Mt Kilimanjaro, the ‘Shining mountain’ in Swahili is a giant stratovolcano, with molten magma just 400 meters below its surface. This was discovered by scientists in 2003. Mt Kilimanjaro is also the tallest free standing mountain in the world, with a height of 4600 meters or 19,350 ft.

Volcanic activity has created Mt Kilimanjaro, and along with it, the other mountains in the area, i.e. Mt Kenya, Mt Nyiragongo, Mt Karisimbi, mt Meru and Mt Elgon.

Situated near the Great Rift Valley and the equator, with its top covered in ice and glaciers, Mt Kilimanjaro provides spectacular views of the surrounding plains.

The Rift between the Arabian and the African tectonic plates which started 35 million years ago and still continues. It has also resulted in volcanic activity. It is this volcanic activity has formed Mt Kilimanjaro.