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Height, Prominence, And Altitude Gain When Climbing Kilimanjaro!

Written By

African Scenic Safaris

28/04/2023

Trekking

Last updated on June 6th, 2023 at 07:15 am

The classic question that comes up most often when climbers plan to tackle Kili’s summit is What is the Kilimanjaro Height? Kilimanjaro rises a colossal 5,895 metres (19,431 feet) above sea level. In this blog post, we’ll get a closer look at the height of each of the three volcanic cones of Kilimanjaro, its prominence, and the altitude you’ll gain during Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing. And, yes, we won’t forget to include some personalized recommendations for your benefit too!

Table of Contents

The Mt Kilimanjaro Height

The topmost point of Mount Kilimanjaro is on the rim of its tallest crater and is known as Uhuru Peak. The peak is situated at 5,895 metres above sea level and this is the Mount Kilimanjaro Elevation you’ll find on the Uhuru Peak sign marking the top spot. For those who want to know Mt Kilimanjaro Height in Feet, it is 19,431 feet.

The Altitudes of Kili’s Three Volcanic Cones

Mount Kilimanjaro isn’t a neat triangular pyramid-shaped mountain. Rather, the mountain has three spaced-out volcanic cones:

Kibo is the highest cone and the one that you’ll summit while Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and reaching 5,895 metres (19,431 feet) above sea level.
Mawenzi, the second-highest cone is located at an elevation of 5,149 metres (16,893 feet).
Shira, the lowest cone is at 4,005 metres (13,140 feet).

Uncertainties over the exact Uhuru Peak Height

Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak’s official height until 1952 was 5,892 metres. This figure was assigned to Kilimanjaro by German cartographers during colonial times. In 1952, they mapped the mountain again and amended the Mt Kilimanjaro Elevation to 5,895 metres.

This is the figure almost everyone uses when talking and thinking about Kilimanjaro Summit Height. That being said, the United Nations Environment Programme claims the height of Kilimanjaro to be 5,893 metres above sea level. It’s not much of a difference, but it is a fact to be noted.

The Fourth Highest of the Seven Summits

Standing atop the Free-Standing Mountain List (meaning it’s not part of a mountain range), Kilimanjaro is also the fourth highest of the seven summits (tallest mountains of each continent).

Many people don’t realize just how tall Kilimanjaro Height is! This is perhaps because it is not part of a sizeable snowy range but Kilimanjaro is far taller than any mountain in the European continent.

Read our blog on Kilimanjaro Height Ranking to learn more about the height mysteries of this majestic mountain.

Kilimanjaro’s Prominence

The prominence of Mount Kilimanjaro is around 4,900 metres (16,100 feet). This means that the base of the mountain is about 1,000 m above sea level, and the mountain itself rises about 4,900 from the plateau base. Because Mt Kilimanjaro lies far from the Indian Ocean coastline its prominence is not its full altitude.

The following is a representation of the mountain’s Topographic prominence and itselevation according to the different Kilimanjaro Routes:

ROUTE NAME	PROMINENCE (in metres)	DISTANCE (in kilometres)	ELEVATION GAIN (in metres)
Marangu	3,950	64.4	3,840
Machame	4,650	49.5	4,040
Lemosho	4,075	55.8	3,975
Rongai	2,490	42.2	2,870
Northern Circuit	4,420	83.1	4,380

Altitude Gain while Climbing Kilimanjaro

Even though Kilimanjaro is 5,895 m above sea level, you don’t climb all that elevation. This is because you don’t begin your climb at sea level. The ascent to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is a gradual process that typically takes 5-9 days.

The altitude gain on a Kilimanjaro climb can vary depending on the route, but generally, it ranges between 3,000-4,000 metres (9,800-13,100 feet). Below is the altitude of all the different trailheads of Kilimanjaro:

NAME OF THE ROUTE	ALTITUDE	STARTING POINT
Lemosho Route	2,100 metres; 6,890 feet	Lemosho Gate
Shira Route	3,414 metres; 11,200 feet	Morum Barrier
Machame Route	1,640 metres; 5,380 feet	Machame Gate
Marangu Route	1,843 metres; 6,047 feet	Marangu Gate
Rongai Route	1,950 metres; 6,398 feet	Rongai Gate
Northern Circuit Route	2,100 metres; 6,890 feet	Lemosho Gate
Umbwe Route	1,800 metres; 5,906 feet	Umbwe Gate

Now that you know the altitude of all the trailheads let’s shift our focus toward the altitude gain for the most popular Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes to the summit:

ROUTE NAME	ALTITUDE GAIN	DAYS TAKEN
Marangu	3,000 meters (9,800 feet)	5-6
Machame	4,000 meters (13,100 feet)	6-7
Lemosho	3,800 meters (12,500 feet)	7-8
Rongai	3,400 meters (11,200 feet)	6-7
Northern Circuit	3,700 meters (12,100 feet)	8-9

Scenic’s Tips for Successful Kilimanjaro Elevation Gains

Taking on the challenge of conquering Mt. Kilimanjaro Height is not easy; proper physical preparation beforehand is necessary to ensure a successful climb to the summit. Here are some of our personalized suggestions to make sure that your Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing expedition is as successful as possible:

First of all, ensure that you are physically fit before attempting any of the Kilimanjaro Routes.
Begin the training early and prioritize strengthening strength, endurance, and cardiovascular health.
Include all the right essentials in your Kilimanjaro Gear List.
Ensure to stay hydrated throughout your trek.

Ace Suggestion – Mental preparation is just as important as physical one. A great way to do this is by visualizing yourself reaching Uhuru Peak and making it through all the challenges that might arise while Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.

A Special Note on Elevation vs. Ascent on Kilimanjaro

The altitude difference or Elevation is different from the ascent. Elevation refers to the height of a mountain above sea level. And, as you ascend the Height of Kilimanjaro the air will get thinner.

Whereas, ascent, on the contrary, is the height gained during a Kilimanjaro Climb. The whole climbing expedition takes between six to nine days, depending on the preferred route.

During this time, climbers gain significant Kilimanjaro Elevation, often over 1,000 metres per day. However, it’s important to point out the fact that a gradual ascension is recommended to allow the body proper time to acclimatize to the higher elevation. This is because it will ultimately reduce the risk of altitude sickness.

Below, we’ll look at the distance, ascent, elevation gain, and time to summit for each of the five main routes up Mount Kilimanjaro:

ROUTE	DISTANCE (km)	ASCENT (meters)	ELEVATION GAIN (meters)	TIME TO SUMMIT (days)
Marangu	64.6	3,840	2,785	5-6
Machame	49.6	4,040	3,310	6-7
Lemosho	56.0	4,050	3,585	7-8
Rongai	65.2	2,870	1,995	6-7
Northern Circuit	98.6	4,380	4,035	8-9

Reaching New Altitudes – Push Yourself To The Top Of Kili!

In general, it can be said that climbing Kilimanjaro is an adventure that demands physical endurance, mental fortitude, and a passion for exploring the heights of our world. The Kilimanjaro Height, prominence, and altitude gain make it a unique challenge that leaves a lasting impact on anyone who undertakes it. Kilimanjaro’s towering beauty and grand views are rewards for those who persevere to reach its summit.

So, if you’re ready for a life-changing adventure, fasten up your trekking boots and prepare to climb the heights of Kilimanjaro! Want some recommendations? Then, we can assuredly say that our Kilimanjaro Climbing Packages won’t leave any stone unturned!