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Mount Kilimanjaro:  003.00 degrees south , 036 degrees east, 5 895 m a.m.s.l., The highest mountain in Africa, the tallest free-standing mountain on earth.


Click Here for our complete and dedicated guide to climbing Kilimanjaro.
www.climbingkilimanjaro.com

Snow capped and shrouded by clouds, the local Chagga people called it 'Kilema Kyaro' meaning 'that which cannot be conquered' or 'that which makes a journey impossible'. Today, it is the dream of every adventurer to conquer its summit and stand on the roof of Africa.

KILIMANJARO is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain known to man. It is a mountain where you can hike for more than 50 kilometres, gain 4 000 meters in altitude, traverse rain forest, moorland, alpine desert, snow fields and ice cliffs, all virtually on the equator! A truly unforgettable and fascinating adventure . . .

Kilimanjaro has intrigued modern man for the past century. There's no denying that the human spirit thrives on exploring and conquering the unknown. The highest mountain in Africa was discovered by Europe during a mission, which attempted to broaden the knowledge of what lay in darkest Africa. Although it was spoken of in the second century, Mount Kilimanjaro was only "discovered" by the western world in 1889, when the reverend Johannes Rebmann came within sight of the mountain on 11 May 1889. He was scoffed at by the Royal Geographic Society for reporting a snow-capped mountain on the equator, but later during the same year it was Hans Meyer who conquered the highest peak in Africa at 5 895 meters above sea level. The expedition consisted of many porters, guides and advisors. It took the intrepid Meyer almost 6 weeks to reach the summit, 6 times as long as it takes the average climber today.

To use the word "climber" is not always correct. Today, hikers make up the bulk of all those who conquer Kilimanjaro. The routes accessible to hikers take approximately 6 days to finish. On these routes, no more specialised techniques other than normal hiking is required. Of course there are routes, which push the limits of human ability, but those we leave to the professional ice climbers and mountaineers. We are concerned with the routes "normal pedestrians" can achieve. Don't think for one minute that the summit of Kilimanjaro yields to half hearted attempts to while away 6 days. It is a most strenuous endeavour and should be attempted with resolve and utter commitment.

Kilimanjaro rises from plains at approximately 2000 meters, right up to 5 895 meters. An ancient volcano, it now lies dormant except for some tell tale signs of fumaroles in the ash pit. There are no surrounding mountains and Kilimanjaro literally stands alone. 

Surrounding the main peak of Kibo, are two other peaks, namely Mawenzi and Shira. These peaks form spectacular photographic backdrops when viewed from different vantage points along the routes to the summit. The lower slopes of the mountain are mainly used for agricultural purposes.
The climate here is ideal for the production of coffee, an industry that Tanzania is famous for. Further up, a band of rain forest surrounds the mountain up to about 2 700 meters.
As you go higher, you pass through moorland, semi-desert at altitude, progressing into total desert and finally into an alpine region with permanent glaciers. The higher slopes are covered with scree, loose stones resembling gravel, making it more difficult to negotiate.

The main glaciers edging their way down the slopes of Kibo are Heim, Rebmann, Decken and some smaller ones. These glaciers form the permanent ice cap of the mountain, although they are receding each year.

Being only 3 degrees south of the equator, one would expect the area to display the clear-cut characteristics of the tropics. This is not always the case. The elevation of the surrounding plains is sufficient to afford an often-mild climate at the foothills of Kilimanjaro. There is a constant feeling of summer, and there are two rain seasons to keep in mind. The long rains are most predominant and usually start towards the end of March lasting until about the end of June. This is monsoon time. The short rains are generally around October and November, but can extend into December. Apart from these factors, climbing Kilimanjaro remains constant throughout the year.

 


Conditions during the rain season range from rain on the lower slopes, hail and sleet higher up, and eventually snow at the top. For hikers, these conditions, non-stop for a week, make for a very difficult ascent of the mountain. Unless you have the experience to attempt a high summit in adverse weather conditions, it is not advised to attempt Kilimanjaro during a rainy season.

