Africa is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, from the huge Congo rainforest to the Fish River Canyon. But few places are as intriguing as the world’s second largest continent’s highest mountain, which is a snow-capped volcano that rises 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) above sea level and has five distinct climate zones.
Mount Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania and is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, meaning it is not part of a larger mountain range. It consists of three volcanic cones – Kibo, which is dormant and could erupt again, and Mawenzi and Shira, which are extinct. According to Climbing Kilimanjaro, volcanic activity on the mountain began around 2.5 million years ago, with the most recent eruptions occurring within the last 200,000 years.
The summit, known as Uhuru Peak, is the highest point in Africa and a goal for thousands of climbers every year.
But what makes Kilimanjaro unique is the rapid change in climate as you ascend.
The journey from the base to the summit is often compared to travelling from the equator to the Arctic in just a few days.
The lower slopes are covered in farmland, where locals grow coffee, bananas, and maize.
Above this is a dense rainforest with high humidity, home to monkeys, antelopes, and a variety of bird species.
As the altitude increases, the landscape changes to open moorland, followed by a rocky alpine desert with extreme temperature swings between day and night.
The summit zone is covered in ice and snow, although the glaciers have been shrinking rapidly.
Scientists estimate that if current trends continue, Kilimanjaro’s ice cap could disappear entirely by 2060.
The mountain has fascinated explorers for centuries. Greek geographer Ptolemy mentioned a “great snow mountain” in Africa as early as the second century.
European explorers initially dismissed the idea of snow in Africa until German missionary Johannes Rebmann documented Kilimanjaro’s glaciers in 1848.
The first recorded successful summit was in 1889 by German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller, guided by Yohani Lauwo, a local Chagga tribesman.
Lauwo went on to guide expeditions for decades and reportedly lived to be 125 years old.
Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s most popular high-altitude climbs, attracting around 30,000 climbers each year.
However, reaching the summit is not guaranteed. Altitude sickness is a big challenge, and success rates are higher on longer routes that allow more time for acclimatisation.
While the National Parks Authority does not release official figures, it is estimated that between three and six people die on the mountain each year, mostly due to altitude-related illnesses.
Some porters have also lost their lives due to exposure and inadequate equipment.
The loss of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers is one of the biggest concerns for scientists.
According to a study by the European Geosciences Union, between 1912 and 2011, the mountain lost around 85% of its ice cover.
The glaciers, which once covered 11.4 square kilometres, now cover just 1.76 square kilometres.
If the current rate of melting continues, the mountain could be ice-free within the next few decades.