| Snow-capped Kilimanjaro, floating above the | | | | and climb Kili while it is still such a pretty |
| clouds is no doubt one of the most beautiful and | | | | sight.Today, few climbers use the difficult route |
| impressive sights of the natural world. Even | | | | pioneered by Meyer. The climb normally takes |
| hard-boiled non-believers, in their unguarded | | | | five to six days and involves four to five |
| moments, empathise with the Maasai who call it | | | | overnight stay in comfortable mountain huts. The |
| the “House of God”. The mountain | | | | Marangu route, which was established way back in |
| is one of the Seven Top Summits of the world | | | | 1909 is the easiest and most popular and is used |
| – it has the highest point on the African | | | | by over 90% of climbers. Experienced climbers |
| continent. Though there are higher mountains, | | | | prefer the more scenic and difficult Machame |
| they form part of mountain ranges, Everest for | | | | route. Climbers are not entirely without a sense |
| example. But Kili, as it is popularly known, is the | | | | of humour and they refer to Marangu as the |
| highest freestanding mountain in the world. It rises | | | | coca cola route, and Machame as the whiskey |
| gently from 3,000 feet, reaches for the heavens | | | | route. Other routes are Shira, Mweka and |
| and only halts after a 16,000 feet ascent. The | | | | Umbwe.Shira is a scenic route that takes you |
| diameter at the base is an amazing 64 | | | | through the Shira Plateau, which you reach by |
| kilometres.Kilimanjaro is located to the northeast | | | | four-wheel drive vehicle. The route gives you |
| of Tanzania, on the border with Kenya. There is a | | | | great views of the Rift valley and Mount Meru. |
| popular myth of how the mountain came to be | | | | Using Mweka, you reach the summit and return |
| part of Tanzania, which was at one time part of | | | | to base in 4 days. But as you may suspect, it is |
| the German Empire. Queen Victoria is supposed | | | | quite steep and therefore not easy at all. The |
| to have granted the mountain to her German | | | | Umbwe route is even steeper and quicker and |
| grandson Wilhelm (later Kaiser Wilhelm II) as a | | | | you take only three days up and down. The route |
| birthday gift. It is also said that the Germans had | | | | is spectacular, but it is for the fit and experienced |
| been grumbling at the blatant unfairness of | | | | and not casual climbers. In addition, there are |
| missing a snowcapped mountain within their | | | | technical routes such as the Western Breach and |
| empire while the Queen had two – the | | | | Lemosho routes.Regardless of the route you pick, |
| second being Mount Kenya.Though historians have | | | | all Kili climbs start at Marangu Gate. This is where |
| discredited the myth, it has refused to die and it | | | | you get your permit and pay entry fees. On the |
| is still a source of amusement for many. Unwilling | | | | typical Marangu route climb, you spend four nights |
| to allow the truth to stand in the way, some | | | | up the mountain. The route is clearly marked right |
| anti-colonial historians fume with indignation, citing | | | | to the summit. You start by trekking through the |
| how the boundaries of Eastern Africa were | | | | forest zone to Mandara Hut (9,000 ft) for the |
| arbitrarily decided in the capitals of the imperial | | | | first night. Onward through moorland, you halt for |
| powers. To most people in the west, Kilimanjaro | | | | a second night at Horombo Hut (12,450 ft). Then |
| has long been associated with Ernest Hemingway | | | | through the alpine desert, your third night finds |
| on account of his 1936 short story “The | | | | you at Kibo Hut (15,450 ft). But you really do not |
| Snows of Kilimanjaro”. In 1952, Hollywood | | | | sleep there as you go for the summit just after |
| fascinated by the magic of Kili the book evokes, | | | | midnight. You then descend back to Horombo Hut |
| turned it into a movie with Gregory Peck and | | | | for your last night after an overall trek of about |
| Ava Gardner in leading roles.Kilimanjaro is young | | | | 77 kilometres. If you want to spend more time |
| as far as mountains go, and geologists allow it | | | | up high to acclimatise, you can overnight twice at |
| only 750,000 years. The mountain is made up of | | | | Horombo Hut.On the Machame route, you spend |
| three dormant volcanoes -Kibo (19,340 feet), | | | | one night more on the mountain. You overnight at |
| Shira (13,000 feet) and Mawenzi (16,896 feet). | | | | Machame Hut, Shira Hut and Barranco Hut. You |
| Kibo occasionally belches some steam and sulfur. | | | | connect to the Mweka route and continue to |
| The highest point on Kibo is Uhuru Peak, where | | | | Barafu Hut. After tackling the summit, you |
| you see some awesome glaciers and fantastic | | | | descend for your last night at Mweka Hut. On the |
| views of the country below. Though Kili is only | | | | next day, you rejoin other mortals at the base of |
| three degrees south of the equator, the peaks of | | | | the mountain. You are advised to pick the route |
| Kibo and Mawenzi are covered in ice and snow | | | | that best fits your experience. Most aspire to |
