Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro – All you need to know
Definitely, Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro is an overwhelmingly breathtaking experience. The experience offers spectacular views of the shrinking glaciers. Hiking mountain Kilimanjaro also allows you to see the entire African continent after arriving at the top of its highest peak- Uhuru. Standing at 5,895m above sea level, Kilimanjaro is the tallest highland in Africa. It is the largest freestanding mountain in the world. It is a dormant volcano that was formed about one million years ago with three volcanic cones. These are; the Kobo, Mawezi, and Shira plateaus. It is in the northern side of Tanzania close to the southern border of Kenya. In some parts of Kenya, the snow on the peak of the mountain is visible.
Is it possible to Hike Mountain Kilimanjaro?
Despite its height, the mountain is one of the most accessible tall mountains in the world. You just need appropriate dressing, physical fitness, and the support of a walking stick. As you climb through the mountain, you’ll encounter different climatic zones and flora. Firstly, you’ll encounter the farmlands on the lower slopes. Then, rainforests cover the upper slopes at about 3,000m above sea level. Ascending, there is open alpine moorland with giant lobelias and massive heathers. Then, the barren Alpine desert follows them before arriving at the snow on top.
There are several routes one can use to get to the top of the mountain. These include; the Lemosho route, Machame route, Northern Circuit, Rongai route, Shira route, and Marangu route. Completing the trek depends on the length of the route you use. Meanwhile, most of them take an average of 6 days and 5 nights or 7 days and 6 nights.
What to expect to see while hiking mountain Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro National Park protects Mount Kilimanjaro also popular as “Kili”. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your hiking safari to the mountain may feature sightings of some of the stunning wild animals. These animals live around the slopes of the mountain. Some of these include elephants, monkeys, buffaloes, eland, and buffalo among others. In addition, there are rare plant species in the upper areas of the mountain. Also, the final snow-capped peaks form one of the most beautiful backgrounds for photography. Remember to fully charge your camera and carry extra batteries. Thus, take enough photos for memories of the beauty in the scene.
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is any time of the year except from March to May since this is the wet season on the Mountain.
Access to Mountain Kilimanjaro
Most climbs to Kilimanjaro start from Arusha and Moshi towns. They are about 46km from Kilimanjaro International Airport which is close to the hiking routes. You may also take a direct international flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Then, you connect to the hiking starting point by road, which takes about an hour.
If you book your safari with “Safari Vacations and Travel Services”, the driver guide will pick you up from the airport or hotel. Then, you’ll drive to the hike starting point where you’ll meet the ranger guide to lead you through the routes.
From any place in Tanzania, you can also book domestic a flight that will take you to Kilimanjaro Airport. Then, you can later connect to the starting point by road. You can also fly from Kenya to Kilimanjaro airport. Still from Nairobi, you can connect by road to Arusha or Moshi towns and then to Kilimanjaro. It takes about 6-7 hours from Nairobi to these towns.
Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro
Tourists who plan to go hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro should have overall fitness. That is; physically, mentally, and with good stamina. However, much of the mountain doesn’t require professional climbing skills. You’ll require some level of fitness at some altitudes. Research the types of equipment you need to carry to ensure you have the necessary and enough equipment. As you plan for mountain climbing, you are reminded that you should be under the guidance of licensed personnel. Book your tour with “Safari Vacations and Travel Services” for easy planning and have a magnificent experience of mountain climbing.
6 hiking routes lead to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. They are of varying distances and require different levels of fitness. Expect to see animals like monkeys, lots of birds and other natural landscapes like waterfalls. Machame route is steeper but has the most thrilling scenes. While using the Lemosho route, it is easier to organize game drives and combine the trip with game viewing. On the southern side of the mountain is Chala Crater Lake which you can also visit. You get to spend Nights and rests in huts and tents. A visit to some of the communities living on the slopes of the mountain offers an opportunity to learn about their culture, lifestyle, and traditional practices and activities.
The fees of the packages may be different depending on the route you choose. It also depends on the days to spend on the activity.
What to pack for Mountain Kilimanjaro Hiking
People with an interest in hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro should critically learn about the nature of the mountain at different altitudes. This will help you to plan and prepare appropriately for the necessary equipment. Common things to carry are strong hiking boots, a rain jacket and other waterproof clothes, and a sweater. Also, you should Carry a sleeping bag, a hat, and sunglasses. You will get a walking stick on arrival before the hike starts.
As earlier mentioned, climbers should be fit in all forms if they want to climb to the top of the mountain. Your health condition should be normal. You are advised to see your doctor for a check-up and get the necessary advice before traveling. Find out more about acute mountain sickness for good preparation for those days to be spent at a high altitude. Due to high elevation and low temperature, you may face the problem of altitude sickness. However, you can choose this by choosing a favorable itinerary that will enable a gradual acclimatization. Remember to carry your yellow fever immunization card and some fast-aid medication as your doctor recommends.
Climbers to Kilimanjaro are accompanied by an armed guide, a cook, and a porter if they are carrying heavy luggage. Expenses of hiring porters are exclusive of the package fee. They are available at the starting points of the trek. Guides go for US$20 per day, Porters US$10, and cooks US$ 15 per day.
Best time for trekking Mount Kilimanjaro
Best time for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – Hiking is possible throughout the year. However, it may be rough and challenging during the wet season. It is easier to trek through the routes during the dry season. The months of December, January, February, and September are dry and more preferable by climbers. These months are warm and the weather is good for the activity.
The months of April, May, and November are the wettest and the routes are slippery. However, this doesn’t limit some people from trekking. Early August also experiences rains and trekking is quite challenging but possible.
The Northern Tanzanian Tourist Area
If you want to adventure one of Africa’s most impressive destinations, consider booking a safari to Northern Tanzania. With wilderness places like Serengeti National Park which is popular for the great wildebeest migration, Ngorongoro Crater harbors the world’s most threatened wild animals. These include black rhinos and Africa’s highest mountain. It is a combination of tourist activities in these areas that would make one of the most remarkable African safaris. Activities in these destinations include watching the great wildebeest migration, game drives, mountain climbing, and others. These activities require good timing for tourists to enjoy each day of the tour.
To connect from destination to destination in this region, you may choose to use road transport. This also enables you to explore the beautiful scenes of Tanzania though it is tiresome. Alternatively, transfers by air are arranged.
