Climbing Kilimanjaro – What is the adventure trip all about?

When someone proposes a mountaineering trip to Africa or Tanzania in particular, the images of Mount Kilimanjaro evoke in mind. With its peak at a staggering 5,895 meters above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Africa, also called “The Roof of Africa”. It rises approximately 4,900 meters from its base, and its ascent is high on the priority list for many adventurers. But most beginners usually don’t know what to expect or what the trekking trip is all about at the end of the day.

To give you a real and unbiased idea of ​​what you will be facing up there, here is a complete mini guide for you on how to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

• Geology

Kilimanjaro is a huge stratovolcano that has three distinguishable volcanic cones. The three are Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, with Kibo being the tallest. Uhuru Peak in Kibo, at an elevation of 5,895 meters, is the highest point in Africa and the point where most hikers aspire to be. While the interior of the cones is fairly poorly understood due to a lack of erosion, the outer side of the cones is rocky and covered in snow. It consists mainly of solidified lava layers with some pyroclastic rocks that are common in volcanic areas. The continuous eruption millions of years ago buried most of the oldest geological features with the exception of the stratum, which is a layer of sedimentary rock.

• Time

The weather on Kilimanjaro is largely influenced by the height of the mountain, the equatorial trade winds, and the anti-trade winds. Up and down winds are common on the mountain and you will be constantly bombarded no matter where you are with the south being stronger than the north. There are two well-differentiated rainy seasons. One is from March to May, the other is around November. The lower reaches of the southern slope receive more rain than the northern areas and are therefore lush in nature. Apart from the rainy season, the climate usually remains dry.

One interesting thing is that there are five climate zones that you will encounter as you progress towards the top. These are scrubland, pluvial kelp, moorland and moorland, highland moorland, and ice caps. The order is from smallest to largest, with scrub being the lowest and ice caps being the highest.

• Who can climb the Kili?

Someone. There is no restriction as to who can and who can’t. People as young as 8 and 88 have a history of climbing Kili. The only requirement (not by law, but for success) is proper acclimatization (more on that in the next point) and a level of fitness.

• Mountain/altitude sickness

The main reason for the failure of most hikers, altitude sickness is the physical distress caused by. In the medical community, it is called acute mountain sickness (AMS). Symptoms can range from a mild headache to severe shortness of breath. Even if the mildest difficulties last a few hours, you can’t afford to suffer any kind of discomfort when you’re up there. The best way to properly acclimatize is to hike the lower reaches or another mountain at a much lower elevation for a few days before climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. This will give your body plenty of time to adjust to the changing altitudes.

• Roads

There are seven different routes to reach the top. These are Machame, Umbwe, Shira, Lemosho, Marangu and Rongai. All routes are amazing in themselves and have their pros and cons. The decision as to which one to tour is solely yours, but should be made with a number of factors in mind. These include:

• Physical capacity and level of physical condition.
• Hiking/mountaineering ability.
• Comfort level.
• What you want to see on the roads.
There is another route on Kilimanjaro, The Mweka, but it is only used for descending.

• Viewing games

If you think Kilimanjaro is all about snow and hiking, you are wrong. As mentioned above, the giant Kilimanjaro has seven different climate zones with the lowest being a scrubland. In the bush, you will come across many species of wildlife that are part of the Kilimanjaro National Park. This park includes the entire Kilimanjaro and covers an area of ​​1,688 square kilometers. Game viewing at the foot of the mountain includes elephants, buffaloes, leopards, colobus monkeys, bushbucks, and zebras, among other animals.

• Hazards and Risks

With such an imposing height and severe climate, it cannot be the fact that the trekking trip is risk free. Acute Mountain Sickness or AMS as mentioned above is one of them and is probably the biggest risk with 77% of mountaineers experiencing it on their trip. But there are some more that, as a responsible tourism company, we must inform you in advance.

• High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a more severe form of AMS.
• Fall from steep slopes.
• Health hazards due to improper disposal of human waste.
But the risks are minimal, or rather non-existent with the proper security measures. We and other tour companies employ strict security measures, and the well-being of hikers is prioritized over anything else.

• Standing on top of Kilimanjaro

The view from the top of Kilimanjaro or Uhuru Peak can be summed up in one sentence: “Never seen before”. Clouds, birds, animals, the whole world will be below you, and you will be able to see through a bird’s eye view in the faraway land. It’s tough, but when you get to the top, the scenery rewards you for every bit. Whichever of the seven routes you decide to take, climbing Kili is an incredible experience.

In folklore, the volcanic cones of Kibo and Mawenzi are said to have once been good neighbors until Mawenzi pulled a prank on Kibo and got beaten for it, which is the most unacceptable way to explain Mawenzi’s degraded environment with little or no. no snow. As hilarious and mystifying as the story may sound, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is just as fun and entertaining.

We at Vencha Travel have been working with experienced certified guides and potters for our climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. This not only increases your chances of reaching the top, but also keeps you informed of everything along the way. Contact us today to book Kilimanjaro hiking and trekking tours.

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For more information you should contact here by visiting this site: https://www.venchatravel.com/destinations/tanzania/moshi-kilimanjaro