Temperatures range from around 25-30 degrees Celsius at the foot of the mountain to around minus 15 -20 degrees at the summit. Night temperatures drop well below freezing point. Clearly a large variation, making it more interesting to summit the mountain. An average rainfall of around 2 000 mm is measured on Kilimanjaro.


ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a specific condition most frequently found in people not used to extreme altitude. It is one of your biggest obstacles to the summit of Kilimanjaro. There is no telling beforehand whether you will suffer from this syndrome, but about 70% climbers do suffer from mild AMS. It can be fatal when not treated or when symptoms are recklessly ignored. Your best defence is acclimatisation and keeping your body sufficiently hydrated. Click here for more detailed information on altitude sickness.

 

THE ROUTES

There are mainly two routes which lead most hikers to the summit. They are the Marangu and the Machame routes. Although other routes also lead to Uhuru Peak, they mainly form parts of the Machame route, like the Shira route from the North west. 

MARANGU ROUTE
Others include Umbwe, which is spectacular but difficult and Mweka, which is better suited for the way down than up to the summit. For the energetic and adventurous, there is a spectacular alternative finish to the Machame route up the Arrow Glacier. Keep this one in mind for a second or third visit to Kilimanjaro.
The most popular by far is the Marangu route. This seems to be a result of a perception that it is the easiest route to climb. It is also the least expensive. The Marangu can be climbed in either 5 or 6 days, with additional days being optional. Ultimately, the longer time that can be spent ascending a route, the more acclimatised the hiker will be, thereby increasing his chances of success. For most of us, this is not a luxury that's always affordable, considering the cost of extending a stay on the mountain. Generally speaking, 5-6 days are sufficient to summit and return to the bottom.
Machame: According to most observers, this is the most scenic route on the mountain. Starting at the Machame park gate, the route ascends along the west of Kibo towards the Shira Plateau . It then turns east towards Kibo, but turns sharply south before turning east again.

MACHAME ROUTE
This shows off the entire southern slopes of Kibo as well as close-ups of the spectacular western walls of Barranco. Truly awesome sites. The route to the summit is finally along the eastern slopes up to Stella point from Barafu hut. Barafu, meaning ice in Swahili gives you an idea of what to expect at altitude 4 500 m. This route is normally done over a minimum of 6 days. Accommodation is in tents and only at designated camp sites. Tents are supplied. This route is for the energetic and adventurous, but definitely produces the "goods" in terms of scenic value. A variation of Machame, the Arrow Glacier route, has the added interest of ascending directly up the western face of Kibo, the so-called Arrow Glacier. This is a very difficult route and can sometimes be impassable due to bad weather. Keep this one in mind for the second or third visit to Kilimanjaro. Click here for more detailed information on the Machame route.
 

Marangu: Approaching the mountain from the south east, overnight camps are in comfortable huts, starting with Mandara, Horombo, Kibo and down again. An optional 6th day on this route can be spent acclimatising at the Horombo hut, normally hiking towards the peak of Mawenzi east of Kibo on the extra day. Note that spending more time on the mountain does help tremendously with acclimatisation. The start is at the Marangu park gate. Click here to view more details on the Marangu route.

All expeditions are led by professional guides, and the option exists to join an existing tour with someone who has climbed previously.

Whilst not absolutely necessary, joining up with someone who has done the route before makes it a lot easier to understand the effects of altitude at certain points and also the approach to climbing the mountain, which ALWAYS has to be very slowly ......... POLE POLE as they say on the mountain.


GUIDE BOOK TO KILIMANJARO

 Destination Africa Tours are partners in a campaign launching the first South Africa "Kilimanjaro Guide" for all Kilimanjaro-hikers.

This excellent guide, written by Thomas Alexander, entails everything you need to know and more about the roof of Africa. Only a small contribution from our side to all Kili-lovers.

To receive your personal guide,
please drop us an e-mail.


E-mail: info]]at[[destination((d0t))co))d0t((za (cloaked for spam)

Destination Africa Tours
Tel : +27 12 333 7114 /  Fax : +27 12 333 5520
PO Box: 26014,  Gezina,  0031, South Africa


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