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The Glossary
Mount Kilimanjaro Travel Guide
Despite being the world's tallest free-standing mountain and Tanzania's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro is a gentle giant that welcomes visitors to its summit all year round. Kilimanjaro can metamorphose anyone into a lover of mountaineering because of its relatively easy-to-ascend slopes swathed in lush vegetation and rich fauna.
As a strato-volcano, Kilimanjaro is also the highest volcano in the continent, giving trekkers the feel of being "at the top of Africa" upon conquering the mountain's summit. Since it opened in 1977, the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve has become one of Tanzania's most visited parks not only because it is near the urban centers of Dar-as-Salaam and Arusha, but also because of its luxuriant rainforest, alpine and lunar meadows, as well as farmlands cultivated by the Maasai and Chagga tribes.
January, February and September are the best months when hikers can fit into Kilimanjaro's erratic climate schedule. The journey from the entry gates of Marangu to the summits is like an odyssey from the equator to Antarctica in a matter of hours. No ropes or technical experience are needed when climbing the mountain's six routes, although immunization and extra clothing come handy before stumbling upon animals, wet days and cold nights. A guide is also essential for safety and also for knowing, which savannahs have wildlife like buffalos, leopards, monkeys, elands, and which animals one may encounter in between peaks.
The Marangu or Coca-Cola Route is by far the most popular way to Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro's summit, due to offering travelers a variety of huts or tents for stopover. The Machame or Whiskey Route is what some deem as the mountain's most beautiful route known for its exotic flora and the famous Lava Tower. The little-used and more remote route of Lemosho is rich in buffalos, elephants, and other big mammals. For cave camping, there is the Rongai Route along the border between Tanzania and Kenya.
Moshi, a busy town at Kilimanjaro's foot, is home to the Chagga tribe and the center of Tanzania's coffee-growing regions. Many visitors prefer to stay here than in the more expensive Arusha, particularly to taste Tanzania's coffee and the "national dish," Ugali (meat stew with corn flour). Before leaving, climbers make sure they have with them a souvenir photo album, complete with maps of their trek to Kilimanjaro.
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