Kilimanjaro National Park

‘’As wide as all the world, great, high and unbelievably white in the sun was the square top of Mount Kilimanjaro’’, wrote Ernest Hemingway of this highest mountain in Africa towering 5895metres above sea level. Situated near the town of Moshi in northern Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro rises from the dry plains through a wide belt of forest and high alpine health to an almost bare desert and finally the snow capped summit, Uhuru peak, just 3 degrees south of the equator. One of the world’s highest free standing mountains, Mt. Kilimanjaro is composed of three extinct volcanoes: Kibo 5895m (19340 ft), Mawenzi 5149m (16896 ft), and Shira 3962m (13000 ft).

The ascent of Kilimanjaro can be done from six routes: Mweka, Umbwe, Shira, Rongai, Machame, and the Marangu route which is the easier one and most popular. Depending on which route one wants to use, the climb of Kilimanjaro can take between four nights to six nights on the mountain. The two most popular routes are Marangu and Machame. On the Marangu route, accommodation is in alpine huts while on Machame route it is camping throughout. While expert guides and porters will accompany you on your climb, no technical equipment is required on these routes.