5 Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro That Will Blow Your Mind
There are places in the world that have the ability to deliver a life-changing experience when you visit them and Mount Kilimanjaro is definitely on that list of must-see sights.
If you do decide to try and conquer the summit of this awesome mountain you will need the guidance of one of the best Kilimanjaro guides to get you to the top safely, enjoying a vista that will blow your mind.
There are also some mind-blowing facts about Mount Kilimanjaro that will surely inspire you to tick this trip off your bucket list.
Here are some of those astonishing facts.
One of the seven wonders
When it comes to mountains, there are seven summits in the world that tower above everything else. Mount Kilimanjaro is one of those spectacular summits in the world that is part of an exclusive club.
Serious adventurers often want to complete the grand slam of conquering all seven summits. Mount Kilimanjaro is the fourth highest in the world, with Everest topping the list. The beauty of Kiliminajario means it often only loses out to Everest when listing the seven summits in order of popularity.
A unique challenge
An amazing fact about Kilimanjaro is that you can actually climb to the top without the sort of mountaineering equipment or experience needed to conquer other peaks.
Despite being one of the highest peaks in the world at 5,895 meters tall, it is one of the least technically challenging mountains, so you could actually get to the top without mountaineering equipment or previous experience.
Having said that, you will need a guide as you are not allowed to attempt the climb without professional guidance.
The world’s tallest mountain
It might not be the tallest mountain when measuring in pure heigh terms but Kilimanjaro is actually the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.
Mount Kilimanjaro stands alone and is not part of a mountain range. That means you get an uninterrupted view from the ground of its incredible height, making it the tallest free-standing mountain on the planet.
A mountain that delivers dramatic climatic changes
Climbers often describe the experience of climbing Kilimanjaro as like going from the Equator to the Arctic in one journey.
Mount Kilimanjaro has an astonishing five concentric climate bands. This takes you from tropical rainforest conditions to arctic temperatures when you reach the summit.
Not for the faint-hearted
The paradox of Kilimanjaro being one of the least technical of all of the seven summit challenges is the fact that less than half of climbers actually make it to the top.
The reason for this high failure rate is attributed to problems with altitude sickness.
If you don’t want to be one of the number who doesn’t make it to the top the tip is to take your time. If you take one of the eight-day routes mapped out it will give your body a better chance to acclimatize.
Those that are prepared to take longer to achieve their aim of reaching the summit tend to enjoy a much higher chance of success. About 85% of those taking this route make it to the summit.
Mount Kilimanjaro is unique in so many ways. That’s what gives it such a magnetic appeal amongst climbers and adventurers who are looking for life-changing experiences.
