Why do people go to kilimanjaro

As a result, despite relatively heavy traffic, the mountain has retained its wild nature. Climbing Kilimanjaro is like walking from the equator to the North Pole in a week, providing dramatic changes in vegetation and animal life day by day. Kilimanjaro is also a sky island. Its high altitudes have created habitat for strange and unique life forms found only on a few other peaks on the planet, such as the delicate elephant flower and the bizarre Kilimanjaro tree.

Kilimanjaro is a hot spot for studying climate change. Al Gore showed photos of its rapidly shrinking glaciers in An Inconvenient Truth. Ice cores show the glaciers to be 11, years old—and yet they will all be gone in the next years. Teams of scientists are working on the ice to better monitor and understand exactly why this is happening. Find out more at www. Guides, porters, cooks, hotel staff, food producers, travel and trekking agencies, merchants, construction companies and banks all create local jobs in a region that remains one of the poorest on earth.

Kilimanjaro inspired a continent to freedom. Kilimanjaro belongs to Tanzania, the first nation in Africa to win independence from colonial powers it was then called Tanganyika. People climb Kilimanjaro to mark a personal accomplishment.

Individuals climb the mountain to mark important transitions: their graduation, their retirement, a marriage or a divorce. The event is significant enough that every year dozens of local newspapers write the story of a town resident who makes the journey to the peak. Many people climb Kilimanjaro to draw attention to a worthy cause or charity: to raise money to cure cancer or bring attention to a condition such as autism.

Individuals with disabilities have climbed to mountain to demonstrate that with courage perseverance, a disability need not be a limitation. Kilimanjaro inspires transformation. When you climb Kilimanjaro and stand on the roof of Africa, you see the world a different way. What seemed impossible in your life might just be doable.

The mountain top is a place for vision, inspiration, and a new beginning. I cast away all my sorrows. There are 6 main Mount Kilimanjaro routes which lead to the summit, Uhuru Peak, one of which starts on the Northern side of the mountain and the rest on the Southern side.

Some are shorter than others for the elite hiker that can race to the top and back, and some are longer for those who need the extra time to acclimatize as they gain elevation. Unless you are a trained athlete that has been acclimatizing and is used to the elevation changes of the mountain, we recommend you take the longer route. By embarking on a longer route, you are less likely to feel discomfort adjusting to the incremental decreases in oxygen as you gain elevation.

This will effectively reduce your risk of getting altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro , which causes most hikers to cut their life-altering journey short. Kilimanjaro is like walking through the tropical weather of the rain forest, which is only found at the equator, and slowly making your way towards the frozen tundra of the Arctic.

The base of this mountain is typically 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, while the peak is 20 to degrees Fahrenheit. You need to be well-equipped for both conditions.

This means multiple articles of clothes and the in addition to plenty of water and food which will be provided by the company to last the journey. Without some of these essentials, it is impossible to climb Kilimanjaro safely. So, be sure to look up lists and guides of what to pack before embarking on this lengthy hike. Your odds of having a safe and successful climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro will increase exponentially if you are accompanied by a professional mountain guide.

These individuals are trained and well-practiced in the routes of this mountain and will be sure to look after you every step of the way.

Not only will they help with navigation, but they will also ensure you have packed properly, you have enough supplies for the journey, and they will have emergency contacts if ever necessary. You will definitely be in good hands with the guides. Many inexperienced hikers will hear that Kilimanjaro is a massive hike that almost anyone could accomplish, and so they embark on this mile journey without the proper supplies. The hike from the base to the tip of Kilimanjaro typically takes anywhere from 5 to 9 days to complete.

You might not need mountaineering tools to complete this hike safely, but you will need ample food, water which the guiding company will provide and basic hiking equipment :. This is by no means an all-inclusive list of the equipment you need for Kilimanjaro.

Reaching the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro is unlike any experience most human beings have in their lives. The sheer height of this mountain puts you right in the clouds, and the panoramic views are purely spectacular.

As long as you are smart about your preparations and you are fully aware of the risks this mountain poses, conquering one of the Seven Summits is absolutely a worthwhile experience. Is Climbing Kilimanjaro Worth It? Why Climb Kilimanjaro There are a wide array of reasons why climbing Mt. The Natural Beauty of its Surroundings The geography, natural diversity, and wildlife of Africa are utterly unique and the perfect setting for this incredible hike. What Are the Risks of Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is a Dormant Volcano Mt.

High Rates of Failure Of the 35, individuals that attempt to conquer Mt. The first two points are most important. Know your body: This is perhaps the most important part. If you are questioning your physical capabilities, you should perhaps go see a professional for monitoring. It is important to know your body, so you can notice any warning signs when you are on your way to the Roof of Africa. For the ultimate preparation, you can also go on a walking holiday to Austria , for example.

Kilimanjaro Kit List - What to Pack? When you are preparing for your Kilimanjaro climb it is important to have the right bags, the right clothes, the right shoes or boots, the right gloves, the right headwear, the right sleeping bag and all the extras. Good preparation is half the work. If you land in Moshi without having looked at our packing list for climbing Kilimanjaro, then you either have climbed Kilimanjaro before or you got it wrong.

Do it right and check out our packing list for Mount Kilimanjaro. Combine Kilimanjaro Climb with Mount Meru or a Safari We see a lot of people flying into Moshi, spending the afternoon in a restaurant, going to bed, waking up the next morning, climbing Kilimanjaro for a week, coming back and flying back home.

When you don't have a lot of time, this is absolutely understandable, but if you have the opportunity, you should definitely stretch your time. You've spent a lot of money on those flights to Tanzania, so you might as well see what else there is to do in the area. If you're only spending an afternoon in Moshi, you might think that it is a bit of a sleepy town. But don't be mistaken, there is plenty to do to and we wouldn't call it killing time. Safari While in Africa you might as well do a safari.

If you want to get the most of your experience on African soil, you can combine the two. Although we may not have the options published on our website, our trekking experts know the best places and have some affordable safari options ready for you.

Get in touch with our trekking experts and combine your Kilimanjaro ascent with a safari. Climbing Mount Meru If you have the legs and the time, you should definitely consider climbing Mount Meru. This is the perfect warm-up or cool-down for climbing Kilimanjaro. Meru is considered to be the little brother of Kilimanjaro and from here you can get great views of Kilimanjaro and the valley in between the two mountains.

With 4, meters, Mount Meru is the fifth highest mountain of Africa. Are you keen? Check out our Mount Meru climb blog post here. Flights to Kilimanjaro This is one of the first things you want to get sorted when you have booked your Kilimanjaro climbing package. When your dates are fixed, you can start looking at flights to Kilimanjaro.

Together with some other essentials like a kit list, we have packed some information about cheap flights to Kilimanjaro in this helpful preparation blog post.

Basically all Kilimanjaro climbing packages come without accommodation before and after the ascent. Unless you want to have a full package with flights, hotels and all the other jazz, this is a good thing. It allows you to choose the accommodation that suits your needs and most importantly your budget. We often get asked for recommendations and because we know what we like, we shared them with you right here.

This airport lies between Arusha and Moshi. Although most people prefer to stay in Moshi, you can stay in either of these towns. Arusha is very handy when you, for example, want to climb Mount Meru first.

Check our blog post about where to stay in Moshi for our recommendations. Did you know that we can also help you with sorting out your accommodation? Our trekking experts have gone before you and know where to stay.

Get in touch with our experts today!