Mount
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro. The name itself
is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It might mean Mountain
of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans.
Or it might not. The local people, the Wachagga, don't even
have a name for the whole massif, only Kipoo (now known
as Kibo) for the familiar snowy peak that stands imperious,
overseer of the continent, the summit of Africa.
Kilimanjaro, by any name,
is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa.
When you see it, you understand why. Not only is this the
highest peak on the African continent; it is also the tallest
free-standing mountain in the world, rising in breathtaking
isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland –
elevation around 900 metres – to an imperious 5,895
metres (19,336 feet).
Kilimanjaro is one of the
world's most accessible high summits, a beacon for visitors
from around the world. Most climbers reach the crater rim
with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing and
determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual
summit, or Gillman's Point on the lip of the crater, will
have earned their climbing certificates.
And their memories.
But there is so much more
to Kili than her summit. The ascent of the slopes is a virtual
climatic world tour, from the tropics to the Arctic.
Even before you cross the national park boundary (at the
2,700m contour), the cultivated footslopes give way to lush
montane forest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard,
buffalo, the endangered Abbot’s duiker, and other
small antelope and primates. Higher still lies the moorland
zone, where a cover of giant heather is studded with otherworldly
giant lobelias.
Above 4,000m, a surreal alpine
desert supports little life other than a few hardy mosses
and lichen. Then, finally, the last vestigial vegetation
gives way to a winter wonderland of ice and snow –
and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent.
About
Kilimanjaro National Park
Size: 755 sq km (292 sq miles).
Location: Northern Tanzania, near the town of Moshi.
How
To Get there
128 km (80 miles) from Arusha.
About one hour’s drive from Kilimanjaro airport.
Activities
Trekking to the summit and other more-demanding mountaineering
routes.
Day or overnight hikes on the Shira plateau. Nature trails
on the lower reaches.
Trout fishing.
Visit the beautiful Chala crater lake on the mountain’s
southeastern slopes.
When
to go
Clearest and warmest conditions from December to February,
but also dry (and colder) from July-September.
Accommodation
Huts and campsites on the mountain.
Several hotels and campsites outside the park in the village
of Marangu and town of Moshi.
NOTE:
Climb slowly to increase your acclimatisation time and maximise
your chances of reaching the summit.
To avoid altitude sickness, allow a minimum of five nights,
preferably even more for the climb. Take your time and enjoy
the beauty of the mountain. |
