| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89 | 73 | 0.93 |
| Feb | 90 | 74 | 0.97 |
| Mar | 90 | 75 | 1.28 |
| Apr | 88 | 75 | 4.08 |
| May | 85 | 73 | 6.80 |
| Jun | 83 | 70 | 2.73 |
| Jul | 82 | 68 | 1.95 |
| Aug | 82 | 68 | 1.76 |
| Sep | 83 | 69 | 1.35 |
| Oct | 85 | 71 | 3.37 |
| Nov | 87 | 73 | 2.92 |
| Dec | 89 | 74 | 2.30 |
I stood at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, breathing the thin air of a crystal blue sky. Below me stretched the flat plain of Tanzania, almost overwhelming in its vastness. I looked in vain for the tiny spot, thousands of feet down, where our climb had begun.
Days ago, we stood at the mountain's grassy green foot, surrounded by chattering monkeys and grazing hoofed game; the elevation where we now stand was not even visible. We hiked the Barranco Valley, into the "Garden of Senecias," with its prehistoric-looking plants and feisty white-necked ravens. Days ago, we were below the clouds.
Today Mawenzi Peak, blanketed in snow and ice, towers to the right, while Kibo seems just out of reach. From a distance, these gigantic geologic features appear indistinct. But, as we have come to understand, this mountain reveals her nuances one step at a time. Lava stones, crumbling clumps of foundation and sheer rock work together to form Kilimanjaro's commanding presence; we've clenched the mountain in our hands and felt it skidding under our boots.
Now our bodies have acclimated to the altitude and thinning oxygen. We continue our climb, our eyes constantly seeking Kibo's peak, one final day's effort away.
Dismass Mariki is a 30-year-old, licensed guide who has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro 176 times. He became inspired by the "White Mountain" while in secondary school, and paid for college by working as an assistant guide on the mountain. In 2003, he completed intensive training with Kilimanjaro National Park to become a head guide.
Arrive and transfer to Mountain Village Lodge. Once settled, drive to the park to acclimatize. Welcome dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Head to the Lemosho Glades, at the foot of the mountain, to register and continue to the trail head; after lunch, begin the ascent. Throughout your climb, we overnight in tents at key altitudes along the mountain. Hikes total from four to nine hours each day, with breaks and lunch on the trail. Overnight at Forest Camp.
Today the tall grass savannah segues into landscapes created by volcanic lava, caves, and foamy streams. Continue to Shira caldera, a high desert plateau. Overnight at Shira Camp.
Behold the view of the Western Breach, Shira's Needle and Cathedral and glaciers. You may see duiker and jackal as you hike the alpine heather zone, up to Moir Camp for overnight. In the morning, the wind picks up and the temperatures drop. To acclimatize, you climb Lava Tower, then trek over to Arrow Glacier and camp for the night.
A unique aspect of Mt. Kilimanjaro is the three craters and their fumaroles that remind you that this is an active volcano. The lava flows that breached the outer crater in several places formed the renowned Western Breach.
Climbing out of the crater, you ascend the final thousand feet to Uhuru Peak. At 19,340 feet you are standing on top of Africa's highest point. The descent will end at Millennium Camp with altitude and temperatures noticably different.
Leave the snowcap behind, and hike through familiar alpine and desert landscapes and the Barafu Valley. Eventually, the trail twists through the heather moorland. Overnight at Mweka Camp. On your final day, descend to Mweka Gate, sign out and collect your Certificate of Achievement. Transfer to Mountain Village Lodge to celebrate.
