These fascinating facts about Mount Kilimanjaro will help you learn more about climbing Kilimanjaro. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and world’s highest free standing mountain is a dream for many people. Before you climb this awesome mountain, you need some facts about it to help you prepare for the climb and keep you motivated to climb. Below are 7 fascinating facts about Mount Kilimanjaro that we think you should know:
#1 Fact about Mount Kilimanjaro
Not all climbers experience altitude sickness when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. To add to that, there are lots of climbers who experience altitude sickness, and still make it to the summit as they get over the sickness at lower altitudes.
#2 Fact about Mount Kilimanjaro
The standard ratio of a client to porter is 3 porters per client. Picture it, a crew team for 20 clients require at least 60 porters!. The number of porters may increase depending on the amount of luggage clients have. The number of porters may also increase due to customized requirements of clients such as to have a private porter to carry daypack or carry special items such as medication or filming equipment.
#3 Fact about Mount Kilimanjaro
Though you can see Mount Kilimanjaro while you are in some parts of Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro is entirely in Tanzania. In fact, it is about 20 kilometers from the border of Tanzania and Kenya. That also means to climb Mount Kilimanjaro you have to be in Tanzania.
#4 Fact about Mount Kilimanjaro
On Mount Kilimanjaro we follow the guideline that says leave no trace. This means, everything we bring to the mountain, should be taken out of the mountain. This includes trash. Hence, your porters do not only carry food and other supplies to the mountain, but also have to carry trash we generate on mountain, and take them back to town.
#4 Fact about Mount Kilimanjaro
There are three possible certificates of accomplishment you can receive when you climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
A gold colored certificate when you reach the summit – Uhuru Point – 5895 meters
Green colored certificate when you reach Stella Point – 5756 meters
Yellow colored certificate when you reach Gilman’s Point -5685 meters
Note that, not all itineraries go through Gilman’s Point, but all Kilimanjaro itineraries go through Stella Point.
#5 Fact about Mount Kilimanjaro
All Kilimanjaro Climbing starting gates are named after the villages where the routes start. For example, the Marangu route starts at Marangu village, the Machame route starts at Machame village, and the Umbwe route starts at Umbwe village.
#6 Fact about Mount Kilimanjaro
It is a common practice to start hike for the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro at around 11PM – 1AM midnight so that climbers can reach the summit at around 6 to 8 in the morning. However, this is not the only time people hike to the summit. Depending on the analysis of the guide and consultation with clients, the summit hike can any other time. There has been cases when climbers reached the summit in the afternoon and some climbers reached the summit in the evening.
#7 Fact about Mount Kilimanjaro
There are three official base camps on Mount Kilimanjaro. The most famous one is the Barafu base camp, which is used by those climbers who take Machame route, Lemosho route, Umbwe route or Shira route. We then have Kibo Hut base camp, which is normally used by those who take Marangu and Rongai routes. We also have School Hut base camp, which is rarely. Northern circuit route climbers use the School Hut base camp and some Rongai route climbers prefer the School Hut base camp.