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Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is
128km from Arusha town, which covers an area of 755sq
km (about 470sq miles), and Kilimanjaro is the crown
of Tanzania. Rising in absolute isolation, at 5895 meters
(19,339 feet), Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain
and one of the accessible high summits, a beacon for
visitors from all around the world. Most climbers reach
the crater rim with little more then a walking stick,
proper clothing and determinations. Kilimanjaro can
be climbed at any time of the year but the best is considered
to be from August-October and January to March. It is
wet in the rainforest during the rains in April, May,
June and November. December through to February is the
warmest months
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At 5895,
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest, as well as the youngest,
of the three volcanic peaks of East Africa, Mount Kenya
5,199 m and Elgon 4,321m being the other two. Their
oldest lava may be only some 1 Million years old, and
small-scale activities on the Kibo peak has probably
taken place within the last couple of hundred years.
Kilimanjaro is a “Central Vent” type of Volcano, which
gives it an oval shape in plain view.
The
dimension of its base are about 80 x 48 km, elongated
in the East – South – East direction. The older rock
of its three main peaks are broadly similar, being mainly
trach basalts, dark grey rocks containing lighter coloured
feldspar crystals. The younger rock of Kibo is, however,
of a different composition, and includes nephelirites
and nepheline – synites which contain glassy crystals
of nepheline.
Of
the three peaks, Shira to the west at 4006m is the lowest
as well as the oldest of them. Its original crater
has undergone considerable erosion, leaving only part
of the former rim.
Mawenzi
to the east rises 5149m and has a steep craggy profile,
due in part to intensive action of glacial ice. Kibo,
the central peak is the youngest and best preserved
of the three. Its crater area has a complex structure
consisting of a number of more or less concentric features.
There is an outer caldera not larger than 2.5km in diameter,
resulting from an eruption followed by the collapse
inwards of part of the summit.
The
highest point, Uhuru peak is on the southern rim of
Kibo Caldera. Within the caldera is an inner cone some
820m cross, which also contains another cone and crater
called the Reusch Crater, some 340m in diameter.
ROUTES
Marangu Route
The main tourist route and by far the most popular route
and some claim the easiest route to Uhuru Peak. The
5-day option, which is available on this route, makes
it the least expensive route on the mountain. A 6-day
option with an extra day of acclimatisation is however
also available. This is the only route, which provides
comfortable sleeping huts, equipped with beds and mattresses
at every campsite. Mineral water, soft drinks, beer
and chocolates are also sold at every camp. All the
camps on this route have radio contact with the Park
Headquarters
Machame Route
This is probably the most scenic and most beautiful
route to the summit. The 6-day route is however physically
more challenging than the Marangu route. The day walks
are longer and steeper, however the summit night is
one hour shorter. The scenic traverse of the Western
Breach offers some stunning views! Only tented accommodation
available, which can be less comfortable and will require
a good sleeping bag and hiking mattress.
Umbwe Route
This route is one of the shorter but also one of the
more difficult routes to reach Uhuru peak--but quiet
spectacular. Umbwe is known for its caves. The first
night you actually sleep at the Umbwe Cave Camp with
two more caves that can be visited on route the following
day. Also sometimes used as a descending route.
Shira Route
The Shira Plateau is one of the most scenic and most
fascinating areas on Kilimanjaro. Depending on the weather
conditions you can drive by 4 wheel drive vehicles,
to within a 1/2 hours walk of Shira Hut (4000m). Even
this drive is very spectacular indeed and offers some
magnificent views of Mt Meru and the Great Rift Valley
in general. Game is often sighted and the road features
some striking vegetation changes ranging from forest,
grassland, heath to moorland. The fast ascend by vehicle
to about 4000m will require additional acclimatisation,
after which it will be possible to ascend Uhuru Peak
either via the Western Breach or via the Barafu hut
Lemosho Route
It is a remote, unspoiled and very beautiful route to
the Roof of Africa. The forest around the Lemosho Glades
is rich in big game animals such as elephant and buffalo,
which may sometimes require a game ranger to accompany
climbers on the first day. This route is however a long
route which requires 7-days for a comfortable completion,
which also makes it more expensive
Western Breach
/ Arrow Glacier
An alternative final ascend route which can be taken
from all of the western routes, sleeping at magnificent
Arrow Glacier on your summit night. The western Breach
poses a very difficult walk up steep scree with some
rock scrambling occasionally required. Snow cover makes
scree easier but an ice axe is then required. It is
also possible to sleep an extra night inside the Kibo
Crater.
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