overview
The beautiful volcano of Kilimanjaro
stands on the Tanzanian side of the Kenya border, side by side with the smaller Mount Meru. It
is the highest mountain in Africa at 6,440 m, and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Rising from the plains of northern Tanzania, Mt Kilimanjaro
casts a rain-shadow to the south and east that supplies the beautiful and superbly fertile land in which the towns of Moshi and Arusha are situated, full of banana groves and coffee plantations. It
dominates the surrounding landscape, and on a clear day can be seen from almost a hundred miles away. The mountain is set entirely within the Mt Kilimanjaro National Park and although it stands only three degrees below the Equator, its peak retains a permanent cover of snow and ice. The slopes of Kilimanjaro comprise five distinct ecological zones – from lush rainforest to alpine heathland and finally a barren, high-altitude desert – making it one of the most beautiful and varied mountains to climb.
We outfit climbs for all routes on Kilimanjaro though we prefer the more scenic and less touristed routes such as Lemosho Glades also known as the Shira route, and the Umbwe route
(65% of people climb on the Marangu Route).
With the support of a dedicated team of porters, cooks and guides, climbers are well looked after. All climbs are accompanied by experienced guides with first-aid training. The effort of reaching the top is well worth it – watching dawn break from the glacier-clad summit of Uhuru peak is an unforgettable experience.
The normal way to climb Kilimanjaro is to have the last camp between 4600 to 4900 m and do an overnight ascent to the summit on one of these three routes, leaving camp at about midnight, and making for a 12-17 hour trekking day….part of why Kilimanjaro has such a reputation! The other option is to trek up the Western Breach to the summit during daylight hours and camp in the crater (at 18,750 ft (5,715 m). The overnight at crater camp does make the climb significantly more costly, but success rates for reaching the summit are significantly higher!
During your climb you will stay in tented camps, which your crew will set up each evening on arrival. Creature comforts and facilities are necessarily basic, but you can look forward to a hot bath and a cold beer back at your lodge after your climb.
As a reward for your exertions, why not combine this trip with a luxury safari and/or a relaxing beach holiday at one of the beautiful island destinations along the coast of Tanzania or Kenya. Wonderful World has a selection of the best safaris and beach resorts to choose from – please contact us for details.