Uhuru Peak, Mountain summit in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

Uhuru Peak is the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro at about 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), marked by glaciers and volcanic rock around the crater rim. Multiple routes lead to the summit, each passing through different zones and landscape types before reaching the top.

The first recorded climb happened in 1889 when mountaineers reached the peak through a newly established route. This historic ascent set the foundation that later climbers refined into several popular pathways to the top.

Uhuru is Swahili for freedom; the summit was given this name in 1961, the year Tanzania became independent. Climbers who reach the top can note the name's link to that date.

Reaching the peak typically takes a minimum of eight days and uses several different routes starting from different locations. Visitors should prepare for changing weather conditions and the challenge of breathing and walking at high altitude.

The summit's name dates from 1961, when Tanganyika became independent; Uhuru is Swahili for freedom. Its height has been measured repeatedly since 1889, and GPS measurements in 2008 gave 5,892 metres, slightly below the 5,895-metre figure still widely cited.