Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro safari experience

Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro safari experience : Mount Kilimanjaro climbing is a wonderful and fulfilling safari experience. It is on the bucket list of millions of travelers around the world. The challenge of climbing and exploring the mountain captures the imagination of many travelers around the world. Apart from Tanzania wildlife safaris, Mount Kilimanjaro and its rising snow-caped peaks are one of the things people think of when you mention Africa.  More than 30,000 people attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro each year.

Why is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro so popular?

The highest free-standing Mountain on Earth: Mount Kilimanjaro is a not just the highest peak in Africa but also the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Therefore, reaching the pinnacle is a personal achievement, much like graduating or getting married, which lasts a lifetime.

Natural wonder: Mount Kilimanjaro has been considered by many as one of the greatest Natural Wonders in the World. This is because of the great views from the summit and the fact that it offers the impression of having walked from the equator to the North Pole.

An easier climb: Kilimanjaro is the easiest to climb among the 7 major mountains on the world. To reach the summit, no particular abilities or prior expertise are required. Beginners and those with basic physical fitness can reach the top if they are mentally prepared. The oldest climber was 86 years old and Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania the youngest six. That said, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will turn out to be one of the hardest things to ever do for most climbers.

Mount Kilimanjaro is easily accessible: Though located in a remote part of the country, travelers can easily access Mount Kilimanjaro National Park by road or air. Most travelers land at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha after a stop-over in either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport of Nairobi Kenya or Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam Tanzania.

Giving back to the community: Climbing is an indirect way of helping a developing country. Tanzania’s government brings in more than $25 million annually. That may not seem like much in other places, but in a developing nation, it goes a long way. Additionally, jobs are produced for those employed by travel firms and hotels (park guides and porters).

High quality services: The infrastructure in Kilimanjaro is of high quality and well maintained unlike Everest which can be full of trash. Every road that leads to the summit is excellent and clearly signposted. Hikers can purchase or rent top-notch equipment at the trailhead or from their trip operator. Excellent transport is available both to and from the starting point. It is noteworthy to emphasize that the Park Rangers, Porters, and Guides are exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable.

Climbing a mountain with 7 climatic zones: It is not every day that one gets a chance to experience 7 climatic zones within the same geographic area. The journey to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro includes going through farmlands, rain forests, moorlands, alpine deserts and the glacier filled summit. Hikers never get bored because every section of the climb has got something different.

Opportunities for outstanding photography: If you love photography and nature, then hiking Mount Kilimanjaro should be on your bucket list. The entire view, the greenery, the fauna, and the landscape will wow you. There are 140 animals, birds, and primates living in the Kilimanjaro National Park, which includes the summit. Random encounters with baboons, black rhinos, blue monkeys, bushbucks, buffaloes, bush babies, colobus monkeys, duikers, elands, giraffes, honey badgers, leopards, lions, mice, spiders, and tree hyraxes occur while traversing the lower slopes. Ascending further will reveal unusual flora, such as the endangered Kilimanjaro tree.

What is it like hiking Mount Kilimanjaro?

The first step in organizing a walk up Mount Kilimanjaro is to choose a reliable tour operator. The tour operator ought to be able to provide you tips on how to get ready for the walk. Prior to making a reservation, it is important to settle issues with the route to be taken, packing list, visa requirements, vaccinations, and accommodation before and after hiking. Before your arrival, the tour operator should make sure that the climbing equipment is set up on the ground.

The next thing is to show up. Tanzania has three primary international airports: Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar. The airport nearest to Kilimanjaro International Park is the one. Before arriving to Kilimanjaro Airport, the majority of tourists first make a stop at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, or Nairobi International Airport in Kenya. Before arriving at the park the following day, visitors may choose to spend the night in Arusha or Moshi after landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport.  Another choice is to spend the night near the park and the hike’s beginning point. The park is 42 kilometres away from Moshi and 50 kilometres away from Arusha.

There’s a briefing before the hike begins, where you meet the native guide leading the team, any other hikers in your party, porters and cooks. Everything you need to know about the walk is included in this briefing, including packing lists, mental preparation techniques, and evacuation procedures. Additionally, now is the ideal time to rent any tools or equipment you might not already have. A single trekking team typically consists of six to twelve experienced hikers from various nations who are eager to share their experiences with you and have fun while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Tour operators will pair up lone hikers with experienced hikers of a similar age. Inform your tour operator ahead of time if you would like to go on a private walk by yourself (or with a partner).

