Mount Kilimanjaro is a goal for regular mountain climbers and those who just have high ambitions alike. But it’s nice to know what you are facing when climbing Kilimanjaro so here are some facts about it to get you started.

1. It is 5895M tall making it the world’s tallest free standing mountain.

It’s well known Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain at , but it is also the tallest mountain in the world which isn’t part of a mountain range like Mt. Everest is.

2. Trekkers on fast routes can make it up in 4 days.

This is fairly rare and most people take 5-9 days. The fast ascent meaning altitude sickness is fairly common, and those not used to altitude are better off taking longer to make it up than trying to zoom up in Record time.

3. There are 6 official routes to the top.

Of those 5, 1 (Mweka) is for descent only. From the South there are three routes – Machame, Umbwe, and Marangu.  Two routes from the west – Shira and Lemosho and Rongai approaches from the North-East. The Northern Circuit is a seventh route option that approaches from the West using the Lemosho start point, but then circles around the north of Kilimanjaro and follows a summit passage going via Gilman’s Point.

4. It was first summatied in 1889

Although it was likely climbed before by locals, it was never recorded who went up first. However Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller and a local called Lauwo were the first to record making it to the top in October 1889.

5. The highest altitude pizza delivery was at Kilimanjaro

When you gotta have pizza, you gotta have pizza. And Mount Kilimanjaro is home to the highest recorded altitude for a pizza delivery! It was done in May 2016 by Pizza Hut. Dominos and Papa Johns are going to have to tackle Everest to beat this record now!

6. The fastest ascent took under 6 hours.

Yes, the fast trekkers do it in 4 days, but Spanish Kilian Jornet broke the record to summit in an astonishing 5 hours 22 minutes and 50 seconds! This smashed the previous record by Italian Bruno Brunod broke the record to summit Uhuru Peak in 2001 when he managed it in 5 hours 38 minutes 40 seconds. The fastest roundtrip was accomplished in 2004, when local guide Simon Mtuy went up and down the mountain in 8 hours and 27 minutes.

7. The climate is hugely varied along the mountain.

Virtually every type of ecological system can be found on this mountain, including cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert, and of course an arctic summit.

8. Approximately 35,000 people a year try to climb Kilimanjaro.

You could join them too! But it’s also worth noting only around two thirds of people actually make it to the top. Altitude sickness stops the majority of that one third from making it to the top. But the odds are in favour of you making it to the top still. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tackled Mt. Kilimanjaro and how it went for you!