Climb Kilimanjaro

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Standing before the mighty mountain, Kilimanjaro, you peer up, dazzled by the sheer height of the snow capped peak that reaches into the heavenly blue sky. The mighty finger of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru, the peak of Kilimanjaro, is a suspended pinnacle that points to another world beyond our own, with staggering heights that make you giddy as you peer upwards. A murmur stirs within you. You listen intently to its origins: fear. “Can I reach that?” you ask yourself. You'll try, and in doing so – you'll encounter some of the most spectacular views while negotiating your way up sheer crags.

There are six routes to Uhuru. The three camps are Bafru Camp, Kibo Camp, and Arrow Glacier Camp, each of which offer adequate shelter, bottled water, beer and soft drinks. Interact with travelers from all over the world. The six routes are Marangu Route, Machame Route, Umbuwe Route, Lemosho Route, Ronai Route and the Shira Route, varying in difficulty level. Guided by an armed ranger on some of the routes, you have access to the divine grandeur of nature as you witness the plains stretching out below like pieces of an enormous puzzle. You will see buffalo and other big game animals that haunt the Lamosho plains. The Machame Route takes you through dense, beautiful rain forest. As you ascend, you move into the moorlands, where mosses hang on the trees, bringing the landscape into curious contrast. You then enter alpine desert, characterised by less trees and more rocks. Seneca plants are positioned like protruding bobbing heads. This area is known as the 'Garden of the Senecas'. The landscape shatters into thousands of mirror-like rocks as the ascent gets higher. Then comes the peak ascent, which is a challenging 5 to 7 hour attempt.

At 5895 meters above sea level, finally you've made it. The result is bewilderment. You are changed forever, spiritually, physically and mentally. You look down to the spot that rooted you before you began and think, “distance lends enchantment to the view.”