Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) high, measured at its summit, Uhuru Peak. This makes it the highest mountain in Africa, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, and one of the celebrated Seven Summits. Below we break down its height in both units, look at its three volcanic cones, and explain what that altitude actually means when you climb it.
The summit of Kilimanjaro — Uhuru Peak — stands at:
It is a dormant stratovolcano in northern Tanzania, protected within Kilimanjaro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For its exact position, see our guide to where Mount Kilimanjaro is located.
Kilimanjaro is not a single peak but a massif formed by three volcanic cones, each a different height:
| Cone | Height (metres) | Height (feet) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibo (Uhuru Peak) | 5,895 m | 19,341 ft | Dormant — the true summit |
| Mawenzi | 5,149 m | 16,893 ft | Extinct — jagged, technical |
| Shira | 3,962 m | 13,000 ft | Extinct — collapsed plateau |
Kibo is the highest and the one all trekkers aim for; Uhuru Peak sits on its crater rim. Mawenzi and Shira are not part of the standard climb to the summit.
In feet, Kilimanjaro stands at 19,341 feet. To put that in perspective, that is roughly seven times the height of the Burj Khalifa (2,717 ft), the tallest building in the world. Historically, the peak was long cited as 19,340 feet before more precise surveys settled on 19,341 feet.
In metres, Kilimanjaro rises to 5,895 metres. Because it stands alone on the plains rather than within a mountain range, it is widely described as the tallest free-standing mountain on Earth, rising almost 5,000 metres above the surrounding savanna. That dramatic base-to-summit rise is part of what makes it so iconic.
Kilimanjaro is not among the world's tallest mountains overall — Everest reaches 8,849 m (29,032 ft) — but as a walk-up, non-technical peak it is the highest that ordinary trekkers can realistically summit. Among the Seven Summits (the highest peak on each continent), it ranks as one of the most accessible, which is a big part of its global appeal.
At 5,895 m, the summit sits in the "extreme altitude" band where the air holds roughly half the oxygen available at sea level. That is why the main challenge of Kilimanjaro is not technical difficulty but altitude, and why acclimatisation is so important. Choosing a longer route and ascending slowly dramatically improves your chances. Learn more in our guides to how hard it is to climb Kilimanjaro, the climate zones you pass through, and the best routes to the summit.
Kilimanjaro is 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) high, measured at its summit, Uhuru Peak. This makes it the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.
Kilimanjaro stands at 19,341 feet above sea level, roughly seven times the height of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
Kilimanjaro rises to 5,895 metres above sea level, standing almost 5,000 metres above the surrounding plains as the tallest free-standing mountain on Earth.
The highest point is Uhuru Peak, located on the crater rim of the Kibo cone at 5,895 metres (19,341 feet). It is the goal of every summit climb.
Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones: Kibo (5,895 m, the summit), Mawenzi (5,149 m), and Shira (3,962 m). Only Kibo is climbed to reach Uhuru Peak.
No. It is the highest in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain, but Everest is far higher at 8,849 m (29,032 ft). Kilimanjaro is, however, the highest peak most trekkers can climb without technical skills.
Yes. Kilimanjaro's summit at 5,895 m is higher than Everest South Base Camp (about 5,364 m), which is one reason it is such a serious altitude challenge.
Everest (8,849 m) is about 2,954 metres higher than Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), roughly a 50% greater elevation above sea level.
Because at 5,895 m there is only about half the oxygen found at sea level. Altitude, not terrain, is the main challenge, making slow acclimatisation and a longer route key to a successful summit.
Kilimanjaro's height — 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet — is the number that defines its fame: the highest point in Africa, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, and a summit that ordinary trekkers can reach. Knowing the figure in both feet and metres is handy, but what matters most when you climb is respecting what that altitude demands. Prepare well, ascend slowly, and the Roof of Africa is within reach. Start planning with our best Kilimanjaro routes guide and learn how hard the climb really is.
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