| year round. Many learned people in Europe hotly | | | | reach Uhuru Peak - the highest point on Kibo -and |
| disputed that a snow-capped mountain could be | | | | indeed all Kili. Others are satisfied with |
| found at the equator when the German | | | | Gillman’s Point, the slightly lower peak on |
| missionary Johann Rebmann reported it in | | | | Kibo. But Mawenzi, actually lower than the Kibo |
| 1849.Going up the mountain, you move from | | | | peaks, is more jagged and requires |
| tropical to artic conditions. There are five distinct | | | | mountaineering experience. Many climbers find |
| climatic zones, with each zone taking | | | | scaling Kili, whatever height they reach, a very |
| approximately 3,300 feet. The zones are- the | | | | satisfying experience.But do not be too |
| lower slopes, then forest, then moorland, alpine | | | | disappointed if you do not reach the summit. |
| desert and the summit. The lower slopes are | | | | Different estimates indicate that only 15-30% of |
| cultivated and agriculture flourishes. The forest | | | | climbers get to the top. Climbing Kilimanjaro is for |
| region is dry in the north and wet towards the | | | | those who are physically fit and mentally |
| southern slopes. The forest carries many tree | | | | prepared. It is your ability to muster that extra |
| species including podocarpus, camphor, fig and | | | | dose of determination that will count when the |
| olive trees and bamboo. The only animals to be | | | | going gets tough. In terms of physical preparation, |
| found here are blue and Colobus monkeys and a | | | | start by taking hikes uphill with a pack strapped |
| variety of birds including hornbill and turaco. In the | | | | on your back. This rehearses the climb, minus the |
| moorland region, you find the giant groundsels and | | | | altitude of course. Think also of putting in some |
| lobelias common in the high altitude mountain | | | | aerobic training at the gym and by jogging. If you |
| regions of eastern Africa. Further up, vegetation | | | | are having heart or lung problems, better not risk |
| and animal life are sparse.Kili is the worlds’ | | | | the climb. In all cases, it is a good idea to talk to |
| most accessible summit. Any reasonably strong | | | | your personal physician to ensure that you do not |
| and ambitious person, without using any special | | | | bite more than you can chew.It is best you buy a |
| mountaineering equipment can conquer this giant. | | | | Kilimanjaro climbing tour package to take |
| It is however hard work. Altitude and the resulting | | | | advantage of those with local knowledge. The |
| thin air will be the main challenge and not your | | | | typical package will bundle together: return |
| failing strength. To avoid succumbing to high | | | | transfers - Moshi or Arusha to Marangu Gate, |
| altitude sickness, you guides will constantly advise, | | | | park and rescue fees, services of guides, porters |
| you take the mountain slowly, slowly or | | | | and cooks, accommodation in mountain huts and |
| “pole pole” as they say in Swahili. | | | | all meals on the mountain. In addition, you need to |
| You should therefore avoid a quick ascent and | | | | hire locally or bring along equipment and sleeping |
| take time to acclimatise to the mountains’ | | | | bags. Some useful stuff to gather include - |
| oxygen challenged air. By ignoring such good | | | | waterproof hiking boots, rain suit, flashlights, |
| advice many young males fail to reach the | | | | sunglasses, prophylactics for high-altitude sickness, |
| summit, when older more deliberate climbers | | | | hand gloves and night shoes. You need a daypack |
| make it.To enjoy the natural beauty and majesty | | | | to carry a few essentials, as the porters carrying |
| of Kili, you do not even have to climb it. By using | | | | your equipment will usually hike their own way. |
| a four-wheel drive vehicle, you can ascend to the | | | | Some items to carry on your back include bottled |
| Shira Plateau, which is perched at 12,000 feet. | | | | water, extra clothes, camera and sunscreen.You |
| The first person recorded to have reached the | | | | can climb Kili, any time throughout the year. But it |
| summit is the German climber Hans Meyer in | | | | is obviously less fun during the March to June |
| 1889. Unlike today’s climber, he did not | | | | period when it rains the most. The second and |
| have the benefit a route map and he only made | | | | lighter rains come from late October to early |
| it on the second attempt. Having been taught a | | | | December. The best time is when it is warm and |
| lesson in humility, for the second try, he brought | | | | dry - January, February and September. July, |
| along an Alpine expert and a local guide. Meyer | | | | August, November and December also good, |
| named the summit after the Kaiser Wilhelm II, | | | | though cooler. Due to the variation of conditions |
| but this was years later revised to Uhuru or | | | | along the route- from tropic to arctic - it is |
| freedom in Swahili. Since the days of Meyer, the | | | | convenient to dress in layers you can either shed |
| icecap has receded and scientists worry that it will | | | | or add on. |
| vanish altogether in 20 to 50 years. So, hurry up | | | | |