Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, East Africa

The iconic snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro is often hidden behind a blanket of clouds. But if you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day, the site will make your jaw drop. As they say in the photography business, this is the money shot.

You’ve probably heard of Mount Kilimanjaro because it’s the largest free-standing mountain in the world. Climbing this beast is on the top of many-a-bucket-list. And it sort of goes without saying that this mountain is also the tallest in all of Africa.

Mount Kilimanjaro stands a full 6 vertical kilometers from the plains that surround it. Even if you’re not a climber, you’ll want to see the mountain. Standing with the mountain in full view is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

There are three peaks that make up Mount Kilimanjaro:

• Shira
• Mawenzi
• Uhuru

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

If you don’t know much about the mountain’s history, you may be surprised to learn that it’s a relatively young mountain. It was only formed about a million years ago by volcanic activity.

Interestingly enough, Ngorongoro Crater trumps Kilimanjaro’s age by about 2 million years. And many also believe that the Ngorongoro Crater would have been even higher than Kilimanjaro if it hadn’t collapsed. If you’re one to geek out about geology, you’ll want your Mount Kilimanjaro safari to include Ngorongoro Crater.

As you might expect, the entire mountain is within the protected land of the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of Tanzania’s treasures, but you can also see the mountain from Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

And now you’re probably wondering…

How many people actually climb Kilimanjaro?

The answer is about 20,000 people every year. And clearly, it’s no small feat. In order to make this climb, you must be willing to spend at least 5 days climbing. So you must be physically fit and mentally prepared. You won’t need any special training or technical equipment, but you must allow time to acclimate to avoid altitude sickness. You’ll also need proper high altitude clothing and camping gear to keep you safe and warm during the trek.

As with most things in life, the journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is part of the experience, and there are plenty of opportunities to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds.

During the hiking tour, which you should expect to take between five and nine days, you will be able to admire the most spectacular landscapes, trekking through tropical rain forests, alpine landscapes and desert areas, all the way up to the summit with its arctic climate where precipitation falls only in the form of snow or hail.

There are multiple routes to the top, and they vary in landscape and skill required.

Depending on the desired degree of difficulty, you can choose one of four different routes to the top: the Machame Route, the Marangu Route, the Lemosho Route or the Rongai Route. Supporting you on your trek will be a team consisting of a highly experienced guide, a cook who will prepare all of your meals, and porters who will carry up all of the necessary equipment and set up your camp.

And if you’re serious about climbing Kilimanjaro, the best time is during the dry season when you have to worry less about rainfall and wet ground during your climb. This would mean climbing in January, February or September.

But as we’ve mentioned earlier, you don’t have to step foot on the mountain to get an exhilarating experience. A view from the bottom is extremely worth the trip. And while you’re there, you can take in some big game viewing in the nearby parks and reserves.

Where would you like to go?