Dream

• Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world at a spectacular height of 5,895 meters above sea level. (Mount Everest is just more than 2,950 meters higher!)
• The last major volcanic eruption from Kibo took place more than 360,000 years ago.
• The last volcanic activity of Mount Kilimanjaro occurred 200 years back, resulting in the ash pit that climbers today can see from Uhuru Peak.
• Since 1912, Kilimanjaro has lost 82% of its ice cap, and since 1962 it has lost 55% of its remaining glaciers – all due to climate change.
• There are seven official routes on Mount Kilimanjaro, six of which are used for ascent (Machame, Umbwe, Marangu, Shira, Lemosho, Rongai), and one of which is used for descent only (Mweka).
• Approximately 35,000 people attempt climbing Kilimanjaro each year, of which only two-thirds are usually successful. This is mostly due to altitude-related problems, forcing some climbers to turn back.

Kibo is the youngest among three volcanoes. Kibo forms the summit of Kilimanjaro. There is a large internal volcanic crater, but not visible from below.

The Kilimanjaro ice cap covers only the summit of the Kibo volcano.

It covered an area of ​​about 2 km². In general, despite the fact that the ice cap looks like a whole, in fact it consists of various glaciers – there are at least 20 different tricky names.

Glaciers are in a state of rapid melting. Over the past century, the total volume of ice and snow has decreased by about 80% and there is a possibility that Kilimanjaro will be completely free of the ice cap. And, soon enough.

In addition to the majestic mountain, there are other notable sites in the Kilimanjaro National Park.

Beautiful lake Chala, azure color. Located about 30 kilometers from Kibo. The lake was formed as a result of melting snow on Kilimanjaro – the waters gradually flowed down into an ancient volcanic crater. The water there is crystal clear, and the depth is almost two and a half kilometers!

Lake Zhip. It is much larger in size than Chala – about 16 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. The water in Lake Zhip is slightly brackish. It is similarly formed by the waters flowing down the slopes of Kilimanjaro in the process of snow melting (now estimate the initial volume of snow). Lake Zhip is located on the border between Kenya and Tanzania and is rarely visited by tourists.

Slightly away from popular tourist destinations, in the southeastern part of the Tanzanian National Park, there is the Mkomazi Wildlife Refuge. Many different exotic animals live here. For example: giraffes, zebras, monkeys, antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, black rhinos and a variety of birds. There are also lions, leopards and the many types of snakes that can be found. But, the Mkomazi reserve is not very often visited by tourists.

Tripety travelers will enjoy the trip to the close places to Mount Kilimanjaro.