Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and one of the most iconic mountains in the world. Standing tall at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), this majestic mountain is located in Tanzania and offers a challenging yet rewarding climbing experience.
It is well known for its striking beauty, a standalone mountain rising out of the African landscape with plenty of diverse ecosystems.
I had seen all the photos, I had been inspired from all I had seen and heard over the years. It was time to go climb it myself, with some incredible friends.
The History Of Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro actually has 3 volcanic cones and craters that have come to be due to volcanic eruptions and activity dating back over 2 and a half million years. The highest crater is called Kibo and the highest point of this crater rim is Uhuru Peak, the highest point.
Of course it is now a dormant volcano and the last sign of volcanic activity at kilimanjaro was only around 200 years ago. But the last ‘major’ eruption was around 360,000 years ago!
The Disappearing Glaciers
I was lucky enough to be up on Kilimanjaro when some of the glaciers are still there. Even when I was there I had to imagine that 80% of the ice had already gone. They are continuously melting and disappearing. Soon you will climb Kilimanjaro and not see the glaciers at all.
The causes are complex and includes:
Climate Change: Rising global temperatures are considered the primary driver behind the melting glaciers. As temperatures increase, the ice on the summit of Kilimanjaro is unable to replenish itself, resulting in a continuous loss of ice mass.
Deforestation: The deforestation of the surrounding areas has impacted the microclimate of Kilimanjaro. Trees play a crucial role in regulating moisture levels through evapotranspiration. With fewer trees, there is less moisture in the atmosphere, leading to drier conditions on the mountain and reduced snowfall.
Reduced Precipitation: Changes in rainfall patterns have also contributed to the melting glaciers. Kilimanjaro’s glaciers depend on regular snowfall to replenish their ice mass. However, with declining precipitation levels, there is less snowfall, leading to a decrease in glacier size.
Sublimation: The process of sublimation, where ice directly converts into water vapor without melting, is another factor impacting the glaciers. As temperatures rise, more ice undergoes sublimation, further reducing the overall ice mass.
Overview Of The Terrain
As you saw in the video, due to its prominence and being near the equator you have almost every level of environment as you climb.
The bottom of the mountain is cultivated by local villagers. Then you have lush rain forest to start your trek up. As the trees disappear in the altitude levels the grasslands and alpine desert conditions appear like a Martian landscape. At the top and summit areas, you could be an arctic conditions.
This makes for an amazing 6 or 7 day slow climb. Truly memorable and scenes you will never forget for your life. The reasons it is a week long climb rather than a long expedition as other mountains of similar heights around the world (like my Aconcagua expedition) are.
- The terrain is walkable, no technical climbing at all.
- You start high. Yes the African plains seem very flat but the curvature of the earth etc means this is already nearly 2000m.
- Due to the curvature of the earth, and being almost at the equator you have slightly more oxygen levels at 5000m than you would at 5000m at say, the Himalayas.
