Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is the crown of Tanzania.  Rising abruptly from the open plains, capped by snow and frequently fringed by clouds, it is one of Africa’s classic images.  At an elevation of 19,344 feet, it is the highest mountains in Africa and the highest summit in the world that can be reached by walking, without hand-over-hand climbing.  It’s also the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano but not an extinct one.  Ominous rumbles can sometimes be heard and gases emerge from fume holes in the crater.  Although just three degrees south of the Equator, the peaks of the mountain have caps of snow and ice year around.

Kilimanjaro climbers pass from a tropical to an artic environment in just a few days.  There are several climbing trails passing through lush rainforest before reaching heather and open moorland where giant lobelia and huge, cactus-like plants grow. There is an almost-lunar landscape at the saddle that stretches between the two peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi.

The highest point on Kibo, and indeed the whole of Africa, is Uhuru Peak, with spectacular glaciers and stupendous views of the plains, five kilometers below.  Also on Kibo is the slightly lower peak of Gillman’s point.  These are the goals for most climbers.  The pinnacle-shaped peaks of Mawenzi are for mountaineers only.

With the help of porters and guides it is possible to walk all the way to the summit of Kibo without specialized mountaineering equipment – or experience – and Kilimanjoro can be conquered by any reasonably fit person.  The whole climb normally takes five or six days and involves four or five overnight stays in mountain huts or tents.