Lovers of the mountains will surely love a climb on Africa’s largest mountain. But we’re talking about Kilimanjaro here, and it is not just any mountain! Mount Kilimanjaro is a volcano that you can climb up to!
Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 meters, is Africa’s highest mountain, located in Tanzania (19,340 feet). It is the world’s tallest free-standing mountain climb. Freestanding means that it exists independently of any mountain chain.
Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira are the three volcanic cones that make up Kilimanjaro. The mountain’s top and the highest of the three volcanic structures is Kibo. It is an inactive volcano meaning that it won’t erupt any time soon or perhaps never at all.
Kilimanjaro is the world’s fourth most conspicuous summit in terms of topography. This is a popular climbing site and is part of the Kilimanjaro National Park. The mountain stretches for around 50 kilometers east-west (80 km).
Hans Meyer, a German geographer, and Ludwig Purtscheller, an Austrian climber, were the first individuals to reach the top of Kilimanjaro in 1889. Kilimanjaro has since become a renowned hiking destination for tourists all over the world. It’s not just the foreigners who are always up to the dangerous climb, but the locals of the area love the climb to Kilimanjaro equally! Since no climbing tools or expertise is required to reach the pinnacle, Kilimanjaro mountain attracts huge numbers of climbers each and every year.
In 1987, Kilimanjaro and the area surrounding it were designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is indeed an area of interest for both travelers as well as scientists because of the glaciers that are expected to deplete soon. The volcano, though dormant, is an exciting attraction for people of all ages. The region around Kilimanjaro mountain is home to a wide range of species.
Kilimanjaro descends down in a characteristic volcanic curve from the summit to the plains beneath. The plains, which are at an elevation of around 3,300 feet (1,000m), are also a beautiful place to visit.
The best approach to the Kilimanjaro mountain climb is the 7-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro through the Machame path, which provides good acclimatization and landscapes. The Lemosho path is identical to the Machame route.
The Rongai route is a lesser traveled alternative but is still another fantastic option. Kilimanjaro is also great in the wet season because it’s more protected. In the early twentieth century, the Kilimanjaro mountain and its neighboring woodlands were classified as a wildlife sanctuary. Mount Kilimanjaro Park was founded in 1973. Its main purpose was to safeguard the peak above the tree line as well as six forest pathways that run downward slope.
Kilimanjaro is a fantastic option for the mountaineer in you. For those of you with altitude sickness, the climb may seem a tad bit tedious, but it’s all worth the climb. There is a tremendous difference between seeing a mountain on television versus seeing one up close. Undoubtedly, Kilimanjaro is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for every adventurous person who has a passion for climbing and hiking.