Kilimanjaro

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Kilimanjaro truly stands alone among the mountains of the world. The huge, solitary volcano is unaccompanied by any mountain chain. People who are in good shape can make the ascent to its summit in a matter of days, passing through five distinct ecological zones along the way. The lower slopes of the mountain are defined by coffee and banana fields that rise up and end where the mountains forest begins. An average of 80 inches of rainfall a year make the forest home to some botanical treats. Tree ferns in this region are known to grow up to 20 feet, and giant lobelia often reach 30 feet. At an altitude of about 9,000 feet, the forest gives way to grasslands and shrubbery, and elephant can sometimes be spotted roaming the high slopes. At about …show more content…

You do not need to be super fit - just take it slowly (pole-pole the guide will say) and be determined. We are one of the top Kilimanjaro operators with an excellent reputation and a very high success rate. But success depends mainly on you - it is up to you to make some important choices; in particular which route you ascend and for how many days. If you have little previous mountain walking and camping experience and are not sure of your fitness go for the Marangu Route (entirely hut based) and make sure you have at least one acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut or that you have acclimatised on Mt Meru, Mt Kenya or elsewhere previously. Please read the route descriptions carefully and if necessary discuss your choice with us. MOUNT KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK Kilimanjaro. The name itself is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It might mean Mountain of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans. Or it might not. The local people, the Wachagga, dont even have a name for the whole massif, only Kipoo (now known as Kibo) for the familiar snowy peak that stands imperious, overseer of the continent, the summit of Africa. Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa. When you see it, you understand why. Not only is this the highest peak on the African continent; it is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland, elevation around 900 metres to an imperious 5,895 metres (19,336

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