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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 foot slopes 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.
Getting there
128 km (80 miles) from Arusha.
About one hour’s drive from Kilimanjaro airport.
What
to do
Six usual trekking routes 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. |
