Climb Kilimanjaro

The white-capped Kilimanjaro, hanging above a smoke-like sea of clouds is one of the most stunning sights in the world. Kilimanjaro is one of the 'Seven Summits' in the world - it has the highest point on the African continent. Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding (ie not part of a range) mountain in the world.

There is a popular myth telling why Kilimanjaro came to be part of Tanzania. Queen Victoria is supposed to have gifted the mountain to her German grandson Wilhelm (later Kaiser Wilhelm II) as a birthday present. Historians have discredited the myth but it has refused to die.

Mt Kilimanjaro is still young as far as mountains go, and geologists age it at only around 750,000 years. The mountain is made up of three dormant volcanoes -Kibo, Shira and Mawenzi. Kibo still vents some steam and sulfur. The highest point on Kibo is Uhuru Peak, where you see great glaciers and fantastic views of the country below. As you Go up the mountain, you will move from tropical to arctic conditions.

There are five distinct climate zones, with each zone taking a band of approximately 3,300 feet. The zones are: lower slopes,forest, moorland, alpine desert and arctic. The lower slopes are cultivated. The forest is dry on the northern and wet on the southern slopes.

The forest has numerous plant species including podocarpus, camphor, fig and bamboo. The only animals to be found here are blue and Colobus monkeys and a variety of birds including trumpeter hornbills and livingstones turaco. In the moorland region, you find the giant groundsels and lobelias. Further up, vegetation and indeed life itself becomes sparse.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the world's most accessible top summit. To avoid succumbing to high altitude sickness you should go slow and drink lots of water.

The German climber Hans Meyer was the first person to have reached the summit in 1889. He only made it on the second attempt and named the summit after the Kaiser Wilhelm II. This was changed to 'Uhuru' or 'freedom' in Swahili several years later.

There are several routes up the mountain from the Coca-coal route (Marangu route) to the more difficult whiskey route (Machame). Climbers are advised to pick the route that best suits their experience. Most people aspire to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Kibo whilst others are satisfied with Gillman's Point, the lower peak on Kibo.

Kilimanjaro is 475 km to the north of Dar es Salaam the commercial capital of Tanzania. The base for climbing Kilimanjaro is nearby northern Tanzania town of Moshi. Kilimanjaro International Airport is the best place to arrive.

For more information on climbing Kilimanjaro or visiting Tanzania's mountains click Climb Kilimanjaro with Mountain Kingdom Safaris

Roy J Hinde M.Sc. is a former research scientist who now is a director of Wild Things Safaris Ltd and runs the marketing for MK safaris Climb Kilimanjaro.