Mount Kilimanjaro
The roof of Africa! yes the roof of Africa. One of the most Tallest mountain in Africa, the short history of Kilimanjaro
In 1910 the area was declared as a game reserve and a forest reserve in 1921 before being gazetted as a national park in 1973. It was not until 1977 when Kilimanjaro was opened for public access. The park was declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1987 and voted as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in 2013. Kilimanjaro is located in Northern Tanzania 48 km from Moshi town and covers an area of 1,668 square km.
.At 5896m Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain and one of the continent's magnificent sights, It has three main volcanic peaks, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The name itself "Kilimanjaro" is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It might mean Mountain of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans.
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highlight of most visitors’ experiences in Tanzania. Few mountains can claim the grandeur, the breathtaking views of Amboseli National Park in Kenya, the Rift Valley, and the Masaai Steppe, that belongs to Kilimanjaro. Hiking on the ‘rooftop of Africa’ — the highest point on the continent at 5896 meters — is the adventure of a lifetime, especially because, if paced well, everyone from seasoned trekkers to first-time enthusiasts can scale the snowy peak.
Climbing routes
Mount Meru
Arusha National Park is about an hour's drive from Arusha, and Momela Gate (1514 m/4967 ft), the start of the Mt. Meru climb, is about 15 km from the national park entrance.
Most Kilimanjaro tour operators and trekking agencies in Arusha organize Meru climbs.
(Mt. Meru differs from Mt. Kilimanjaro in that you don't HAVE to trek with a licensed operator. But organising all the food, equipment, permits, transport, porters, a ranger and a guide yourself will likely not work out any cheaper, and the hassle just isn't worth it.)
If you want to climb to the summit of Mt. Meru you need two or three nights on the mountain. You ascend about 1000 m/3300 ft per day. The third night does NOT give you extra time to acclimatise to the height. It is spent on the way down.
It is possible to skip the third night by descending over 3000 meters (9850 ft) in one single day, all the way from the summit back down to Momella Gate (where your transport should be waiting), but I would not recommend that.
It is cruel on the knees. You will also be so tired that the whole descent is just a painful slog, when it could be a very enjoyable trek through some of the best forests Tanzania has to offer. And believe me, the jungle on the slopes of Meru looks totally different when viewed coming down than when you climb up. You see so many things you never noticed on the way up!