Supplies, pulse oximeters, extra oxygen, sleeping tents, sitting stools, portable restrooms, first aid kits, gas bottles, sleeping bags, pillows and other equipment are all carried by the porters. They will also carry your rucksack and assist you in climbing the challenging parts. The chefs will make very nutritious, locally sourced meals, including snacks, fruits, meat, and vegetarian options.

To climb Mount Kilimanjaro, one can choose from six primary routes. Lemosho, Rongai, Marangu, Umbwe, Machame, Shira, and Northern Circuit are a few of them. The steepest, shortest, and roughest is Umbwe. Climbing requires seven to eight days due to its high degree of difficulty. The most picturesque is Lemosho, although it takes seven or eight days to finish. The path known as Shira takes hikers directly to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro medium, but it comes at a higher cost. Hiking the Shira trail takes seven or eight days to complete. The most travelled path, which takes six to eight days, is Machame. Even though it’s the simplest path, it still takes six or seven days to finish Rongai. The Northern Circuit is the newest route, and it has a high difficulty rating and takes nine to ten days. The Marangu path, which takes five to six days, is the last but certainly not least. The only route with hut lodging is the low-difficulty Marangu route.

If you are a first time climber, we propose you select the Machame and Lemosho routes. These two routes strike the ideal mix between less people, stunning landscape, and a high success rate. When planning your itinerary, bear in mind that hardly everyone who attempts to climb Mount Kilimanjaro makes it to the top. Whichever way you take, the first two days will decide whether or not you reach the summit. It is crucial to proceed cautiously, especially in cases where you are in excellent health.

You should anticipate passing through many climate zones as you begin the mountain ascent. There is the snow-covered peak, the alpine desert, the moorland zone, and the montane forest zone. Hikers will come across verdant montane forests between 1,850 and 2,800 metres, which are home to numerous primates, birds, and huge mammals. One reaches the moorland zone as they ascend higher roughly 3,200 metres. This zone is distinguished by enormous heather and lobelias. At 4,000 metres, one experiences an entirely distinct climatic zone made up of alpine desert.  This is the point at which conditions start to become difficult, and some hikers may start to experience altitude sickness. Due to the severe weather and soft sand, this climate zone is home to fewer flora and animals. The last area the last section of the walk is the steepest and most difficult. It stretches all the way up to the summit and looks like a standard winter paradise. There will be a lot of ice and snow.Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro safari experience

Typically beginning at midnight, the last ascent entails crawling up to the summit while wearing a headlamp to see what lies ahead. When you reach the crater rim early in the morning, all of your crawling will have been worthwhile. After arriving at the crater peak, there’s a quick rest to scan the horizon and regain energy. Following that, you head straight to the summit to snap pictures or record videos. You still have to complete the job of descending Africa’s largest peak after you’ve recovered from the thrill of reaching the summit. Although descending is easier, accidents tend to happen more frequently during this phase. As a result, when descending, you must use greater caution when placing your feet.

Best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kilimanjaro is located along the equator and because of that receives hikers throughout the year. However, like most countries along the equator, Tanzania has two rain and two dry seasons. The best time to climb the mountain is during the dry seasons (January to March and June to October). Since there are fewer rainy days during the dry season, it’s great for novice climbers. There’s less snow and better skies as well. Since fewer people walk from January to March, we heartily encourage it. Most visitors to Africa go on safari between June and October. At that time of day, the mountain can get extremely crowded with hikers.

Because of the rainfall, April and May are regarded as wet seasons. During these two months, a lot of people attempt to avoid ascending the peak. However, considering the various climatic conditions surrounding the peak, showers should be anticipated throughout the year. Rainy season is avoided by mountain climbers because it makes the routes muddy and reduces visibility while ascending the mountain. To avoid the crowds at the busiest time of year, some people opt to hike the mountain during the wet season.

Every year, some 30,000 individuals try to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The amount of days you spend ascending will determine your chances of reaching the peak. You stand a good chance of reaching the summit if you choose longer days because your body will have more time to adjust to the high altitude. The success rate in general for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is more than 84%. Low-cost visitors should be aware that pushing too quickly to avoid paying the daily park fees could not work out.

Every year, three to ten people lose their lives while scaling Mount Kilimanjaro. Some people think the figures are greater since deaths of porters are not included. Only the Park officials are aware of the precise number.  Altitude sickness and hypothermia account for the majority of mortality. Malaria can potentially strike someone who is already in the midst of the mountain and result in death.

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