Where is Mount Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in northern Tanzania. Tanzania is in East Africa.

Before 1964 Tanzania was formerly known as Tanganyika during the colonial era.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa standing at 5,895m.

Is an ice-capped mountain in warm climate regions, and it’s only 200 miles south of the Equator.

Kilimanjaro is one of the seven summits, located in Africa.

Mount Kilimanjaro is a volcanic mountain raised to 19,340 ft, 5895m above sea level.

Its summit is named Uhuru Peak. Data shows that Mount Kilimanjaro is 750,000 years old.

The volcanic eruption created the three peaks which are Kibo ( 5,895m )

Mawezi which is suitable for technical climbing and Shira plateau which is now flat after the former peak collapsed.

Mount Kilimanjaro is distinctive from other mountains like Everest,

Other mountains are part of the mountain ranges formed by tectonic plates moving toward each other,

But Kilimanjaro is a free-standing mountain, not connected to any mountain range, it stands alone.

Kibo Peak, well known as Uhuru Peak is the highest point of the crater rim.

It’s possible to camp within the crater of Kilimanjaro if you’re acclimatized well.

Mount Kilimanjaro is managed by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA).

In 1973 Mount Kilimanjaro was officially gazetted as the National park for sustainable conservation.

KINAPA is given the mandate to take control of all the permit activities for climbers and issue summit climbing certificates.

Mount Kilimanjaro is under UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What are the coordinates and location of Mount Kilimanjaro?

Geographic coordinates	03°04′33″S 37°21′12″E / -3.07583, 37.35333
Location/Country	Tanzania, East Africa
Elevation / Height	19,340 ft (5,895 m)
Seven summits rank	19,303 ft. (5,885 m) Ranked 4th
Type of volcano	Stratovolcano
Nearby cities	Moshi and Arusha
First ascent	1889 by Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller, Yohanas Kinyala Lauwo

Where is the starting point for Mount Kilimanjaro?

Arusha and Moshi Tanzania’s towns could be your starting point for the Mount Kilimanjaro trip.

Depending on your arrival point either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport.

Many Tour operators set their offices in Arusha or Moshi.

These two towns provide a lot of accommodation for climbers to choose from depending on their Tanzania safari budget.

Either for luxury or budget travelers these towns have all you need.

The ascending point depends on the climbing routes you will take to Kilimanjaro.

If you will hike through the Machame route expect to start your ascent at Machame gate and descend through the Mweka route to Mweka gate.

In other routes like Marangu, you can ascend and descend on the same route.

How to get to Mount Kilimanjaro?

The quick way to visit Kilimanjaro is by flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO),

Which is served daily by different airlines including Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, Qatar Airlines, Emirates, and many other domestic flights.

You’re not limited to arriving in one place, it’s possible to arrive at Dar es Salaam (DAR) or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO),

Then connect to JRO through domestic flights. You can fly from Kenya or Zanzibar with Precision Air, Flights Link Aviation, Auric Air, Kenya Airways, and Tanzania Airways.

If you decide to use land transport, you can use a bus or shuttle from Nairobi to Arusha or Moshi.

Possible to arrive from Dar es Salaam to Arusha or Moshi by bus. You need sufficient time to do this, though it will save you some trip costs.

What are things to do before climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

There are many things to consider before you take a flight to visit Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro. The key points to note include:

Visa and passport requirements. Remember to apply for your visa online before arrival.
It’s possible to buy your visa on arrival but it’s better if you do it in advance. You should also consider visa requirements for transit countries.
Make sure you book your Mount Kilimanjaro climbing trip with a reputable tour operator before you arrive in Tanzania
Vaccination, especially for Yellow Fever, and. If you will not have layovers in countries at risk like Kenya, you’re not required for that. Learn more about this on CDI
If you have enough time for traveling, arrive two days before your climbs, this will give you a chance to rest and organize properly before the start of your Kilimanjaro climbing.

A good thing about booking with Blessing Safaris is that we offer all-inclusive packages for Mount Kilimanjaro.

This means we arrange accommodation for our clients before and after climbing.

We offer the best options for accommodation to allow you to relax for successful climbing or relaxation after the climb.

Learn more about the best accommodation in Arusha

Facts about Mount Kilimanjaro

When is Mount Kilimanjaro discovered by the Western countries?

It was only in 1848 that Johann Rebmann traveled to the interior to see the mountain for himself, and officially “discovered” Kilimanjaro in Western eyes.

