Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – Kenya is the highest peak in Africa, standing at five thousand eight hundred and ninety-five meters above sea level. It ranks in fourth in the list of the world’s most prominent mountains.
Location
Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – Kenya is specifically located in the northeastern section of Tanzania, a country in East Africa. The town nearest the mountain is Moshi which is approximately 42 kilometers off.
Getting There
Flying in is via the international airport located right in Kilimanjaro. From the airport, you can take a bus or a private taxi to reach Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – Kenya.
You can also fly in via the international airport in Dar es Salaam which is the Julius Nyerere International Airport. This is the main international airport of the country.
From this airport, you can take a bus going to Moshi or Arusha which will take up to eight hours.
What to Do
Climbing is the No. 1 activity in Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – Kenya. There are basically six climbing routes that you can choose from. These are via Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Shira and Umbwe.
Of the six, Rongai provides the easiest route to camp in and start from to reach the summit. Marangu is likewise quite easy and is in fact the most popular route of all six.
The mountain has unique and lush vegetation where you can see various endemic plant species such as the giant groundsels from the genus Dendrosenecio. There are nature trails located on the lower altitudes of the mountain which make for excellent daytime trekking.
There’s not much wildlife in the surrounding areas of the mountain but you may come across a few elephants, antelopes, leopards, primates and buffalos.
Climbing the mountain usually takes about five to six days to complete, for both ascent and descent.
Brief History
Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – Kenya is a dormant strato-volcano that ranks in fourth among the world’s Seven Summits which are the seven highest mountains from each of the 7 continents in the world.
There are 3 distinctive volcanic cones in the mountain. These are Kibo, Mawenzi and lastly, Shira. Uhuru Peak poses the toughest challenge for climbers as this is the highest summit in Kibo.
It is said that the mountain started its formation about a million years back as a result of lava flowing from the Rift Valley area. Kibo’s peak is considered dormant as its last eruption was some three hundred and sixty thousand years ago.
Cost
To gain access to Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – Kenya, you will have to enter the protected area of Kilimanjaro National Park which costs about USD60 for a day.
For the Marangu Route, hut fees are at USD50 for every night while camping fees for other routes are also at USD50 for each night.
Rescue fee is at USD20 for every trek, porter fees are at USD10 per day, assistant guide fees are USD15 per day and guide fees are USD20 per day.
Other Information
Mountaineers should always climb with a guide. Climbers need to acclimatize themselves to reduce the risk of developing altitude sickness.
Although climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – Kenya is not as difficult as climbing the Himalayan Mountains, the low altitude, changes in temperature and sporadic high winds make it a risky and dangerous climb.
Climbers are therefore advised not only to come well-equipped for the trek but more importantly; to be physically, mentally and emotionally ready to make the climb.
