Mount Kilimanjaro General Info

Standing at almost 20,000ft., Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest mountain in Africa and is the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Rising as it does from the plains of Africa up to it's ice capped summit, it is an incrediable sight everytime one sees it.

It is a mountain where you can hike for more than 90 kilometers, gain 4000 meters in altitude, traverse rain forest, moorland, alpine desert, snow fields and ice cliffs, all virtually on the equator! A truly unforgettable and fascinating adventure.

A bit of History

Although it was spoken of in earlier times, Mt. Kilimanjaro was only "discovered" by the western world in 1848, when the German missionary Johannes Rebmann came within sight of the mountain, explored the area and traversed the lower slopes. He submitted his findings to the Royal Geographical Society, but his description of a snowcapped mountain in eastern equatorial Africa was doubted by these "experts". During the following years there where a number of unsuccessful attempts by various explorers to conquer the summit and it was only on the 6 October 1889 that Dr. Hans Meyer, with Ludwig Purtscheller an experienced alpine mountaineer, managed to reach the summit successfully. The expedition consisted of many porters, guides and advisors. It took the intrepid Meyer almost 6 weeks to reach the summit, 6 times as long as it takes the average ChildAid Trekker today!!

Mt. Kilimanjaro's Topography

Kilimanjaro rises from plains at approximately 2,000m, right up to 5,895m. An ancient volcano, it now lies dormant except for some tell tale signs of fumaroles in the ash pit. Two other peaks, namely Mawenzi and Shira, flank the main peak of Kibo. These peaks form spectacular photographic backdrops when viewed from various vantage points along the routes to the summit. The different routes to the summit pass through five ecological zones, being the cultivated lower slopes, Montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert and the ice capped summit. The lower slopes of the mountain are mainly used for agricultural purposes.

The climate here is ideal for the production of coffee, an industry that Tanzania is famous for. Further up, a rain forest belt encircles the mountain up to about 200 meters. As you proceed higher, you pass through the heath which changes into moorland, semi-desert at altitude, progressing into total desert and finally into an alpine region with permanent ice glaciers. The higher slopes are covered with scree, loose stones resembling gravel, making it more difficult to negotiate. The main glaciers edging their way down the slopes of Kibo are Heim, Rebmann, Decken, Arrow and some smaller ones. These glaciers form the permanent ice cap of the mountain, although they are, as a result of global warming, believed to receding each year.

The Climate

Being only 3 degrees south of the equator, there is a constant feeling of summer, but there are two rainy seasons to keep in mind. The highest rainfall occurs from March lasting until about the end of May. This is monsoon time. Slightly less rain falls during the short rainy period, which occurs from around October to November, but can extend into December. Apart from these factors, climbing Kilimanjaro remains fairly constant throughout the year.

The maximum rainfall occurs in the forest belt, where it can reach up to 2000mm per year. At the summit, which can be, describe as a "high altitude desert", the rainfall reaches less than 100mm per year. Rain (and snow at higher altitudes) can however be encountered at any time of the year.

The average temperatures at the foot of the mountain is 25°-30° C and on the summit, it can range from minus 10° - 20° C. At 3000m the day temperatures range from 5°-15° C, and at night frost is normally encountered. Clearly a large variation, making it more interesting to summit the mountain.

Can you climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?

About 22,000 climbers set out every year to conquer the Kilimanjaro peak. Several well-marked hiking routes lead to the summit of the mountain. To use the word "climber" is not always correct. Although none of these hikers routes really requires mountaineering skills, hiking to the "roof of Africa" is physically and mentally demanding and should not be under estimated. As much as 40% of those who set out to climb Kilimanjaro turn back before they reach Uhuru peak.

Today, hikers make up the bulk of all those who conquer Kilimanjaro, and the mountain is in fact one of the highest peaks accessible to hikers in the world. Of course there are extremely severe climbs available, including some grade 3+ climbs, but those we leave to the professional alpine climbers and experienced mountaineers.

With the adequate preparation any reasonably fit person above the age of 12 years can reach the summit successfully, in fact the oldest person to date to reach the summit was a Frenchman Valtee Daniel at an age of 87!!

Preparation both physically and mentally is the keywords for success - ChildAid always uses the services of professional, experienced trekking companies to ensure that our trekkers have the maximum chance of summiting 'Kili'!

The next Steps

Here you can read a TREK DIARY from one of our Kilimanjaro Trekkers. Click Here. This will give you a first hand view of what to expect.

If you would like to join our trek, or want more information, please fill in our online form.