In the heart of Tanzania, shrouded in clouds and kissed by the African sun, stands the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. Its peak, Uhuru, soars an impressive 19,431 feet above sea level, surpassing even the elevation of the Everest base camp. The name "Uhuru" resonates in Swahili, meaning "freedom," a testament to the liberation and triumph felt upon reaching its summit.
Don’t miss the experience of a lifetime, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro during a full moon and seeing the glaciers glittering in the moonlight… simply stunning! Many climbers choose the full moon to coincide with their Kilimanjaro climb, as the bright full moon gives them enhanced visibility with clear skies. It is a prevalent time to climb.
Unlike mountains such as Everest, which are part of a mountain range and have an actual ‘peak’ at the top—the highest point often being a small, narrow section of rock—Kilimanjaro is a volcano crater, where the summit is not a peak but simply the highest point on the crater rim.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a distinct stratovolcano with three cones: Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo, the highest among them.
Kibo, where the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak, is situated, is a dormant volcano. The last volcanic activity occurred approximately 200,000 years ago, forming the current crater, which is surrounded by an almost symmetrical cone.
Within the caldera lies the inner crater, or ash pit, known as the Reusch Ash Pit. This is the actual centre of the volcano, where sulfurous fumes continue to erupt.
During the last ice age, enormous glaciers formed within this caldera, once entirely covering the top of Kibo. Presently, the remaining glaciers offer a captivating spectacle. Magnificent ice formations glisten under the sun's rays and, on clear moonlit nights, contrast vividly against the barren rocks and scree of this bleak landscape.
