Pori Tours, Safaris, Safaris

Mount Kenya Climbing Routes Safaris
Lemosho Route
Rongai Route
Machame Route
Umbwe Route
Marangu Route

Mount Kilimanjaro is a mountain in northeastern Tanzania. It is made up of three volcanic cones, Kibo 5,895 m (19,341 ft), Mawensi 5,149 m (16,890 ft), and Shiro 3,962 m (13,000 ft). All of which are inactive volcanoes in NE Tanzania. They are classified as stratovolcano or composite volcanoes. There is no known record of eruption in all of history. There are about 20 other nearby volcanoes, the best known of which is Mount Meru. .
Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak on the Kibo volcano at 5,895 m (19,341 ft) is the highest point in Africa and one of the Seven Summits (seven highest points in the seven continents). Kibo is a 1.5 mile wide crater.

Although new activity is not expected, there are fears the volcano may collapse causing a major eruption similar to Mount St. Helens. Several collapses and landslides have occurred on Kibo in the past, one creating the area known as the western breach. Although there is no recorded history of eruptions, local legend speaks of activity around 170 years ago.

The highest point is Uhuru Peak on the volcano Kibo, 5,895 metres. It is therefore considered one of the Seven Summits. The summit was first scaled and climbed by the German Hans Meyer and Austrian Ludwig Purtscheller in 1889. Two other peaks are also extinct volcanoes: Mawensi (5,149 metres), the third highest peak in Africa (after Mount Kenya) and Shira (3,962 m).

An ascent of Mawensi requires rock climbing and/or snow/ice climbing skills. The climb to Uhuru Peak is considered to be a relatively straightforward endeavour, however ample time must still be provided for proper acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness. The three easiest routes, Marangu, Rongai and Machame can be climbed by a person of good health, and require no mountaineering experience.

Other routes such as the Polish Glacier and the Western Breach are much more technical in nature. Annually, approximately 15,000 people attempt to climb the mountain, of whom 40% reach the summit. Due to the equatorial location as well as huge height, climbers can experience almost every climate type on earth during the journey to the top.

CLIMBING MT. KILIMANJARO

The journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro involves long strenuous walks through 5 distinct zones. These are:

• The Cultivation Zone (800m or 6000ft)

• Forest (2700m or 9000ft)
• Moorland (4000m or 13000ft)
• High Desert (5000m or 16500ft)
• Summit (6000m or 20000ft)

Each zone is approximately 1000 m and a temperature drop of 1ºC for every 200 m should be experienced. There is a strange interaction between altitude, rainfall, temperature, plants and wildlife that can be felt and seen as you ascend to the top.

CULTIVATION ZONE
Altitude: 800 m to 1800 m
Rainfall: 500 mm/yr on plains and 1,800 mm/yr on the forest border
Most of this zone is like walking through a tropical farmland where local people use the land for livestock to graze and cultivated farmlands. There are no large wild animals, but many smaller ones such as Galagos and the Tree Hyrax. If you are lucky you may also see a genet. You ara advised from not buying hyrax blankets, to assist in conservation of this animal species.

THE FOREST
Altitude: 1,800 m to 2,800 m
Rainfall: +/- 2,000 mm/yr on the southern slopes and less than 1,000 mm.yr on the western and northern sides.
This is by far the richest zone on the mountain where beautiful montane forest encircles the whole of Kilimanjaro.  In the forest you are most likely to see some wildlife as this is the most inhabited area. Monkeys are the most common with many Blue Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys found in most parks. If you are very lucky you will come across leopard and the occasional civet or genet. Buck is common in the area, the most popular species being Duiker, Suni, Bushbuck and Klipspringer.

MOORLAND
Altitude: 2,800 m to 4,000 m
Rainfall: +/- 1,000 mm/yr
This area consists of two parts Heath and Moorland. The heath is characterized by the heather and heath-like scrubs. From Mandara Hut you will see the giant heather Erica Arborea. This whole area consists of strange vegetation, all unique and very beautiful. When entering the moorland you will see clusters of Giant Lobelias and Senecios. You are not likely to come across much wildlife in this area due to the cold temperatures and the altitude; however the vegetation is somewhat strange but fascinating as it is unlike anything you have ever seen before.

HIGHLANDS DESERT
Altitude: 4,000 m to 5,000 m
Rainfall: 250 mm/yr
There is intense radiation, high evaporation and huge daily fluctuations in temperatures with nights well below 0ºC and days in excess of 40ºC. Water is very scarce so the soil maintains very little moisture. The conditions are extreme and this makes it exceptionally difficult for any pant life to exist. Lichens are one of the most successful plants having the ability to live and encrust on the lava rocks. Animals are very rarely seen in the area, but leopard, eland and wild dogs have been spotted here. The view of the two great peaks is beyond your wildest imagination.

THE SUMMIT
Altitude: Above 5,000 m
Rainfall: Less than 100 mm/yr
Extreme conditions dominate this arctic zone with temperatures well below freezing and intense burning sun during the day. Not much can survive here, except again for the lichens. The oxygen at this level is half that at sea level. Most people when climbing Kilimanjaro wind up at Gilman’s Point. This however is not the end as the "real" summit is Uhuru Peak. From here you look down into Reusch Crater, the Eastern Icefield and the Northern Icefield.  Not many people go into the crater, as this is for serious and experienced climbers only. The view from here is truly spectacular, and along your trek to the summit, you would be greeted by a huge icecap.

THE SAFARIS AND ROUTES
There are six common routes that are used to climb to the apex of Mt. kilimanjaro or Kili as is popularly refered. These route determine the safari itenerary and the number of days taken to complete the mountain climb, namely:

Marangu Route

Rongai Route

Machame Route

Umbwe Route

Lemosho Route