Wide as the world on a great height, and unbelievably white in the sun shone the square tip of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Africa's highest mountain, the word's tallest free standing (mountain) massif and the worlds largest volcanoes, covering some 3.885 sq km, Mount Kilimanjaro is also an exceptionally beautiful mountain, both from afar and close up, and it fills up brochures as easily as it fills up the horizon.
It was formed during the most recent faulting of the Great Rift Valley, two to three million years ago. An event which also produced Mount Meru, with the highest point Uhuru Peak on the crater's south western rim, which is on 5.895 m altitude. 11 km to the East of Kibo (with which is connected by a broad lava saddle) is the jagged Mawenzi Peak at 5.149 m. The oldest peak which was the first to erupt during volcanic activities and remains as a fallen crater is called Shiza with 3.840 m altitude.
Kilimanjaro is located just 330 km south of the equator in Northern Tanzania. The mountain challenges both your mind and body to conquer it up its peak, which scrapes the sky at almost 6 km altitude.
The mountain can be climbed at any time of the year except during the long rains, from March to May. The ascent can be made by any normally fit person with assistance of guides and porters via an authorized route.
There are 6 different routes for Kilimanjaro Trekking:
- 6-days 'Marangu Route'
- 7-days 'Umbwe Route'
- 7-days 'Rongai Route'
- 8-days 'Machame Route'
- 9-days 'Lemosho Route'
- 9-days 'Western Breach Route'