5 Unique Interesting Facts about Mount Kilimanjaro
Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro is a magnificent natural landmark that is well-known around the world. Situated in North-East Tanzania, the gorgeous mountain can also be seen from the Amboseli National Park in Kenya.
Mt Kilimanjaro contains numerous notable and frequently reiterating assertions and intriguing but less well-known characteristics and incidents. At 20,000 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest peak in Africa and one of the seven summits. The snow-covered, breathtaking mountain is a source of pride and love for Africa.
The mountain is one of the top climbing destinations in the world and receives over 30,000 climbers each year.
Mount Kilimanjaro is also the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Its isolated position and stunning prominence allow you to see it from far away. These same features also offer you breathtaking expansive views from the top on cloudless days.
There are seven notable routes for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. They include the Machame Route, Shira Route, Northern Circuit, Lemosho route, Rongai Route, Umbwe route, and Marangu route. Machame is the most popular route but can be very crowded during the peak.
As you prepare for a memorable ascent, here are five unique facts about Mount Kilimanjaro.
Interesting Facts about Mount Kilimanjaro
-
It Has Three Volcanic Cones
Mount Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones. Its peak is Kibo/Uhuru at 5,895m. Mawenzi, with a height of 5,149m, and Shira, at 3,962m, are the other two cones.
These have extinct, and it is doubtful that they will erupt again. However, Kibo remains dormant, so eruption is possible; it last had a significant eruption between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago.
Kibo, 5,895 m (19,341 ft.) – dormant
Mawenzi, 5,149 m (16,893 ft.) – extinct
Shira, 3,962 m (13,000 ft.) – extinct
-
Kilimanjaro contains five remarkable environments
On Mount Kilimanjaro, one can find almost every form of climate zone. There is a cultivation zone at the base in the form of farms, pastures, and plantations.
Part of the base is also covered in tropical vegetation. As you ascend, this forest gives way to heather and moorland, the montane rain forest. This part has spectacular bird life, and one may also see some animals.
The low-alpine moorland follows and is cooler and much drier than the rainforest. Heathers and broad grasses make up the vegetation.
As you ascend higher in this zone, giant senecios and lobelias appear in great profusion. The Alpine Desert is hot during the day and much colder at night. The landscape is also rocky, with little soil to support vegetation.
Artic summit is the highest zone in Mount Kilimanjaro; rocks and volcanic scree dominate this region, while glaciers can be found higher up.
Since most precipitation falls as snow and is absorbed by porous rock, minimal water is present. It’s gloomy and bitterly cold but presents spectacular views.
-
- cultivated land (800 m to 1,800 m)
- montane rain rainforest zone (1,800 m to 2,800 m)
- low-alpine moorland zone (2,800 m to 4,000 m)
- alpine desert zone (4,000 m to 5,000 m)
- arctic summit (above 5,000 m)
-
Climbing Kilimanjaro is like going from the Equator to the Arctic.
People frequently compare climbing Kilimanjaro to walking from the Equator to the North Pole. Mount Kilimanjaro is located in a hot location because Tanzania is located close to the Equator.
The mountain’s summit, however, is a harsh place covered with snow, ice, and shallow temperatures. To reach the mountain’s top at 5,895 m, one must ascend from the mountain’s base, which is around 1,000 m above sea level, to an arctic climate.
-
It was First Scaled in the 19th Century.
Mount Kilimanjaro’s first successful ascent was in 1889. The climb was accomplished by Hans Meyer, a German geologist, an Austrian climber named Ludwig Purtscheller, and Yoanas Kinyala Lauwo of Marangu.
On his initial attempt in 1887, Meyer reached the base of Kibo but had to turn around. He found high walls of snow and ice and lacked the tools necessary for such conditions.
In 1889 Meyer finally succeeded, and his support team included a guide, two tribe leaders, nine porters, and a cook. The Marangu route follows Meyer’s ground-breaking ascent and descent of Kilimanjaro quite closely.
-
Youngest ascension at Age 7 and oldest at Age 89
The youngest person to successfully climb Kilimanjaro was 7-year-old Keats Boyd. The youngster, who was only 4 feet tall, holds the record for the youngest successful climber.
Boyd overcame the mountain with the help of his father, a group of porters, and guides. On the other hand, 89-year-old American Anne Lorimor holds the record for the oldest climber of Kilimanjaro.
In 2019, she surpassed Dr Fred Distelhorst, who was 88 at the time of his ascent, to claim the global record. Mount Kilimanjaro is open at any time of year. However, July through October is the best climbing season.
Since there are more people during this period, you might choose to schedule your hike for another month if you prefer a more private excursion.
