Mount Kilimanjaro is located in Northern Tanzania, *2 50′ / 3 20’S: 37 00 / 37 35’E*

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KILIMANJARO is the highest mountain in Africa measuring 5895m or 19340 ft and the tallest freestanding mountain known to man. It is a mountain where you can hike for more than 90 kilometers, gain 4 000 meters in altitude, traverse rain forest, moorland, alpine desert, snow fields and ice cliffs, all virtually on the equator! A truly unforgettable and fascinating adventure. Before reaching forest area, at Kilimanjaro slopes there are human settlements maily chagga tribe who inhabited the area many years ago. Main activities are agricultural on Coffee and banana plantations plus other activities like Tourism.

Mount Kilimanjaro was formed due to volcanic reactions and eruptions. Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The Kilimanjaro peaks height are Kibo 5,893 m (19,334 ft); Mawenzi 5,149 m (16,893 ft); and Shira 3,962 m (13,000 ft). Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim.

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Summits Mountains in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro is the easiest to climb by anybody old than 12 years. Is the only Mountain in the World with the perfect symmetrical crater? Mount is 4^th of the seven summits

Kilimanjaro has a large variety of forest types over an altitudinal range of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) containing over 1,200 vascular plant species. The forest existence in the deepest valleys of the cultivated lower areas suggests that a rich forest flora inhabited Mt Kilimanjaro in the past, with restricted-range species otherwise only known from the Eastern Arc Mountains. The low degree of endemism on Kilimanjaro may result from destruction of lower altitude forest rather than the relatively young age of the mountain. Another feature of the forests of Kilimanjaro is the absence of a bamboo zone, which occurs on all other tall mountains in East Africa with a similarly high rainfall. Sinarundinaria alpina stands are favoured by elephants, buffaloes, birds, black and white colobus monkeys e.t.c. On Kilimanjaro these megaherbivores occur on the northern slopes, where it is too dry for a large bamboo zone to develop. They are excluded from the wet southern slope forests by topography and humans, who have cultivated the foothills at least 2000 years ago.

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The Climate

Mount Kilimanjaro is covered by Snow throughout the year despite of its location at Tropic Equator.

There is a constant feeling of summer, and there are two rainy seasons to keep in mind. The highest rainfall occurs from March lasting until about the end of May. This is monsoon time. Slightly less rain falls during the short rainy period, which occurs from around October to November, but can extend into December. Apart from these factors, climbing Kilimanjaro remains fairly constant throughout the year.

The maximum rainfall occurs in the forest belt, where it can reach up to 2700 mm per year. At the summit, which can be, describe as a “high altitude desert”, the rainfall reaches less than 100 mm per year. Rain (and snow at higher altitudes) can however be encountered at any time of the year.

The average temperatures at the foot of the mountain are 15°-34° C and on the summit, it can range from minus 10° -20° C. At 3000m the day temperatures range from 5°-15° C, and at night frost is normally encountered.

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Best Season to climb Mount Kilimanjaro:

Before decision to climb Kilimanjaro, climber should know on several facts including weather, routes and altitude sickness.

The warmest months with the clearest trekking days, are from mid to late December, January, February, September and October. The rains often come in April and the start of May with the possibility of some snow.

June through to August are superb trekking months, though evening temperatures tend to be colder. The wettest months, are November and early December, where snow falls are likely. Note however, that as this is a mountain it is not impossible to get sporadic snow or rainfall at odd times throughout the year. Trekkers can also climb on November and December with extra care and equipments successful.

Other Tourists like to arrange their summit around a full moon and Christmas and New Year are very popular.

Mount Kilimanjaro climbing, trekking routes:

Kilimanjaro routes are;

• Machame route mostly 6 days,
• Marangu can be climbed 5 and 6 days,
• Londorossi/Lemosho 7 days,
• Umbwe 6 days, Rongai 6 days , And
• 7 days Shira Exclusive fantastic route-through Shira Plateau from Londorossi gate is the most fascinating and scenic route up Kilimanjaro.Apart from the standard days mentioned above, a Tourist has option to add one day for acclimatization so that he/she maximizes the chance to reach summit.

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