Affectionately termed Kili, Mt Kilimanjaro is located just south of the equator on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. It is also nicknamed the roof of Africa because it is the tallest free standing mountain rise in the world standing a whopping 19,330 feet. Kili became a National Park and opened to the public in 1977.
Mt. Kilimanjaro has three dormant active volcanoes.
· Kibo is 19,340 feet,
· Mawenze is 16,896 feet
· Shira is 13,000 feet.
It has been over 200 years since any volcanic activity has been reported although there is still a strong smell of sulfur emanating from the inner ash pits.
The National Park consists of over 60 miles long and 40 miles wide including all three volcanoes.
Mt. Kilimanjaro is quite well known by mountain climbing and hiking enthusiasts. Over 25,000 people attempt to climb to Uhuru peak, the highest summit on the mountain every year. Of those only 25% of climbers reach the top. The oldest person to ever accomplish this goal was 87 years old. One does not need to be an experienced climber, but you do need to be in good physical condition.
One of the Tanzanian guides that assisted the first person to officially reach the top of Kili is still alive today. He is 118 years old.
The scenery is awe inspiring and climbers often speak of experiencing spiritual awakenings during their climb.
Kili encompasses nearly every eco-system on earth, while climbing one will go through tropical jungles, deserts, alpine moorland, snowfields and glaciers before reaching the top. There aren’t many places in the world to experience all of the earth’s eco-systems in one climb!
The wildlife is also incredible and abundant on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Giraffes, elephants, hyenas, leopards, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and water buffalo can all be found while hiking or climbing the mountain.
The surrounding area is quite populated by the local tribe of Chagga. Many are farmers while others make their living as guides for people hiking or climbing the mountain.
Many climbers set out with a goal of reaching the top in order to have their experience documented. At the very top of the Uhuru Peak there is a wooden box. Inside this box is a book that every person who reaches the top has recorded their feelings about having reached the Roof of Africa. This would surely be a book worth reading!
Ryan Coisson is a rock climbing information expert. Discover more information about Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kilimanjaro Facts by visiting his website.