- Posted by: Landia Davies
- January 11, 2008, 8:30 am
Here are 10 quick facts about Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania’s natural wonder and the major attraction to many a traveller in Africa.
- Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa - Height: 5895 meters or 19,340 feet
- It’s the highest free-standing mountain in the world - rising 16 000 feet (4900 meters) above the plains at its base
- Location: 3 degrees south of the equator latitude and 37° East in longitude; near the Kenyan border, Kilimanjaro lies completely within Tanzania
- Area: 60 miles (100 kilometres) long & 40 miles (65 kilometres) wide, including all three separate volcanoes
- Age: The volcanoes began erupting about 2 million years ago
- Original names : Original Swahili name - Kilima Njaro & original Masai name - Oldoinyo Oibor
- The peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi are joined by a broad saddle 7 miles (11 kilometers) long
- Kilimanjaro is one of the largest volcanoes ever to break through the earth’s crust
- Best time to climb & seasons: All year round, but most avoid the rainy season: The long rainy season is from April to May, the short rainy season is mostly in November/beginning of December
- Within its greater ecosystem lies almost every kind of environment found on earth (over 5 kinds)– from tropical rain forest, Alpine vegetation, moorland, desert uplands, to snow and ice
To climb Kilimanjaro one need only be in sound physical condition and of a reasonable fitness level. Contact our travel experts if you are thinking of visiting Tanzania and need information or if you are planning a trip to Africa – it is after all their area of expertise.
We would love to hear from you, so feel free to share your stories, pictures, videos and comments from your travels in Africa with us.
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About the Author
Landia Davies has recently joined Africa Travel Guide as the new online editor. A nature lover and passionate traveler she loves exploring and is always looking for new adventures. Landia hopes to become a highly accomplished travel writer and knowledgeable vagabond. Growing up on the coast of South Africa, she enjoys the outdoors and soaking up local culture.
