Is Mount Kilimanjaro climbing worth it?

This is an extremely hard question to answer because every person has their own opinions, but in this article, we are going to look at some of the reasons why you should visit Tanzania and get to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The moment you set foot on the mountain, you go through the five climatic zones. Arrival at most camps is always before sunset, and you get to enjoy warm meals prepared by trained cooks, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner because you will be starving after the hike. The first two days are almost similar with a slight change in zones, and the best day, known as the summit day, is brutal but still worth it.

Trekking through the different zones of Kilimanjaro

One of the attractions as you climb Mount Kilimanjaro is the beautiful scenery that keeps changing as you go higher. Hikers go through the rainforest, which is the first zone on the mountain, through the moorlands and Alpine Desert to the Arctic, the last zone that marks the topmost part of the mountain. Every zone on Kilimanjaro comes with its unique characteristics, making the journey an entertaining discovery throughout your hike.

The rainforest zone has thick, tall trees that are home to numerous wildlife species, including black and white colobus monkeys. The Kilimanjaro hiking trails through the rainforest are muddy and slippery, and we advocate for the use of gaiters and trekking poles.

The moorland is the next zone after going through the thick rainforests, and it will take you through the shrubs and the giant senecios, which can only be found in East Africa. You start to notice the vegetation becoming sparse when you get to the moorlands.

The next zone is the Alpine desert, where all life forms, including animals and plants, disappear and you are faced with a harsh landscape.

The Arctic zone is the last one found at the summit. You get to witness the sunrise from a strategic point at the peak and also stand at the highest point on the African continent.

Taking a photo at Uhuru Peak

The Uhuru Peak point is marked by a wooden sign, and taking a photo to mark the successful climb is necessary. It is a memorable snap that captures your resilience in climbing through the different zonal changes and making it to the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Africa.

The Seven Summit Challenge

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the seven summits (the seven summits are the tallest mountains on each of the continents). There is a thrill one gets from scaling the seven summits, and the good news is that you can still climb Mount Kilimanjaro even when you do not have any experience.

The legendary glaciers

Mount Kilimanjaro has two famous glaciers near the summit, and they have been around for over 11,000 years, although they are currently reducing in size, and it is believed that they will keep on shrinking with time. The two glaciers known as the Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers offer warmth from the cold for hikers trekking to the summit, and by putting a climb to Kilimanjaro on your to-do list, you will be among the people to see the glaciers before they completely melt.

Exploring Africa

Mt Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania, and you can combine a Kilimanjaro climb with other safari destinations both within Tanzania and in the rest of Africa. Some of the destinations you get to check out include Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Kilimanjaro National Park, among others.

Kili climb is not an easy climb but if we are as you get to face a lot of challenges like headaches, shortness of breath, nausea, and tiredness at the end of the day when you are at the highest point of the mountain (Uhuru peak), all these will be worth it and some can be avoided like the nausea and shortness of breath, all you need to do is take easy and slow paced steps (note there is no rush in getting to the peak).

We find the uniqueness of Mount Kilimanjaro an experience that everyone should get, and to answer the question of whether Kilimanjaro is worth the climb, yes, we certainly believe that it is worth the climb.

About Author

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Lucas
East Africa mountains and safari circuits expert. Born and raised in East Africa.

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