Kilimanjaro means ‘little white mountain’ with which the name refers to the snowy peaks of this iconic mountain.
Kilimanjaro is not actually a mountain, but rather a triple-peaked volcano located in the northeast of the Republic of Tanzania , just near the border with Kenya. Easily recognizable by its silhouette and the snow that covers its summit, it is the highest peak in Africa and a true natural beauty.
The 3 peaks of Kilimanjaro
The volcanic complex that we know as the Kilimanjaro mountain is made up of three elevations: the Kibo, the Shira, and the Mawenzi ; the latter is considered the third highest peak on the African continent, after Mount Kenya.
The highest part of Mawenzi is Hans Meyer Point. On the other hand, Kibo is a dormant volcano and currently emits minor fumaroles.
Kibo.
Shira is the oldest of the three craters that make up Kilimanjaro. It has a height of 3,962 meters and is known to be the most worn of the three craters, with a relatively flat plateau in the northern and eastern areas, invaded by materials from Kibo.
For geologists and topographers, Kilimanjaro is a true gem of study , as it presents a really interesting structure. For example, at the top of Kibo, there is a volcanic caldera, that is, a large depression, which includes a crater called ‘Reusch’ with a diameter of 900 metres.
On the southern edge of Kilimanjaro, you can see Uhuru Peak, one of the most remarkable points of Kibo and the whole complex. And on the southwestern side of the summit is the western opening that occurred 100,000 years ago and is called the Western Breach .
Discover Kilimanjaro
Since 1987, Kilimanjaro has been part of the list of places that are a World Heritage Site , thus becoming a forest reserve. Hunting is not permitted within its boundaries and today every effort is made to care for both its flora and fauna, which includes endangered species.
As far as fauna is concerned, the lower elevations are those that offer a greater number of species . There you can find different species of monkeys, leopards, antelopes, buffalo or elephants, a great variety of birds, among other animals.
Kilimanjaro National Park.
In the Kilimanjaro National Park you can find everything from glaciers, perpetual snowfields and alpine moors to tropical jungle , deserts and, of course, the savannah on its slopes. However, it is known that the glaciers have been retreating for years due to global warming.
Due to its proximity to the Indian Ocean and the large size of the park, it is possible to admire all kinds of ecosystems. Kilimanjaro acts as a natural barrier to the monsoon winds , which sweep across East Africa from March through August.
The rains are important on the southern slope, since they provide the necessary humidity for the life of the flora and fauna. Then, in the higher parts, where there are greater concentrations of snow and ice, the flora and fauna are scarce.
The ascent of Kilimanjaro
It is curious that this wonder of nature was not known until well into the 19th century. It was the German missionary Johannes Rebmann, together with Ludwing Krapf, who discovered the massif in 1848. However, his first stories about the beauty of this place were hardly taken into account.
Little by little, more missionaries and explorers arrived in the area who corroborated what Rebmann had pointed out and the first attempts to reach the top of Africa began to follow one another.
The first person who managed to reach the top of Kilimanjaro was the German Hans Meyer , on October 6, 1889, who undertook the adventure together with the Chagga guide Yohana Lauwo and the Austrian Ludwig Purtscheller.
Top of Kilimanjaro.
Since then, thousands of people have taken on the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro‘s highest peak. Routes have been established for all slopes and the best known are the Marangu route and the Machame route.
The summit can be reached without great knowledge or climbing equipment, partly because of the creation of these routes and also because the retreat of the glaciers has made the ascent easier than in the last century.
What you do have to keep in mind is that you need a permit from the Tanzanian authorities to climb this mountain.
