Kilimanjaro is
just what real adventures are looking for: no efforts too small, no
efforts too big!
Take a deep breath before you start, and fill up your
lungs with oxygen.
The thin air is a well-known killer of impatient weekend
climbers, who misjudge their abilities and ascend too fast. Just take your time
and sense the landscape. Don`t let the mountain take your breath away. Then you
will have a wonderful time on one of the world`s greatest natural wonders.
Kilimanjaro is located in the United Republic of Tanzania.
Kilimanjaro
National
Park
was notified in 1987.
Brief description from UNESCO`s website:
At 5,895 m, Kilimanjaro
is the highest point in Africa. This volcanic massif stands in splendid
isolation above the surrounding plains, with its snowy peak looming over the
savannah. The mountain is encircled by mountain forest. Numerous mammals, many
of them endangered species, live in the park.
|
Photo. Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro
in Tanzania, rises majestically up in the sky. The highest peak is 5895
metres.
When the sun shines and the sky is clear, the glaciers on the top light
up the peak. |
 |
In addition to
Kilimanjaro
National
Park there are other
UNESCO-sites in Tanzania:
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (1979), Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo
Mnara (1981), Serengeti
National
Park (1981), Selous Game Reserve (1982), and Stone
Town of Zanzibar (2000).
Ngorongoro Conservation
Area
Tanzania's wide plains make
viewing wildlife easy. Nowhere else on
earth will you see wildebeest, gazelle, zebra and antelope in such
enormous numbers. See photos below from the spectacular
national park Ngorongoro.
This country has one of the world's largest game
reserves. In addition it has also has one of the highest concentrations of
elephant, buffalo, crocodile, hippo, hunting dog and chimpanzee.
|
Photo. Hippos bathing in a small lake.
It looked like rocks in the water, but I ensure
you: I would`t dare to stamp on them! The Hippos is said to be those animals being responsible for
killing most people. |
 |
Photos. Ngorongoro Crater, one of
several natural wonders in Tanzania.
The views from the 600m (1968ft) Ngorongoro
Crater rim are spectacular when the sight is clear.
When I descended down to the crater floor in July 2003, it was so
foggy that I thought I wouldn't see anything this day, but when I finally
reached the 20km (12.4mi)-wide floor the sight was clear. It's been compared to
Noah's Ark and the Garden of
Eden. Here you find most kind of animals though it's said that the number have
been reduced.
|
Photo. Thousands of flamingo wading in the shallows of
Lake
Magadi, the
soda lake on the floor of the crater.
The surroundings is
breathtaking! |
 |
Nothing compares.........
There was always action in the park.
|
Photo. Stein Morten watching eagerly the
unique wildlife in Ngorongoro National Park in Tanzania.
Based on stories from the bible, this national park give associations
with Noah's Ark and the
Garden of Eden.
Sometimes it was harmony between the animals, but not
always. It was the survival of the fittest.
|
 |
|
Photo. Norwegian explorers taking a rest
after a exciting tour.
Soon they were ready for new action! |
 |
Tanzania
's 100 or more different tribal groups are mostly of Bantu
origin. Local Masai tribe people have grazing rights here, and you may well come
across them tending their cattle. As we did on our tour, you can reach the
crater by car or bus from Arusha (on the main
highway).
Tanzania is
East Africa's largest country. One of the attractions in
Tanzania is
the main city Dar es
Salaam with a pulsating life.
Arusha
National
Park is one of the most
beautiful parks in Tanzania and
located ca. 30 kilometres from Arusha. Aside from the abundance of wildlife,
fauna and flora there are three spectacular features; momella lakes, Meru
Crater, and the Ngurdoto Crater. Both Mount
Kilimanjaro and
Mount
Meru can be viewed from the park when the weather is
fine.
|
Photo.
Harmony between the animals in Ngorongoro
National Park. The Zebras like to mingle with
other kind of animals except the lions, and I can understand
why! |
 |
Tanzania has several
wonders to enjoy for real adventurers, but the biggest challenge is definitely
Mt.
Kilimanjaro. But take your time.....
Stein Morten Lund,
31 August
2004
Additional
information
Links:
UNESCO: The World Heritage List: UNESCO
Natural site datasheet from WCMC: WCMC
Mount
Kilimanjaro (Tanzania
Tourist Board): Tanzania Tourist
Board
Mount
Kilimanjaro, (Tanzania High Commission,
London): Tanzania High
Commission
Facts about
Tanzania:
Formal country
name: United Republic of
Tanzania
Area: 945090
Population:
33000000
Capital city:
Dodoma
People: 99%
native African (over 100 tribes), 1% Asian, European and
Arabic
Languages:
Swahili, English, indigenous.
Religion: 40%
Christian, 35% Muslim, 20% indigenous
beliefs
Government:
Republic (multi-party state)
For more
information, take a look at:
Tanzania Tourism
site: www.tanzania-web.com
Lonely Planet`s
website: www.lonelyplanet.com
Read more
articles about Kilimanjaro on our website.
*****************************************************************************************************
Presentation of the travel company
Hvitserk:
Hvitserk is an
Norwegian well-known tour operator and guiding company, specialised on climbing
and trekking on high mountains around the world. Over the years they have guided
Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, Brits, Dutch, Swiss, German, Austrians, Canadians,
Americans, etc, on unique adventure tours, especially in Greenland.
For more
information about planned tours, ongoing tours and bookings, take a look at
Hvitserk`s website www.Hvitserk.no.
******************************************************************************************************
E-mail this
Print this
