Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

African safari tour

is not the same without a visit to the famed

Mount Kilimanjaro

on your

East African safari and tour

itinerary. Located on the boundary between Kenya and Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro may be the highest mountain within Africa. It comprises a few extinct volcanoes, and facilitates a few distinctive ecosystems; alpine desert, rain forest, glaciers, heath, plus moorland. Kilimanjaro is the

highest freestanding mountain

in the world, majestic and illuminating the sky of the vast Serengeti plains.

Uhuru Peak

is the highest peak at 5,895m above sea level and each year invites thousands of enthusiastic tourists and hikers to its solid glaciers and snow capped peaks.

Climbing Kilimanjaro

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

isn’t a piece of cake, the mountain has steep snow inclinations that often make it a problem for climbers. You have be determined and physically fit to reach

the roof top of Africa.

There are 5 prime trekking routes through the forest and moor land areas before joining the south circuit route Kilimanjaro

Machame route

, Mount Kilimanjaro

Marangu route

, Kilimanjaro Climbing

Lemosho Route

, Kilimanjaro

Rongai Route

and Climbing Kilimanjaro

Umbwe route

. All the routes are technical climbs but the easier climb get underway on the Marangu route via Rebman glaciers and others on the way to the summit. You have to battle with altitude sickness to get the reward of reaching the peak.

Kilimanjaro trekking is best during the dry seasons precisely January to Mid-March with colder condition and clearer day light and later from June to around October. The mountains are beautiful as many plants and blooming giant heath and lobelia speckle the scenery plus some glaciers melt to bring life to the cold mountain slopes. The rainy season brings heavy downpours and colder temperatures of up 10ºC to the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi making Kilimanjaro trekking quite difficult. December and November are the months to avoid when planning for Kilimanjaro climbs however many tourists visit the park and the mountain slopes during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Kilimanjaro has become a real well-known vacation spot in Disney world. It provides an integrated Harambe Reserve as well as Maharajah Jungle Journey trip within the theme park.

Kilimanjaro National Park

Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park

found in the plains below is home to several species of mammals which enjoy the gazetted forest reserve and woodlands at the foot of the mountain. Regular sights include colobus monkeys, olive baboons, civets, leopards, mangoose, servals, herds of elephants, bush pig, Horombo grass mice, honey badger, lion prides and the shy Porcupines.

The distinct eco-system supports plenty of wild birds too and sights here include the noisy turacos, silver cheeked hornbills, long tailed mouse birds, Ruppell’s robin chat, black chested bulbul, streaky seed eaters, white neck ravens, malachite sunbird, and the list goes on, and on. Any birder will be pre-occupied and never bored on a birding trip to the mountain’s fringes.

For the best time and east Africa trekking, you ought to book your

Kilimanjaro climb

quite early, months before your arrival. There are a number of

Kilimanjaro trekking companies

that can arrange your trek to Uhuru, Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Your

Kilimanjaro trek

will often be coupled with other safari trips and tours to the neighboring Mt. Meru, Kilimanjaro National Park, Arusha national park and other Tanzania safari destinations.

Flights and arrival are either through Arusha or Kilimanjaro International airport from where you can have an awesome aerial view of the majestic extinct volcano. Your safari itinerary and budget often depends on the number of days you’ll be on the hike, other tourist destinations and other personal preferences. Choose the best