Where is Mount Kilimanjaro Located
Where is Mount Kilimanjaro Located? Mount Kilimanjaro, situated in Tanzania, is the highest mountain in Africa, reaching approximately 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), and is the tallest freestanding mountain globally. It is roughly 200 miles south of the Equator. Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the Seven Summits, is situated on the African continent and reaches an elevation of 19,341 feet (5,895 meters) at its highest point, Uhuru Peak. It was established approximately 750,000 years ago, coinciding with the formation of the Great Rift Valley. The most recent significant eruption is estimated to have occurred approximately 360,000 years ago.
In contrast to Everest, which is situated within a mountain range created by the convergence of tectonic plates, Kilimanjaro is a volcano, recognized as one of the largest globally. The summit of Kilimanjaro is not a “peak”; it is the highest point on the crater rim of Kibo, the greatest volcanic cone. The crater rim encircles the periphery of the volcano’s summit.
One can enter the crater to observe the Ash Pit, where sulfurous vapors emanate, serving as a reminder of its once-active volcanic history. Camping on the crater floor, amid the glaciers, is occasionally feasible for intrepid, well-acclimatized climbers.
Two other volcanic cones exist: Mawenzi, which requires technical climbing, and the Shira plateau, a flat region resulting from the collapse of the old summit. Kilimanjaro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was established in 1973 to protect the region’s fragile ecology and animals. The National Parks Authority is tasked with granting permits for climbing Kilimanjaro.
Geographic Coordinates and Location of Mount Kilimanjaro
Altitude: 19,340 feet (5,895 meters)
Elevation: 19,303 ft. (5,885 m) Positioned fourth
Geographical Location: Tanzania, adjacent to the Kenyan border in East Africa
Classification: Stratovolcano
Initial ascent in 1889 by Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller, and Yohanas Kinyala Lauwo.
Adjacent Cities: Moshi, Arusha
Proximate Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Geographic coordinates: 03°04′33″S 37°21′12″E / -3.07583, 37.35333
Where do the ascents of Mount Kilimanjaro commence?
The Tanzanian towns of Moshi and Arusha serve as the primary departure sites for any Kilimanjaro climbing expedition. Characterized by vibrant activity, the majority of tour operators are headquartered in these towns, which offer several quality accommodations, dining establishments, retail outlets, and markets. Moshi is around 40 minutes by car from the international airport, whereas Arusha is roughly 90 minutes away.
What is the route to Kilimanjaro?
The nearest significant cities to Kilimanjaro National Park are Arusha and Moshi. The nearest international airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport. (JRO) is serviced daily by numerous airlines. Depending on your departure location, direct flights to JRO are typically available through Gulf carriers (Qatar Airways, Emirates) or European airlines (KLM).
Alternatively, you may arrive at Tanzania’s capital, Dar-Es-Salaam (DAR), for a brief domestic flight, or at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) airport for a transfer to JRO (Kenya Airways, Precision Air). Read further on the methods to reach Mount Kilimanjaro. Traveling by vehicle from Kenya is also feasible. Various bus and shuttle services are available to get you to Moshi or Arusha, however the roads may be fairly arduous at times; this alternative may appeal to those seeking adventure, cost savings, and ample time.
Additional Factors for Mount Kilimanjaro Travel
Verify your Visa and Passport requirements well ahead of your trip, including any visa stipulations for transit nations.
Ensure you are current with vaccines, including Yellow Fever, especially if you have a layover in a high-risk country (e.g., Kenya).
Arrive several days prior to your expedition. This accommodates unforeseen delays and provides you with the chance to be adequately rested prior to the commencement of your ascent.
We provide accommodation prior to and following your ascent in one of our superior alternatives, allowing you to rest and rejuvenate, so enhancing your success and enjoyment on the mountain. We are available to assist. We can assist you in organizing your vacation itinerary, reserving local accommodations, and addressing any inquiries you may have.
Exploration and Initial Endeavors to Ascend Mt. Kilimanjaro
In the second century AD, the Greek mathematician Ptolemy referenced a “great snow mountain” located on the African continent. Subsequently, Oriental merchants referred to a “vast mountain to the west of Zanzibar.”
Johann Rebmann journeyed to the interior in 1848 to personally observe the mountain, thus formally “discovering” Kilimanjaro from a Western perspective. Clearly, folks residing near the mountain were fully aware of its existence. Currently, Kilimanjaro is inhabited by the Chagga people, who are believed to have come and established themselves in the region some 400 years ago. Moshi and Arusha have evolved into bustling, contemporary towns, although old tribal customs persist in the more rural regions.
Inaugural Official Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
On October 6, 1889, Hans Meyer and his guide Yohani Lauwo reached the peak of Kilimanjaro for the first time. During that period, knowledge regarding the effects of altitude was limited, however local inhabitants cautioned that ascending the mountain induced illness. Sheila MacDonald, a 22-year-old from Scotland, was the first documented woman to reach the summit. She attained the summit in 1927.
The Origins of Tourism Around Mt. Kilimanjaro
The initial shelters atop Kilimanjaro were constructed in the 1920s. The East African Mountain Club was established by Richard Reusch, who, along with Clement Gillman, taught mountain guides and conducted trips to the summit of Kibo.
The Tanzanian Government designated the ash pit at the core of Kibo’s caldera as the “Reusch Ash Pit” in honor of Richard Reusch. Gillman’s Point on the crater rim is called in honor of Clement Gilbert. Since its inception, tourism on Kilimanjaro has expanded significantly. The towns of Moshi and Arusha attract thousands of visitors annually. Approximately 35,000 international tourists endeavor to summit Kilimanjaro annually.
Several concise facts regarding Mount Kilimanjaro:
The origin of the name “Kilimanjaro” remains unknown. The prevailing theory posits that it derives from the Chagga term “Kilima” (like to the Swahili “Mlima,” signifying hill or mountain) and “njaro,” which refers to the white mantle of snow and glaciers at the peak.
The apex of Kilimanjaro, presently referred to as Uhuru Peak, was formerly designated as “Kaiser Wilhelm Peak” during the colonial era.
In 1927, Richard Reusch reportedly discovered the frozen remains of a leopard near the crater’s edge. Subsequently referenced in Ernest Hemingway’s work The Snows of Kilimanjaro, the veracity of the account remains uncertain.