What is the height of Mount Kilimanjaro? (Size Comparison)

Kibo Peak from Barafu Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro’s height is 5,895 meters above sea level. It is 4,900 m above its plateau base. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world. Kilimanjaro is fourth in height among the Seven Summits. It is one of the tallest mountains on Earth outside Asia.


Richard Nash At Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro
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What is the height of Mount Kilimanjaro?

The height of Mount Kilimanjaro is 5.9 kilometres. Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest stand-alone peak. The mountain has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Shira, and Mawenzi, of which Kibo is the highest.

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How wide is Mount Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro is approximately 40 km (25 miles) to 65 km (40 miles) wide at its widest point, with a total length of about 100 km (62 miles). The Kibo crater has a length of 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles). The east-west extent has a width of 2.5 km (1.55 miles).

How does Mount Kilimanjaro compare in size to other mountains?

In comparison to the other mountain peaks of the world, Mount Kilimanjaro ranks as the highest mountain in Africa and the world’s highest free-standing mountain with a height of just under 5.9 kilometres. Mount Everest has a height of about 29,000 feet (8,839 meters), Aconcagua has a height of about 7 kilometres, and Denali has a height of 6.2 kilometres. Mount Kilimanjaro is taller than Mount Kenya, which has a height of about 5 kilometres. Mount Kilimanjaro is the fourth highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on each of the seven continents).

Mount Kilimanjaro is a free-standing volcano, not attached to a mountain range and not part of a group of mountains. It has a diameter of 31.07 miles (50 kilometers) and rises 16,076.12 feet (4900 metres) above flatlands nearby. Kibo has a height of over 5.8 kilometres and is the topmost peak. Mawenzi has a height of nearly 5,150 metres (about 16,900 feet), and Shira has a height of about 3.962 kilometres (about 2.462 miles). The top crater on Kibo has a width of roughly 2.4 km (1.5 miles). Due to its size, Mount Kilimanjaro is visible from 160 kilometers (99.4 miles).

What are the facts about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro?

Facts about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro include that nearly 35,000 to 50,000 visitors visit it annually, and 30,000 to 40,000 try the summit. The number of hikers grew from 15,000 in the 1990s to over 50,000 by 2019. A climber does not need technical climbing gear or experience. However, the hike requires guides and porters. The main obstacle is high altitude illness. Mountain sickness affects hikers because of insufficient acclimatization and success changes by route. On shorter routes, 45% to 60% of climbers reach the summit. Week-long trips have 85% success.

The climb goes through five ecological zones, from tropical base to icy peak. The expedition usually takes up to one week and a half but time can vary depending on the route. Because of the high altitude, mountain sickness affects hikers. The first recorded people to climb Mount Kilimanjaro were German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller on October 6, 1889.

Hiker at Barranco Valley
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Amazing experience with XPATS International, John was really professional. Took 8 days Lemosho route and all of us summited, from airport pick up to the accommodation and 8 days expedition was above our expectations. Thanks to XPATS International.

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Really enjoyed the trip! John has been great with helping me prepare for climbing Kilimanjaro. He organised it perfectly, helped with last minute questions and I was able to reach the top relatively easily! Guides and crew were good. Really great to reset a bit and enjoy the amazing nature.

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John is a travel agent in Tanzania with extensive tourism experience since 2019 when he founded XPATS International Travel, a local travel agency recognized for its focus on affordable package tour options for standard and luxury excursion trips to Mount Kilimanjaro, in addition to African safari tours beyond hiking the summit. He was born on August 1, 1993 at the KCMC (Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center) hospital in Moshi, Tanzania. At the age of 4 years old, John and his family left Tanzania to begin his journey as a third culture kid and he has so far lived in Tanzania, Namibia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Cambodia and the Netherlands. Work Experience --- John has been climbing Kilimanjaro since the age of 16, when he would visit relatives in Tanzania during easter breaks. As of date, he has scaled the mountain for a total of 4 times along Marangu Route, Machame Route, Lemosho Route and Umbwe Route. Furthermore, he has explored various safari parks in Africa such as the Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Manyara National Park and the Conservation Area. John does a great job at tailoring personalized experiences that include hotel lodging upon arrival, airport transportation, comfortable tourism vehicles, well trained tour guide teams, as well as a wide selection of cozy accommodations in prime camping and lodge locations. Hobbies and Activities --- John enjoys a very healthy and active life that include various sports such as basketball, soccer, cycling and strength training. These activities keep him focused throughout the day and foster endurance to handle heaps of clients during the high seasons of tourism in Tanzania. Contacts --- John is available to connect and chat via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, email and phone.

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