| 96 metres, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s | | | | Altitude |
| highest point. It is one of the highest volcanoes in the | | | | Although many thousands of trekkers successfully |
| world. Kilimanjaro attracts many trekkers from all | | | | reach Gillman's Point or Uhuru peak every year |
| over the world. The attraction is even greater | | | | without any real difficulty, many others do not make |
| because with time and adequate preparation, it is | | | | it to the top because they suffer from altitude |
| possible to walk all the way to the summit of Mount | | | | sickness. Altitude sickness is caused by a combination |
| Kilimanjaro without technical mountaineering | | | | of the decrease in atmospheric pressure and the |
| equipment or experience. | | | | decreased oxygen content of the air. To avoid this, it |
| The Kilimanjaro massif has two main peak areas: | | | | is very important to acclimatize by ascending slowly |
| Kibo, the flat-topped dome at the centre of the | | | | and steadily. Even if you feel that you are |
| massif, and Mawenzi a group of jagged points and | | | | well-prepared and fit, you should not try to rush up |
| pinnacles on the eastern side. The top of Kibo dips | | | | Mount Kilimanjaro. |
| inwards to form a crater which cannot be seen from | | | | The Guides and Porters |
| below. Although Mount Kilimanjaro lies just three | | | | The guides and porters are all men between 20 |
| degrees south of the equator, both Kibo and | | | | years and 40 years old. They are employed by the |
| Mawenzi have permanent caps of snow and ice. | | | | Hotels on piece-work terms but have to be officially |
| The highest point on Kibo and the whole Kilimanjaro | | | | registered by the Park Authorities, who periodically |
| massif is Uhuru Peak. Also on Kibo is the slightly lower | | | | give them medical check-ups. Anybody with heart or |
| peak of Gillman's Point, both are goals for most | | | | lung condition is not allowed to climb above the Kibo |
| trekkers. The peaks of Mawenzi are for | | | | Hut. The guides work as a team throughout the |
| mountaineers only. | | | | year, with the porters being added as required. Each |
| Trekkers need to have adequate and accurate | | | | porter carries about 10 to 20 Kilograms, usually on |
| information on the various aspects of the mountain | | | | their heads or back. At the end of the climb, |
| as they prepare for it. They need to know about the | | | | recommended tipping is US$20 per person for the |
| seasons, and the weather, temperatures, altitude etc. | | | | porters to distribute amongst themselves. |
| Below are some of the major aspects that trekkers | | | | The Physical ad Mental Aspects |
| need to know about. | | | | The huts are positioned so that the ascent each day |
| Seasons and Weather Conditions | | | | is harder than the previous day, even without |
| The best time to go climbing Mount Kilimanjaro would | | | | considering the thinner air. As a result one feels more |
| be during the dry season. Tanzania and East Africa in | | | | and more tired at the end of each stage but not to |
| general has two rainy seasons, long rains from the | | | | the extent of losing confidence. To provide some |
| end of March until June, and the short rains which | | | | encouragement there are notices on the huts and |
| normally occur between October and November. | | | | the upper parts of the climb giving in both feet and |
| Naturally conditions on the mountains can become | | | | metres the height above sea-level that you have |
| very slippery in the rains and snow can become a | | | | reached. In most cases the ratio of these figures is |
| problem on some of the routes to the summit. Dry | | | | incorrect. One effect of each morning's climb and |
| season months of June to September and December | | | | afternoon's rest is that you assume (wrongly as it |
| to February can usually be counted as the best | | | | happens) that the next day will be no worse than |
| months for trekking. | | | | the last. Despite the difficulty in getting a good night's |
| Temperatures | | | | sleep and the resulting aches and pains, you expect |
| The altitude normally affects the temperature as the | | | | to be fit enough by the next morning to reach that |
| trek progresses, especially considering the Mountain is | | | | day's objective. This optimism may vanish on the |
| only three degrees south of the Equator. | | | | third day, for which the final part of the ascent is |
| Day-time temperatures on the lower parts of the | | | | really hard, but unless illness intervenes you feel that |
| mountain are often pleasantly warm, even hot, | | | | by then you have nothing to lose in attempting the |
| although a brief rain shower in the afternoon is | | | | final climb. |
| always possible. As soon as the sun goes down the | | | | As is often the case with such climbs, mental attitude |
| air temperature becomes cold and as the trek | | | | is just as important as physical fitness. For both the |
| progresses, on the higher parts of the mountain the | | | | ascent and descent, walking seems to be far easier |
| temperatures often drop to below freezing. Warm | | | | when the weather is sunny rather than dull and misty. |
| clothes and a warm sleeping bag are therefore | | | | However it will almost certainly be cloudy for part of |
| essential. | | | | the first two days. |