Ah, Kilimanjaro. She stands aloof, shrouded in mist and mystery. Rising straight from 900m above sea level to a dizzying 5895m (or thereabouts – the exact number is up for some debate), she reigns over the plains below and is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. And she’s no shy, retiring maiden either. Covering an area of around 100 kilometres in length and 65 kilometres in width, gar
gantuan seems a rather feeble description of Kilimanjaro. The origin of Kilimanjaro’s name has itself been lost in time. It has been argued that it means anything from Mountain of Light to Mountain of Greatness to Mountain of Caravans. It stands at the epicentre of Kilimanjaro National Park which is 1668 square kilometres in size. Kilimanjaro is actually made up of three volcanic cones – Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi. Uhuru Peak stands on Kibo and is the ultimate goal of all those intrepid souls (whose numbers you shall soon join) who venture up her slopes. Funnily enough, of the three cones, Kibo is the only one which is still dormant. But, don’t worry, the last major eruption of Kibo occurred more than 360,000 years ago and the only ‘recent’ activity was a bit of a rumble more than 200 years ago. So, set your mind at ease on that count. Climbing Kilimanjaro
What you should keep in mind that this lady is not easily conquered. You might begin your trek in dense forest but, you will finish it amidst snow and ice. There are 6 trekking routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro. They aren’t easy but they don’t require any specialised technical mountaineering skill. You may not fly up the slopes like Kilian Jornet but you can certainly get up there on two legs. In fact, there have been a number of people who have done it in wheelchairs so even the latter aren’t prerequisites. We have options for people of all levels of fitness. Our guides know every bush and boulder along the route having spent most of their lives dedicated to Kilimanjaro. They lead teams of outstanding porters, cooks and aides to ensure absolute safety and comfort for every one of our clients.
