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Jan

01

2012

Feb

29

2012


Reach the Roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro

Published by Kristin Cowles, Editor-in-Chief

Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

The Experience

The mysticism long associated with Mount Kilimanjaro can be attributed to some of the most breath taking views as its peaks drive up from lush green foothills of Tanzania, past the clouds, into the radiant and unparalleled equatorial sun. Only three degrees south of the equator, Mount Kilimanjaro is made up of three volcanic cones Mawensi, Shira, and Kibo. All of the volcanoes are extinct except for Kibo which is active dormant and still emits heavy smells of sulfur.

Although Kilimanjaro does not have the highest elevation in the world, it claims the title of highest free standing mountain, reaching over 19,340 feet at its highest point Uhuru Peak on Kibo volcano. One of the other appealing aspects of conquering this climb is that to reach the highest peak all you need is good overall physical fitness and determination. Each year over 15,000 people attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and only approximately 40% of people reach the top.

There are five common routes used to climb Kilimanjaro; Marangu Route, Machame Route, and Rongai Route (all considered shorter), as well as Lemosho Route and Mweka Route. When trekking many people choose to use altitude sickness medication to avoid pounding headaches that can plague travelers at higher altitudes where oxygen levels can be half the amount that is common at sea level. The average Kilimanjaro hike takes five days, and covers about 80km with just two feet and a heart beat. There are several camps along the Kilimanjaro climb with cooking facilities, bathrooms and electricity which your guide will be able to direct you to.

The final ascent from Kibo hut to Uhuru summit is quite commonly undertaken at night when the broken rock formations are frozen, making for an easier hike and synchronizing your arrival with the break of dawn. In recent years dramatic shifts in the environment and climate changes have created massive deterioration of the glaciers covering the various mountains peaks, with the most recent and ghastly retreat of more than 80% in certain cases. Several recent studies predict eradication of Africa’s tallest peak between 2020 and 2040.

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When to Go to Mount Kilimanjaro

The best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is between January and February or June and September which are the dry seasons. In the wet season you are more likely to be trekking not only in ran, but also run the chance of denser clouds and less visibility of the majestic peaks breaking though the skyline. Although the temperatures don’t vary widely from season to season Kilimanjaro contains a wide variety of ecosystems ranging from glacier, to desert, to tropical jungles and alpine moorland, so pack for the possibility of all weather extremes.

Odds n' Ends

To lay this claim to your name its going to cost you anywhere between $900 - $1,500 Canadian. There are several fees that go towards the cost of climbing Kilimanjaro such as your licensed guide, porters, cooks, accommodations, gear, food, park entry fees and transport to and from the mountain. To quick it up a notch for a more luxurious and individual experience, look to pay upwards of $4,000. It might be a little more expensive then you’d expect for an all inclusive trip that’s more rough and tumble then your average all inclusive getaway, but well worth it for the unmatched views and sense of achievement you feel as you take your final steps to the summit and look down over a sprawling African tapestry.

Want a Guide?

Kilimanjaro Trek - Marangu Route - GAP Adventures
One of Africa's most magnificent sights, Mount Kilimanjaro stands at a majestic 5,895 m. This almost perfectly shaped volcano is Africa's highest peak, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, and the ambition of avid trekkers everywhere! We follow the famous Marangu Route towards our final goal...the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.

More Experiences Nearby

Live Life on the Edge by Climbing Mount Kenya
With its highest peak standing at 17,057 feet, climbing Mount Kenya is no walk in the park by any means. Located in Mount Kenya National Park, it is the second highest peak in Africa, behind Mount Kilimanjaro, which stands at 19,334 feet. Though it may not carry the same status as some of its cohorts, including Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest, climbing Mount Kenya is still one of the top summits in the world to ascend. Men and women from around the world travel to Kenya each year for the sole task of trying to conquer this great mountain and ...200 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

Trekking in East Africa Guide - Lonley Planet.com
Trek East Africa's finest - tackle towering snowcapped Kilimanjaro, explore the remote, mysterious Rwenzoris and clamber among tropical glaciers on Mt Kenya. Challenge yourself to soaring peaks, rugged volcanic craters and primeval forests with this comprehensive guide.
Swahili Phrasebook - Lonely Planet.com
To pack for East Africa – binoculars for spotting zebu – down jacket for the climb up Kilimanjaro – mosquito net for camping on the multi-day safari – this phrasebook for everything else.
Kilimanjaro: A Trekking Guide to Africa's Highest Mountain (Paperback)
This is the second edition of the bestselling travel and trekking guide to Kilimanjaro. First published in 2003, this book quickly became the established guide to those wishing to reach the summit of Africa’s highest mountain
Kilimanjaro (Hardcover)
A source of mystery from time immemorial, to this day nobody knows the meaning of its name. Kilimanjaro is the subject of many fables and legends, and is home to the Chagga and Maasai people, two of Africa's most colorful and fascinating communities.

Elsewhere on the Web

Mount Kilimanjaro - Wikipedia.com
Kilimanjaro with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawensi, and Shira, is an inactive stratovolcano in north-eastern Tanzania.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park - Tanzania National Parks.com
Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania - Snow Forescast.com
Gives the weather forecast for Mount Kilimanjaro at the specific elevation of 4524m. Our sophisticated weather models allow us to provide ...
Travel Report Tanzania - Voyages.gc.ca
WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Media References

Moms v. the mountain - Globe and Mail.com (newspaper)
We got shots. We cleaned out MEC. We left behind families and jobs. Why would 12 fortysomething women sign up to climb Kilimanjaro? As Gayle MacDonald found out, it was the hardest thing she's done in her life - worse than giving birth
On Africa’s Roof, Still Crowned With Snow - NY Times.com (newspaper)
A THICK veil of snow had settled on Kilimanjaro the morning after my group arrived in Tanzania. Over breakfast, we gazed at the peak filling the sky above the palm trees of our hotel courtyard in Moshi...
Your Own Private Africa - NY Times.com (newspaper)
Your Own Private Africa
Where to Go in 2008 - NY Times.com (newspaper)
Time may be running out to see the most famous snows of American literature. The ice-capped peak of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, is melting at an alarming rate.
Mount Kilimanjaro's Glacier Is Crumbling - National Geographic.com (magazine)
Last January, amateur adventurer Vince Keipper realized a long-time goal when he trekked to the top of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro. But the view from Africa's 19,340-foot (5,895-meter) rooftop hardly compared to what he saw on the way up the mountain's Western Breach.

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