Which African mountain is the world's highest free-standing mountain above sea level?

Mount Kilimanjaro is the African mountain recognized as the world’s highest free-standing mountain above sea level. Its summit, Uhuru Peak, reaches about 5,895 meters in Tanzania.

Kilimanjaro is not part of a long mountain chain like the Alps or Himalayas. It is an enormous isolated volcanic massif formed along the East African Rift. The mountain has three major volcanic cones: Kibo, which contains Uhuru Peak; Mawenzi; and Shira. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, while Kibo is dormant.

The mountain’s height and isolation make it a prominent landmark, but climbing it is mainly an endurance and altitude challenge rather than a highly technical mountaineering feat. Altitude sickness remains a serious danger because the summit is nearly 6,000 meters above sea level.

European reports of Kilimanjaro date to missionary Johannes Rebmann in 1848. Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller, and local guide Yohanas Kinyala Lauwo completed the first recorded ascent in 1889. Kilimanjaro became part of a national park in 1973 and is one of the Seven Summits.