During the second century AD, Ptolemy, one of the Greek mathematicians, mentions Kilimanjaro as the great snow mountain.

While other traders spoke of the great mountain west of Zanzibar.

For how long Chagga people have been living in Kilimanjaro?

History shows the Chagga people have been living for more than 450 in the Kilimanjaro region.

Others live along the Machame route, Marangu route, and Lemosho route. The modern town of Moshi is now growing fast because of tourism.

Who and when did the first climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro?

By 1889, on October 6th, that was the time when the first record was made to reach the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.

It was done by Hans Meyer and his guide Yohani Lauwo, these were the first climbers to stand on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

When did the first woman climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro?

In 1927, Sheila MacDonald at the age of 22 years, made the world record for being the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, she was a Scottish woman.

What is Gilman’s point on Mount Kilimanjaro?

Gilman’s point is the point on the crater rim of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,685m).

This place is named after the founder of the East African Mountain Club (the 1920s).

He was the first group of Europeans to organize and train guides to lead an expedition for Mount Kilimanjaro. His name was Clement Gillman.

What is the Reusch Ash pit on Mount Kilimanjaro?

Is the ash pit at the center of Kibo’s caldera. Reusch is the last name of the other founder of the East Africa Mountain Club during the 1920s.

His full name was Richard Reusch. They work together with Clement Gillman.

How many tourists climb Mount Kilimanjaro each year?

Tourism is growing so fast in Tanzania, with Mount Kilimanjaro being the leading climbing destination in Africa.

It estimates it to receive 30,000 to 35,000 clients every year. Many tourists from Mount Kilimanjaro arrive in Arusha or Moshi town.

The name ” Kilimanjaro” is of unknown origin”

The most popular opinion is that it comes from the Chagga “Kilima” (similar to the Swahili “Mlima” meaning hill or mountain), and “njaro” describes the white covering of snow and glacial on the Summit.

Kaiser Wilhelm Peak changed to Uhuru Peak after the Independence

The summit of Kilimanjaro, now known as Uhuru Peak, was originally in colonial times are known as “Kaiser Wilhelm Peak”

What are the recommended routes for Mount Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro offers six routes for ascent and descent. These routes differ in terms of climbing days, climbing cost, difficulty, and comfort.

The view from each route is quite different from the others.

But at the end of the climb, it leads you to the same peak which is “Uhuru Peak “ or the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895m above the sea.

This is a brief overview of these climbing routes for Kilimanjaro. We have a dedicated page for Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes and packages.

Lemosho Route- Mount Kilimanjaro

The Lemosho route is one of the leading and best routes for Mount Kilimanjaro climbing.

This route has the highest success rate of any other route for Kilimanjaro climbing.

You can spend seven (7) or eight (8) days reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Expect to cover a distance of about 43 miles during your trip to Kilimanjaro.

This route is also expensive compared to other routes.

The average cost for a solo climber is $ 3,200 and group sharing can go lower to $2,560.

Machame Route- Mount Kilimanjaro

Well known as the whisky route, the Machame route is the best yet most difficult route compared with other routes like Marangu.

Machame route gives climbers a chance to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro either for six or seven days.

We do recommend seven days of climbing to allow acclimatization and increase the chance for success rate.

The average price for solo climbers is $2,600 and $2,080 for group cost

Marangu Route- Mount Kilimanjaro

This is the very popular route for Mount Kilimanjaro.

This route is situated at the park headquarters.

Sometimes referred to as the Coca-Cola route and is the oldest trail to Kilimanjaro.

This route offers mountain huts compared with other routes which use tents for accomodation.

Marangu routes offer hikers a chance to climb Mount Kilimanjaro either for five or six days.

Is a very easy route to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Despite being easy it has a lower success rate compared with Lemosho routes.

The cost for climbing through Marangu routes ranges from $18,00 to $ 2,200 depending on the service level of your choice.

Rongai Route- Mount Kilimanjaro

We rank this route as the V.I.P. route for Mount Kilimanjaro climbing.

Is it one of the less explored routes compared to other routes? Is one off-beaten track for Kilimanjaro.

Climbers through the Rongai route approach the mount from the northern side which is the opposite side of all other routes.

The Rongai route is the best route for those who are planning for the second climb of Kilimanjaro but also for climbers who don’t prefer crowded routes.

Rongai route remains the only route that offers climbers a chance to camp below Mawenzi Peak.

As you climb through the Rongai route expect to walk about 44 miles and can usually take seven days to reach the Kibo peak.

The average cost for this route is around $ 2,600.