Is Mt Kilimanjaro Active? (And Should You Be Worried?)

If you are planning to visit Mt. Kilimanjaro like I am, you must have been doing a lot of research about your climb. During your research, you might have stumbled upon the fact that Kilimanjaro is a Volcano. So you must be wondering, Is Kilimanjaro still active and should you be worried? I did some research on the topic.

Mt Kilimanjaro is not active, and therefore, poses no real danger to climbers. However, the mountain is a dormant volcano that has the potential to erupt. Be it as it may, the chances of Mt Kilimanjaro erupting in the foreseeable future are slim to none. This means that you should not be worried about an eruption when climbing this mountain. With that said, there are some very real dangers that you should be concerned about if you will attempt to reach the summit and you need to prepare for these risks way more than the risk of an eruption.

Is Kilimanjaro Still Active?

It’s important that we give some definitions that will help us be on the same page.

According to Universe Today, Volcanoes are classified into 3 categories: Dormant, Extinct and Active: 

Geologists classify volcanoes into three distinct groups: dormant, extinct and active volcanoes. Dormant volcanoes haven’t erupted in a long time, but they could again; extinct volcanoes have erupted for thousands of years and might be dead. Active volcanoes, on the other hand, erupted recently, and they’re probably going to erupt again soon. Source: Universe Today

Based on these definitions, Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano. This means that, although the mountain is not spewing out lava or showing any signs of erupting any time soon, it has the potential to erupt one day and become active again. 

The difference between extinct and dormant volcanoes lies in the possibility of future eruptions.

Are there any signs of activity on Kilimanjaro

So, you might be wondering, even though Kilimanjaro is classified as dormant and might not erupt any time soon, does the mountain show any signs of activity like gas or tremors? 

According to this Wikipedia article on the geologic activity of Mt Kilimanjaro, Kibo, The largest crater on the mountain, has gas-emitting openings that emit steam, and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen sulfide. 

Based on the research I did, the flow of these gases is negligible and is not noticed by any climbers. This means that you should not be worried about the gas either.

Should I Be Worried about Kilimanjaro Erupting?

According to this Wikipedia article on the geologic activity of Mt Kilimanjaro, the last volcanic activity on Mt Kilimanjaro was 200,000 years ago. To put it into context, Jesus is believed to have died about 2,000 years ago so this is ten times that. 

You can also think about it in terms of human generations: if average human life to be about 75 years old, there would be 2,600 generations between us and the people who witnessed the last volcanic activity on Kilimanjaro

All this is to state that the possibility of encountering an eruption or any dangerous volcanic activity on Kilimanjaro is so low that it should not be on your list of things to be worried.

With that said, there are some real dangers that you should be worried about when climbing Kilimanjaro. 

Other Things You Should Be Worried About When Climbing Kilimanjaro

1. Mountain Sickness: you are more likely to suffer from mountain sickness than anything else when climbing mount Kilimanjaro. The thing about mountain sickness is that if not well taken care of it can lead to very serious consequences especially if you keep climbing after starting to exhibit symptoms. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with a reputable company will ensure that you do not make the mistake of continuing to climb when you need to rapidly descend the mountain. 
2. Injury: simple incidents like falling or spraining an ankle can have really serious consequences if they happen during your climb. One of the biggest problems is that emergency evacuation is not very rapid and may involve carrying you down the mountain. For this reason, you need to carry the right gear and use a reputable company that has emergency evacuation protocols that are rapid enough to save your life in the case of an emergency. 
3. Biting Cold: although Kilimanjaro is located along the equator, the high altitude results in extremely low temperatures especially at night. I’m up all night experience temperatures that are below freezing and if you’re not well prepared you will have a very difficult time doing your multi-day climb up Kilimanjaro. 
4. Wet and Slippery Conditions: slippery and wet conditions will result to a higher likelihood of falling or getting injured or suffering from hypothermia because of getting drenched in the rain. climbing Kilimanjaro during the diamonds who helped prevent this.
5. Respiratory Infections: the high altitude, strain on the body, and freezing temperatures can result in catching flu which is not only inconvenient but will hamper your effective climb up Kilimanjaro. 

A Final Word

As you prepare for your trip to Africa, I would like to recommend a few products that would help make your life easier. 

1. Information About Africa: I have created a YouTube channel that focuses on things about traveling to Africa that only Africans can tell you about. Check out the channel for insights about African culture and things you can do as a traveler to optimize your trip. You should also visit TripAdvisor forum posts (Here is the Kenya Forum) and ask questions about your particular situation. There are a lot of people who are happy to help you out. 
2. Choosing a Safari Company: I have written an extensive article on how to choose a safari Company. You can. Check it out before starting the process of searching for a safari company.
3. Safari Planning Services: If you’d rather leave the planning to an expert, I offer personalized safari planning services. I handle everything from helping you choose the right safari company, creating your custom itinerary, managing bookings, and even providing a packing list and reminders for important trip details. It’s like having a personal assistant dedicated to your trip, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying the adventure. Learn More in this article