Africa highest mountain adventure

For generations, people in East Africa have turned to this, the 19,341-foot mountain that rises above the rest of the continent, and prayed. "Please God," they asked, thinking he lived on top of Kilimanjaro. Now outsiders flock to this trekking Mecca, to this piece of heaven on earth.

Some are looking for adventure, some are searching for answers. Many will talk to God during the climb. Some will pray as they gasp for breath in the cold, thinning air of the mountain's summit. Kilimanjaro, the Everyman's Everest, is a seemingly easy climb.

Mount Kilimanjaro lies on the border of Tanzania and Kenya, just south of the Equator. To the west lies the Great African Rift Valley, created by tremendous tectonic forces which also gave birth to a string of other volcanoes. One of these, Mount Kenya, was originally much higher than Kilimanjaro.

The three summits of Mount Kilimanjaro, Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi are all of very recent origin. Shira and Mawenzi both have suffered considerable erosion and only jagged peaks remain. Kibo, the central, youngest and highest peak has survived as an almost perfect cone.

Kilimanjaro is a must for adventure seekers coming African safaris. Although East Africa and nearby Olduvai Gorge is thought to be the cradle of mankind it is unlikely that early man would have been attracted to the steep and cold slopes of Kilimanjaro at a time when it was probably very active and dangerous. A Wachagga legend talks of Mawenzi receiving fire for its pipe from his younger brother Kibo.

The Wachagga who live on the fertile volcanic soils around the base of the mountain probably only came to the area about 300 years ago thus this legend suggests very recent activity.

Arab and Chinese traders and historians make mention of a giant mountain lying inland from Mombasa or Zanzibar but few early traders ventured into the interior of the continent. Slave traders passed below it and sometimes raided the villages of the Wachagga but it was not till the middle of the 19th century that a more serious interest was taken in the mountain and attempts were made to scale it.

In 1848 Johann Rebmann a missionary from Gerlingen in Germany while crossing the plains of Tsavo saw Mount Kilimanjaro. His guide talked of baridi - cold, and of tales how a group of porters were sent up the mountain to bring back the silver or other treasures from the summit.

They came back only with water. Rebmann's report stimulated great interest in Germany and in the following years several expeditions were organised; first by Baron von Decken then later by Dr. Hans Meyer who finally stood on the highest point on the 5th of October 1889.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a demanding, challenging feat. But despite the immense height, the expedition can be successfully climbed by any reasonably fit person. No technical skills are necessary, making Kilimanjaro the highest, most accessible, "walk-able" mountain on the planet.

With its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, Kilimanjaro is an inactive stratovolcano in north-eastern Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa. It is considered the highest freestanding mountain as well as the 4th most prominent mountain in the world.

The mountain draws over 25,000 visitors annually. However, nearly 50% of all climbers fail to reach the summit. This is mainly due to lack of thorough preparation and adherence to climbing rules, tips and guidelines.

The single most important factor in determining the success of your climb is choosing a quality guide service. To succeed on the mountain, it is imperative that climbers are guided by an experienced outfitter, with proven competence, reliability and safety
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Although several hundred tour operators offer Kilimanjaro climbs, only a handful can be considered reputable. Many fail to meet and provide strict standard of services required for successful climbing such as: professional experienced local guides, hard working team-oriented support staff, quality waterproof four-season mountain tents, roomy dining tents with table and chairs, large portions of fresh healthy nutritious food and clean purified drinking water.

They also lack in crisis management and safety procedures, fair and ethical treatment of porters and more importantly adherence to environmentally responsible trekking guidelines. If you are planning to climb Kilimanjaro, then consider outfitter and tour operators that meet the mentioned principles and surpass them. Other important hints are advance booking, ensuring physical fitness, adequate packing and wise route choice.

Being the highest peak and most famous mountain in Africa, scaling the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro is a heavy challenge, more from the rigours of altitude than the actual difficulty of the hike itself. The climb, which takes on average six days, takes hikers through thick forests and alpine grasslands, desolate rock face and brilliant white glaciers.

If there is one thing that everybody remarks about Kili, is the amazing number of stars people can see at night while climbing it. Unaffected by the light pollution that blights the Western World, the sky at night on Kilimanjaro is truly one of the great - and unsung- attractions of climbing Africa's highest mountain.

Views of Kenya and the Masaai Steppe, the Crater Highlands, and the Eastern Arc Mountain Range expand from the summit, and unlike other comparable peaks, you don't need ropes or climbing equipment to make it to the top. As long as you pace yourself and take it easy at high altitudes, you have every reason to think you can reach the summit, and do it.

It is no doubt that climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highlight of most visitors' experiences coming to Africa. Kilimanjaro can be trekked all year, with advantages and disadvantages each month. Mid-December, Jan, Feb and March are the warmest months, almost clear of clouds. April and early May could get heavy rain or snow, but is good if you want a quiet clear mountain.