A little bit of background to Africa’s highest mountain…
Origins of the name
There is much history to the name “Kilimanjaro” – although there is no definitive answer to its origins.
The ancient Swahili word “Kyaro” meaning “Shining” may have a part to play?
Although, it is quite possible that the name comes from the indigenous Chaga people who referred to the mountain as “Kilemamjare” or “Kilemakyaro” meaning “Inaccessible area” or “Impossible journey”.
In 1880 when the land was part of German East Africa the mountain was referred to as “Kilima-ndscharo”.
People and Kilimanjaro
The highly fertile volcanic soils surrounding Kilimanjaro, combined with a reliable high rainfall has made the area a magent for people for many thousands of years.
Arable farmers, and herds-people live and work in the foothills and surrounding land. Indeed the area is quite densely populated.
From certain vantage points on Kilimanjaro the far away lights and campfires of the surrounding villages can be seen shining through the night.
In more recent times tourism has provided alternative employment – although many people, including those in the Utaalam Guides team, continue with traditional ways and farm the land or tend cattle.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the highest trekking mountains in the world, and can be experienced and summitted by people with little or no mountaineering experience.
It is among the most climbed volcanoes and is the highest freestanding volcanic mountain in the world and is estimated to be 750,000 years old, with the most recent eruption thought to have taken place 300,000 years ago.
Declared as a world heritage site in 1981 by UNESCO it is located at the heart of the 1,668 square kilometer Kilimanjaro National Park.
The mountain was first summited by Hans Meyer and Ludwig Putscheller in October 1889 following several unsucessful attempts by the pair.
The mountain is close to the town of Moshi, approximately 48 km from the National Park’s main entrance gate.
Kilimanjaro has three main volcanic peaks:
Shira (3,962 m)
Mawenzi (5,149 m)
Kibo (5,895 m)
An Important source of Water
Mountain Kilimanjaro is an important source of water to the surrounding environs as it is drained with RIVERS, SPRINGS, STREAMS, WATERFALLS, and many more…
The water originates mostly on the higher elevation of the volcanic mountain at a height of 3000 meters above the sea level on the Northern part of the mountain it has much fewer water channels making the area to appear dry.
CLIMATE
Mount Kilimanjaro has a variable climatic condition as this is very much influenced by the seasons and the altitude. The mountain has daily up slopes and night down slopes of winds commonly experienced on the southern slopes.
The annual precipitation do vary greatly as we have got windward side and leeward side which windward side receives more precipitation than the leeward side the resulting to one portion of the mountain appearing dry
This mountain has a great temperatures variability as altitude and season to differ and change which temperature sometimes drops to negative and rises also ranges from -7 to 30-degree centigrade
This volcanic mountain has got two rainy seasons which falls from MARCH to MAY and sometimes November
During rainy seasons climbing becomes very difficult to trekkers however an advantage to some people who wants to prove their international abilities/proves (Adventure)
CLIMATE ZONES OF KILIMANJARO
5 climate zones have been recorded on the mountain from the foothills to the summit. The zones’ temperature, altitude, weather, vegetation, fauna, and scenes do differ greatly.
FIRST THE CULTIVATED LOWER SLOPE /BUSHLAND ZONE
the area has a temperature of 22-29 degrees centigrade and receives less amount of rainfall annually measuring 800-900 millimeters and this zone is vital to the livestock keepers as they get enough grass for their animals to feed on.
SECOND THE MONTANE FOREST/ RAIN FOREST ZONE
This is the second zone of Mt Kilimanjaro found at an elevation of 1800-2800 meters above the sea level. This zone has an average temperature of 18-25 degree centigrade though may vary with seasonal changes. The amount of rainfall received per annual, measures from 2000-3000 millimeters. The zone has teemed with life as different species are commonly seen along the zone as one is climbing the mountain
THIRD SEMI-ALPINE MOORLAND/HEATHER ZONE
This is the 3rd zone of Mt. Kilimanjaro found at an elevation of 3000-4000 meters above the sea level. This zone has an average temperature of 20 centigrade though variable. The amount of rainfall received annually measures below 500 millimeters
The Plants species found along this zone are the heather like plants which adapts to the highly acidic environments. Lobelia deckeneii(3 meters high)and Groundsel Senecio Kilimanjaro (5 meters high) are the dominating plant species of this zone
FOURTH THE ALPINE DESERT ZONE
This is the 4th zone of Mt.Kilimanjaro found at an elevation of 4000-5000 meters above the sea level. This zone receives 250 millimeters of rainfall, hence classified as a semi-desert zone. The temperatures sometimes soar to 30-degree centigrade during the day but drastically decreases at night to freezing point. This zone has very little life as it is above the timberline so on woody plant species. Some species of ferns, mosses do thrive
FIRTH THE ARCTIC /SUMMIT ZONE
This is the 5th zone of Mt.Kilimanjaro at an elevation of 5000-5895 meters above the sea level. This zone has got little permanent life support, the odd lichen does thrive well at this point. The zone is snowy and experiences snowfall along with the ice fields. The zone receives no rainfall just only graupel. People use to summit during the night as the ground is hard/compacted not loose to enable firm, catching the beautiful array of the sunrise
VEGETATION
Mount Kilimanjaro natural forest covered a total area of 1000 square kilometer (250,000 acres)to which, it had been dominated by different plants species means FAUNA and FLORA
TRANSPORTATION
Kilimanjaro mountain can be accessed by roads from Hai Moshi and other places.
Kilimanjaro can also be accessed easily by international clients through Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)which boasts as the gateway of TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS.JRO it’s in the southwest part of the mountain park headquarters about 88 kilometers to the gate.
Get in touch with Utaalam Guides to discuss your Tanzania adventure.
If our team are climbing in the mountains, or out on a tour then it might take a day or two before we reply. But, we reply to all enquiries.
If you are ready to book an adventure, or if you simply want more information about what services Utaalam Guides offer, please get in touch.
You can also use the WhatsApp link to chat directly with a lead guide who can answer your questions.
+255 789 294 619
+255 756 568 661