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Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro. The name itself is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It
might mean Mountain of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain
of Caravans. Or it might not. The local people, the Wachagga,
don't even have a name for the whole massif, only Kipoo (now
known as Kibo) for the familiar snowy peak that stands
imperious, overseer of the continent, the summit of Africa.
Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling
beauty of East Africa. When you see it, you understand why. Not
only is this the highest peak on the African continent; it is
also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising in
breathtaking isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland –
elevation around 900 metres – to an imperious 5,895 metres
(19,336 feet).
Kilimanjaro is one of the world's most accessible high summits,
a beacon for visitors from around the world. Most climbers reach
the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, proper
clothing and determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the
actual summit, or Gillman's Point on the lip of the crater, will
have earned their climbing certificates.
And their memories.
But there is so much more to Kili than her summit. The ascent of
the slopes is a virtual climatic world tour, from the tropics to
the Arctic.
Even before you cross the national park boundary (at the 2,700m
contour), the cultivated footslopes give way to lush montane
forest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the
endangered Abbot’s duiker, and other small antelope and
primates. Higher still lies the moorland zone, where a cover of
giant heather is studded with otherworldly giant lobelias.
Above 4,000m, a surreal alpine desert supports little life other
than a few hardy mosses and lichen. Then, finally, the last
vestigial vegetation gives way to a winter wonderland of ice and
snow – and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent.
NOTE :- Climb slowly to increase
your acclimatisation time and maximise your chances of reaching
the summit.
To avoid altitude sickness, allow a minimum of five nights,
preferably even more for the climb. Take your time and enjoy the
beauty of the mountain.
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