Mount Kilimanjaro
Walk in the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro with a Maasai tracker. He’ll show you animal spoor and the toothbrush bush. Later gaze at the delicate rose-tinted snows of the enormous mountain glowing in the sunset as part of an exclusive bespoke African safari.
Africa's tallest mountain [5 893M] is a beautiful
sight. From far away, from the air or near to, it dominates.
If not covered in cloud the sight of the mountain as you
come in to land at Kilimanjaro International Airport
is magnificent.
A major plus is that it is the world's tallest walkable
mountain but not in a day, two days, or three. Significant
preparation and five days of slow climbing to the top to
acclimatize to altitude cannot be avoided. Take the right
kit. Adopt right procedures. You can get down in a day.
Avoid it in April to mid-June and from October to the end
of November when heavy rain can be expected.
Sadly, Kilimanjaro's snows, which feed its myriad
mountain streams and nourish the wildlife
surrounding it, are melting due to global warming. They
may have disappeared entirely within two decades.
Kilimanjaro was formed more than a million years
ago by volcanic eruptions and these only ceased about
200 years ago. Of its three cones, Kibo remains dormant
but not extinct.
Of the many trails on the mountain, the Marangu
Trail is the most popular and suitable for the elderly
and inexperienced young.
Everyone has a theory about its romantic name. Probably
the most acceptable is that today's name is a combination
of two Native words: 'kilima' meaning 'hill' in Swahili and
'mountain' in other dialects and the Masaai word 'njore'
meaning 'springs' or 'waters'. Most people living in its
shadow believe it is the home of different spirits of one
sort or another. There is a charming tale of Solomon
choosing it as his final resting place, of his sorrowing
followers leaving him sitting in an icy cave high up near
the summit facing the rising sun, of several large icicles
crashing down to close his entourage escape as they make their
way down the snowy slopes to begin their return to
the Holy Land.
This beautiful volcanic mountain, along with Table
Mountain and spectacular Victoria Falls are sights you
will never forget. All three are highlights or of bespoke African safari experiences with King &
King. All three are less than 24 hours away from
European airport hubs.
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