Kilimanjaro lies within the 756-square-kilometer Kilimanjaro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the few places on earth that encompasses every ecological life zone including tropical jungle, savannah, and desert to montane forests, subalpine plants, and the alpine zone above timberline. Visit our corporate site. Africa - Mt Kilimanjaro- 5892m 5. What's impressive is that he managed to dodge the 10-year-old minimum age limit! Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the African continent's highest peak at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). If you are dreaming of climbing Kilimanjaro, consider these guidebooks, available on Amazon.com. One theory is that the name is a mix of the Swahili word Kilima, meaning "mountain," and the KiChagga word Njaro, loosely translated as "whiteness." You cannot download interactives. South America - Aconcagua- 6962m 3. Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Kibo 19,340 feet (5,895 meters); Mawenzi 16,896 feet (5,149 meters); and Shira 13,000 feet (3,962 meters). In 1973, the mountain and its six surrounding forest corridors were named Kilimanjaro National Park in order to protect its unique environment. Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim. It is mandatory to climb with a licensed guide and have porters carry your equipment. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain. Another is that Kilimanjaro is the European pronunciation of a KiChagga phrase meaning "we failed to climb it.". The name Kibo in KiChagga means “spotted” and refers to rocks seen on snowfields. Mount Meru, a 14,980-foot volcanic cone, lies 45 miles west of Kilimanjaro. Some studies show that up to 75 percent of trekkers on summit night suffer from mild and moderate forms of AMS. Kilimanjaro has five climbing routes to the summit: Marangu Route; Machame Route; Rongai Route; Lemosho Route; and Mweka Route. The name is thought to be a combination of the Swahili word Kilima, meaning “mountain,” and the KiChagga word Njaro, loosely translated as “whiteness,” giving the name White Mountain. In 1887, during his first attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, German geology professor Hans Meyer reached the base of Kibo, but was not properly equipped to handle the deep snow and ice and retreated. Kilimanjaro encompasses a wide variety of ecosystems, including tropical jungle, savannah, and desert to montane forests, subalpine plants, and the alpine zone above timberline. Photograph by W. Robert Moore, courtesy of the National Geographic image collection There are also small-spotted genets with distinctive black-and-white tails, and the loud tree hydraxes that are similar to chipmunks. Asia - Mt Everest- 8848m 2. Kilimanjaro is not a peak you can climb on your own. It is a relatively safe climb, and most climbers who fail to summit experience altitude-related issues or harsh weather near the peak. Temperatures at the peak can be 0 degrees F (minus 18 C), and if the winds are blowing, the wind chills reach dangerous levels. Some parts of the mountain require basic scrambling skills (i.e. The park was named a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1987. A number of theories exist about the meaning and origin of the name. The Machame Route and Umbwe Route begin to the southwest and join hikers on the Lemosho and Shira Routes on day 2. One of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on the seven continents), Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania in east Africa. While the other two volcanic formations are extinct — meaning that they are highly unlikely to erupt again — Kibo (the highest peak) is merely dormant, so there is the possibility that it could erupt. Mount Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest mountain. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. Kibo is the summit of the mountain and the tallest of the three volcanic formations. The Southern passage via Barafu camp and Stellar Point (used by trekkers on the Lemosho, Shira, Machame and Umbwe Routes). If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Oceania - Carstensz Pyramid- 4884m Since its orig… It is an active volcano; has a snowcap; lies in Arusha National Park; and is often climbed as a training peak for Kilimanjaro. The mountain was built by successive lava flows. The name Uhuru translates as “freedom,” a name given to commemorate Tanzanian independence from Great Britain in 1961. Kilimanjaro is also the most prominent mountain in Africa. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. The Mweka Route is used for descent only. Scientists estimate that the last time it erupted was 360,000 years ago. Stewart M. Green is a lifelong climber from Colorado who has written more than 20 books about hiking and rock climbing. Noisy bushbabies, which are also nocturnal creatures, can be more easily heard more than seen. The Marangu Route also called the “Coca-Cola route,” starts southeast of the mountain and is the only route with hut accommodations for the entire duration of the trek. Facts About Kilimanjaro, the Highest Mountain in Africa.