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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, don't 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 feet).
Kilimanjaro is one of the world's
most accessible high summits, a beacon for visitors from around
the world. Most climbers reach the crater rim with little more
than a walking stick, proper clothing and determination. And
those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual summit, or Gillman's
Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned their climbing
certificates.
And their memories.
But there is so much more to Kili
than her summit. The ascent of the slopes is a virtual climatic
world tour, from the tropics to the Arctic.
Even before you cross the national park boundary (at the 2,700m
contour), the cultivated footslopes give way to lush montane
forest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the
endangered Abbot’s duiker, and other small antelope and
primates. Higher still lies the moorland zone, where a cover of
giant heather is studded with otherworldly giant lobelias.
Above 4,000m, a surreal alpine
desert supports little life other than a few hardy mosses and
lichen. Then, finally, the last vestigial vegetation gives way
to a winter wonderland of ice and snow – and the magnificent
beauty of the roof of the continent.
NOTE
:- Climb slowly to increase your acclimatisation time and maximise
your chances of reaching the summit.
To avoid altitude sickness, allow a minimum of five nights,
preferably even more for the climb. Take your time and enjoy the
beauty of the mountain.
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