Kilimanjaro – More than just a climber’s dream

Climbing this 5,895-metre-tall iconic mountain isn’t enormously popular amongst adventurers for no reason. Kilimanjaro is in fact the tallest mountain in Africa, comprising of two dormant volcanoes (Kibo and Mawenzi) and an extinct one (Shira). It is also the world’s highest freestanding mountain and was declared a National Park in 1973, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and a Natural Wonder of Africa in 2013. It is said that the word Kilimanjaro is derived from the Swahili word “Kilima” (mountain) and the KiChagga word “Njaro” (whiteness), essentially translating the name to “white mountain” and hence, paying tribute to its snow-capped peak.

When climbing a mountain for several days, one tends to need some rest occasionally. Luckily, the park provides accommodation and campsites. In Mandara, Horombo, and Kibo - at the foot of Kilimanjaro - you can find comfortable mountain huts. Once you get closer to the summit, however, the resting options turn more basic. Up there, you can pitch your tent at one of the 22 campsites along the way to all three summits.

A more technically challenging adventure is to climb to Mawenzi peak at 5,149 metres above sea level. Unlike Kibo peak, Mawenzi is not easily accessible, as it consists of steep rock faces and cliffs. To get to the top of one (or all) of the seven sub-peaks, climbing equipment and technical climbing experience are required. However, the view you get at the top of Mawenzi is equally as rewarding as the one you get at the top of its taller sibling, Kibo.

There are many places to explore in the national park, even if you don’t want to go to the summits of Kibo and Mawenzi. Besides hiking up to the Shira Plateau, you can visit the Lauwo waterfalls, hike to the Maundi crater with its panoramic views of the Lakes Chala, Jipe, and Nyumba ya Nungu, and visit cultural sites such as Kifunika and the surrounding villages. Furthermore, the park has a unique mountain forest with endemic plants that are waiting to be discovered and is also a great place observe wildlife, especially birds that live in this high-altitude region.