The Summit of Africa
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, do not even have a name for the whole massif, only Kipoo (now known as Kibo), 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 it 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, from an elevation of 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 Peak, or Gillman’s Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned their climbing certificates — and their memories.
Even before you cross the national park boundary at about 2,700 metres, the cultivated foot slopes give way to montane forest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the endangered Abbott’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 4,000 metres, a surreal alpine desert supports little life other than a few hardy mosses and lichens. Then, finally, the last vestiges of vegetation give way to a winter wonderland of ice and snow — and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent.
What to Do?
Six regular trekking routes to the summit, and other, more demanding mountaineering routes. Day trips or overnight stays on the Shira Plateau. Nature trails on the lower reaches, trout fishing, and a visit to the beautiful Chala Crater Lake on the mountain’s southern slopes.
Welcome to the first Kilimanjaro waterfalls! And discover the history of Hans Meyer, the first European who made it to the summit of Kilimanjaro, in 1889!
When to Go?
The clearest and warmest conditions are from December to February, but it is also dry (and colder) from July to September.
Accommodation
Huts and campsites on the mountain. There are also several hotels and campsites outside the park, in the village of Marangu and in Moshi town.
WELCOME — AND HIKE WITH EXPERIENCED MOUNTAIN GUIDES!!