

If you don’t want to camp your way up the mountain, you have to use the Marangu route. It’s the oldest trail up Kilimanjaro and the only one with hut accommodation.

The Mweka route is used for descent only.