Kilimanjaro National Park 54
Climbing Kilimanjaro scores high on countless ultimate to-do lists. Reaching the summit feels like being on top of Africa, with the whole continent lying at your feet. And best of all: most people reach the crater rim with no more than the right clothing, a humble attitude and a good measure of willpower.
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Africa’s snow-capped giant bursts out of the savannah to an almost haughty 5,895 metres. Mount Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano and therefore boasts three peaks: Kibo (5,895 metres), Mawenzi (5,149 metres) and the Shira plateau (3,962 metres). Today, the volcano is still partly active. Don’t expect any display from Shira and Mawenzi – both collapsed over a million years ago – but sleeping beauty Kibo is still capable of some action. During the past century its cone has been seen smoking and expelling ominous rumbling noises from deep down its core.
Reaching the summit feels like being on top of Africa When the German missionary Johannes Rebmann wrote about a snow-capped peak on the Equator in 1848, people didn’t take him seriously. But his words did trigger some daredevils to conquer the remarkable colossus. The first attempt in 1861 failed and it wasn’t before 1889 that the German geographer Hans Meyer became the first foreigner to reach Kibo Peak. The summit was baptised Kaiser Wilhelm Spitze (Kaiser Wilhelm Peak), after the Prussian ruler Wilhelm I. After independence in 1961 it was given a more local name: Uhuru (Freedom) Peak. All adults of normal health and fitness should be able to make it to the top. There is no need to bring serious climbing equipment, but waterproof, windproof and warm gear (don’t forget mittens and a hat) is highly advisable. The conditions may change rapidly so bring a set of clothes for each day.
