10 Reasons to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Want to know why 40,000 people a year seek to climb the world’s highest freestanding mountain. The Kilimanjaro Mountain
To conquer one of the most glorious, record-breaking mountains in the world is a dream come true to many adventurers. It is no surprise that more and more people today come to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the iconic snow-capped mountain that’s often deemed “Every man’s Everest.” So, if you’re thinking of taking your adventure to greater heights, here are 10 reasons to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
1: Its a World Icon.
Mount Kilimanjaro is not just Africa’s highest peak and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. It is also one of the Seven Summits of the world. Rising at 5,895 meters above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro features a snow-capped peak all year round. With three volcanic cones namely Mawenzi, Shira, and Kibo, the wonder of Kilimanjaro never palls. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct volcanoes in which Shira has collapsed, creating the picturesque Shira Plateau. Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and is believed to erupt again one day. Its last eruption was 360,000 years ago.
2: Its Climbable by People from all walks of life.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the easiest and most undemanding to climb all the Summits. It is considered beginner-friendly, with intermediate as well as difficult treks, too. What’s great is that climbers don’t even need any special training, technical skills, special gear, or even previous trekking experience to reach the top. According to Guinness World Records, the oldest to ever reach Kilimanjaro’s summit was 86 years old and the youngest was 6. Naturally, it has lured many people, including families, all over the world. No wonder it’s called “every man’s Everest.” Being an easy mountain to trek, Mount Kilimanjaro is never boring. Thrill and challenges and awe-inspiring scenery await trekkers every breathing moment. Mount Kilimanjaro features 7 routes, each with different trekking grades. This makes it more convenient for trekkers to choose a route that’s best for them, considering their experience, ability, and the number of days available. Here are the different routes to climb Kilimanjaro:
- Marangu (5-6 days; Difficulty level: Low) – “The only one with hut accommodations”
- Machame (6-8 days; Difficulty level: Medium) – “The most popular”
- Lemosho (7-8 days; Difficulty level: Medium) – “The most scenic”
- Shira (7-8 days; Difficulty level: Medium) – “The one with the highest starting point”
- Rongai (6-7 days; Difficulty level: Low) – “The easiest”
Northern Circuit (9-10 days; Difficulty level: High) – “The newest and longest” - Umbwe (5-6 days; Difficulty level: High) – “The shortest, steepest, hardest”
3: Its home to one of the most fascinating Animals in the World.
As if the scenery and breathtaking experience are not enough, Mount Kilimanjaro features evasive and yet beautifully intense wildlife. It hosts about 140 mammals, 25 carnivores, and massive numbers of birds, and what’s even more intriguing is that mainly because of its high altitude, the mountain supports animals that are wildly unique and can barely be found anywhere else in the world. Most animals can be found on the lower slopes, on the mountain zone. Bushbucks, elands, tree hyraxes, and cheeky primates like baboons and blue monkeys are common but if you’re lucky enough, you can also spot colobus monkeys and blue monkeys. In higher places, high-altitude spiders, duikers, and mice species can be found although quite elusive. When you reach further up the mountain, you can expect more exotic animals. Unique flora can also be sighted including plants that are only found on the Seven Summits. One of the most fascinating life forms that you can see high in Kilimanjaro is the beautiful Kilimanjaro tree.
4: Its well maintained.
The infrastructure around the mountain is great, toilets, good trekking trails which are well-marked, ground transportation is good, gears for rent are of great quality and best of all, Mount Kilimanjaro is clean and bottled water are not allowed. Park rangers, as well as guides, porters, and the rest of the teams, have done a good job in maintaining the cleanliness as well as the wild nature of the mountain.
5: Its a World on its own.
Did you know that while the entire United States enjoys 7 climatic zones, Mount Kilimanjaro enjoys 5? Looking into the journey beyond the magnificent snowy summit, Mount Kilimanjaro guarantees an experience that is out of this world. Like walking from the Equator to the North Pole in just days, the scenic changes in vegetation and climate create that feeling of “traversing through different worlds within just a few hours.” Here are Kilimanjaro’s 5 climatic zones:
- Cultivation: Farmlands, small villages, coffee and fruit plantations
- Rainforest: Most wildlife can be found here
- Heather-Moorland: Shrubs and unique flora are everywhere
- Alpine Desert: Barren and unique landscapes featuring volcanic rocks in varied shapes and sizes, and also extreme temperatures
- Glacier Summit: An arctic zone
Kilimanjaro Trekking Itineraries.
6: It offers puperb personal accomplishment
Many people come to climb the iconic mountain to mark important events in their lives such as retirement, marriage, graduation, and many more. But aside from these remarkable milestones, Mount Kilimanjaro gives you a good reason to be well-pleased for years to come. After all, you’ve been on top of the world, haven’t you? Well, not only were you able to successfully reach one of the highest summits in the world, but you are also able to write your name on a hidden notebook tucked in a wooden box on Uhuru Peak. This makes your accomplishment part of history – something that lives on forever.
7: It Guarantee awesome photo opportunities.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a paradise for photographers and nature lovers. It offers breathtaking sceneries, amazing flora, and fascinating animals that whether you’re aiming to capture plants or beautiful vistas, Mount Kilimanjaro has all of them – no filter needed.
8: It helps greatly to local economy.
Thanks to Kilimanjaro’s 40,000 climbers each year, its local economy is thriving and is generating about $20 million a year. As a result, guides, porters, cooks, food producers, travel agencies or operators, hotel staff, local merchants, etc. provide local jobs in a region that sadly remains one of the poorest in the world.
9: It is both remote and accessible.
Mount Kilimanjaro features a remote wilderness that’s incredibly alluring. It sits very near Serengeti, one of the world’s wildest safari parks. But, despite Kili’s wild nature, it remains very accessible to travelers around the globe. Visitors can easily fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha, Tanzania if they want to visit Kilimanjaro. From Arusha, the mountain, which is located inside Kilimanjaro National Park, is just about 45 minutes drive away. Another alternative route is for visitors to fly via charter plane. Or, they can fly into other airports and then catch a domestic flight to Kilimanjaro.
Travelers can fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam, southern Tanzania. From DAR, many options are available to get to Kilimanjaro – from domestic flights to riding a public bus.
Travelers can fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya. Like DAR, a whole slew of options is available in reaching Kilimanjaro. Plus, this route is also known to be cheaper.
10: It is said to be the greatest natural wonder in the World.
With its phenomenal views, out-of-this-world trekking experience that feels like walking from the Equator to the North Pole, the year-round snow-covered mountain surrounded by dry savannah and incredible life forms, Mount Kilimanjaro is deemed the “Greatest Natural Wonder of the World.” It is no surprise to pick Mount Kilimanjaro as your next adventure destination out of the other 1,000,809 mountains in the world. Its sheer beauty and amazing trekking opportunities make it an infallible holiday destination for anyone who’s seeking great adventures! Visit Kilimanjaro Trekking to view varying itineraries.
On top of, it’s easy to combine Kilimanjaro with other natural wonders from seeing the great migration of wildebeest, seeing the gorilla in Rwanda and Uganda, or simply travel to Zimbabwe and see the Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and the Table Mountains in South Africa all in one itinerary.
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