But also today, Mount Kilimanjaro is admired by many. The images of the snow covered cone rising majestically from fertile green foothills have become a powerful icon of Tanzania's extraordinary extremes.
With its 5895m in altitude, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain of Africa and one of the highest free standing mountains in the world. However, there is more to Mount Kilimanjaro than its summit, Uhuru Peak. Thanks to its impressive height Mount Kilimanjaro accommodates three distinct vegetation zones, which make climbing the mountain memorable, even if the summit is not reached:
- Tropical Forest: Between 1850m and 2800m clouds condensate. The resulting periodic rainfalls keep the area moist, provide the rivers with water and create a favourable living environment for an intriguing variety of plants.
On its upper end, where there is still a relatively misty and damp environment, this forest transforms into dense bush, consisting of heather and shrubs such as Erica Arborea and Stoebe Kilimandsharica as well as a number of fascinating proteas.
- Open Moorland: At around 3200m vast moorlands extend beyond the cloud line. In this area the sky is generally clear, resulting in intense sunshine during the day and cool and clear nights. Hardy, endemic species of giant groundsels and lobelia towering up to 4m high thrive in this moorland zone creating a unique and strangely primeval atmosphere.
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- Alpine Desert: Higher up, beyond 4000m, the landscape appears even more primordial as it turns into an extraordinary alpine desert characterized by loose sandy earth. Weather conditions and temperature fluctuations can be dramatic so that only few highly adapted plant species, such as everlasting flowers, mosses and lichens, survive this adverse climate. Above 5000m, only the odd lichen survives in a landscape dominated by rock and ice fields.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Despite its impressive height and the harsh conditions, Mount Kilimanjaro is fairly easy to climb. No prior mountaineering experience is required and no technical climbing is necessary. Nonetheless, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro remains a challenging adventure that requires physical fitness, energy, determination and patience.
Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed on a number of different trails, which vary in length and scenery:
- Lemosho Route: Lemosho Route is one of the longer routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, requiring a minimum of six days. Mount Kilimanjaro is being approached from the West and the path, after passing through lush forests, traverses the impressive Shira Plateau. Along the way you will find magnificent views of Kibo and the surrounding plains.
- Machame Route: With a minimum of six days, Machame Route is also one of the longer routes to summit. Although this route may be slightly more demanding than other routes, it is certainly worth the effort. Unlike most other routes, Machame Route takes you to the magnificent Shira Plateau and it offers you some of the most magnificent views.
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- Marangu Route: Marangu Route is one of the shorter routes. To Uhuru Peak and back it will take you a minimum of five or, as recommended, six days. Marangu Route is also the most popular route. The advantage is that the infrastructure such as mountain huts is the most advanced along this route. The disadvantage is that there will be a larger number of tourists.
- Mweka Route: Mweka Route is the shortest and steepest trail to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. As a result it is almost exclusively used for the descent.
- Rongai Route: Rongai Route is the only route approaching Mount Kilimanjaro from the North. To Uhuru Peak and back it will take you five days and it is thus one of the shorter routes. Due to its remoteness Rongai Route is less frequently used. However, Rongai Route is no less attractive and also offers you breathtaking views. Thanks to the smaller number of tourists you may even enjoy it more.
- Umbwe Route: Umbwe Route takes five or, as recommended, six days to Uhuru Peak and back. Umbwe Route has some rather steep sections to it. In return it is a less frequented route offering more tranquillity along the magnificent journey through Mount Kilimanjaro’s nature
In addition, instead of the usual approach, the final ascent can be made by climbing
- Western Breach: Western Breach can be used as a short cut to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. However, it is the steepest, most technical, most challenging and most dangerous path to the summit. It takes you on a steep slope where rock fall can occur from the West to the crater plateau of Kibo. Due to the dangers and hardships involved we advise against this route.
Soaring Flamingo is committed to ensure that you will have the most memorable experience when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. We will assist you in deciding which route will suit you best. It is important to note that due to the popularity of the mountain and the high number of tourists, the national park authorities insist that all climbs are pre-booked. It is no longer possible to obtain last minute passes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro at the park gate. |
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All of the routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro involve considerable challenges. Although none of them require mountaineering experience, they will all test your physical fitness, energy, determination and patience. In particular the reduced amount of oxygen at high altitudes may impact on your physical strength and endurance and altitude sickness may occur even if you have previous mountaineering experience and are in good physical shape. In order to reduce the potential negative impacts of the altitude as much as possible, we recommend that you take your time when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Additional time to acclimatise not only helps to ward off altitude sickness but also allows you to enjoy the vegetation zones and the landscapes even longer. If you have any doubts about your physical fitness to climb Mount Kilimanjaro we recommend that you consult your doctor before signing up for the trekking tour.
Last but not least, the extreme climate on Mount Kilimanjaro puts you and your equipment to a rough test. At high altitudes, you will be exposed to severe cold and firm equipment protecting you from sub-zero temperatures will be required. Remember that there are glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro despite the intensive sun. Moreover, your equipment must also be waterproof. On your trek you may be confronted with heavy rains or penetrating mists. |
