Kilimanjaro
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Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano, stands 5895 metres high, the highest mountain in Africa, and is still ice capped almost all year round. It has been a magnet for explorers over many centuries, the first person to ascend Kilimanjaro, according to legend, being King Menelik 1, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. There are 6 routes to the summit and approaching 25,000 people come to Tanzania to climb it each year. Mount Kilimanjaro rises from vast open plains where you can see elephant, rhino and buffalo.
What makes the climb particularly interesting is the fact that Kilimanjaro has five vegetation zones. The first of these comprises old lowland forest, which is now cultivated and settled. The next zone consists of tropical forest, which is then followed by heath and open moorland. Next comes a striking alpine desert, with weather fluctuations so dramatic that only mosses and lichens can survive here. The actual summit is bare of almost all plant life.
Contact TanzaniaAway for further information on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Climbing Kilimanjaro:
One of the world's highest free standing mountains, Mt. Kilimanjaro is composed of three extinct volcanoes: Kibo 5895 m (19340 ft.), Mawenzi 5149 m (16896 ft.),
and Shira 3962 m (13000 ft.).
There are usually regarded as being six usual trekking routes to the summit, together with other more demanding mountaineering routes.
The six routes used are known as the Mweka, Umbwe, Shira, Rongai, Machame, and Marangu Routes, the last two of which are the easier and the most popular. Depending on which route one wants to use, the climb of Kilimanjaro can take between four nights to six nights on the mountain.
On the Marangu Route, accommodation is in alpine huts, while on the Machame Route you will be camping throughout. While expert guides and porters will accompany you on your climb, unlike on Mount Everest, no technical equipment is required.
Getting to Kilimanjaro:
Kilimanjaro is about 128 km from Arusha, and about one hour’s drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
The clearest and warmest conditions here are to be found from December to February, but a good time to visit is also from July to september, when it is drier (and cooler).
Incidentally, the retreating icecap on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro has long been an icon of the ‘global warming' enthusiasts, who evidence this for their cause. In fact the ice cap has been decreasing for very many years, and its loss has been shown to be attributed instead to farming practices on the lower slopes - principally deforestation - which have reduced the amount of moisture in the air (needed to form snow - the actual temperature at the top hasn't risen above freezing).
In addition to the actual mountain climb, it is possible to take day or overnight hikes on the Shireau Plateau, and there are also nature trails on the lower reaches of the mountain. You can also visit the beautiful Chala Crater Lake on the mountain's south-eastern slopes.
