One of Seven Summits

 

 

Mt. Kilimanjaro:  The highest mountain in Africa

Elevation:  19,339 feet (5963 meters)

Mountain Range:  East African Plains

Country:  Tanzania

 

 

Mt. Kilimanjaro (or Kiliama njaro, which means “shining mountain” in Swahili) is  crowned with snow, glaciers, and ice falls.  The glaciated summit of this dormant stratovolcano has a multitude of varied plants, vegetation and wildlife that inhabits the lower plains.  The ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro starts in the scrub lands that transgress into lush vegetation and forests which surround the base of Mt.Kilimanjaro.  This jungle type surrounding is the habit for all kinds of African wild life.  The alpine terrain starts around 12,000 feet with the snowline at 14,500 feet.

 

Mt.Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free standing mountain rise in the world.  Kibo is the main flat-topped summit, the highest point on the summit is  Uhuru.  Fumaroles emit gases in the crater on the main summit of Kibo.

 

Mt. Kilimanjaro has a second sister cone like Mt. Elbrus in Russia called Mt. Mawenzi (16,893feet).  This cone is the third highest peak in Africa with the second being Mt. Kenya at 17,057feet.

 

Route Taken:  Umbwe:  Arrrow Glacier Camp/ Shira Ridge/Lava Tower/ Western Beach

 

 

Towns: Moshi and Arusha

 

 

See photos of Mt. Kilimanjaro

See photos of Mt Kilimanjaro rescue team bring a man down with acute mountain sickness(AMS).

See photos of dinner in the town of Moshi, Tanzania.

See photos of down town shopping in Moshi.

See photos of Happgods family and home.

See photos of Mark Luscher having a banana beer with the boys about 15 mile from Moshi.

See photos of Lake Manyara Natioal Park

Lake Manyara is a beautiful park located at the base of the Great Rift Valley and comprises forest, woodland, grasslands, and swamps.  Wildlife within the Lake Manyara Park; gazelle, impala, buffalo, wildebeest, the famous tree climbing lion, hyena, baboon, giraffe, hippopotamus, and a great number of smaller mammals, 350 species of birds, storks and flamingos

See photos of Ngorongoro Crater

Some people consider the Ngorongoro Crater to be the 8th wonder of the world.  Ngorongoro ‘crater’ is the world’s largest intact Caldera (Collapsed Volcano).  The crater was formed about eight million years ago when the top portion of the mountain collapsed.  The volcanic nature of the soils and water supplies transformed the volcanic cone (perfectly shaped bowl) about 20 miles across into a sanctuary for many species of wild life and birds which inhabit the caldera.  Within the Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in Africa with a estimated 25,000 large mammals. 

See photos of Olduvai Gorge

Olduvai Gorge is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on the Naabi Plains between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.  Olduvai Gorge is known as “The Cradle of Mankind.”  At this location, Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife Mary first discovered the remains of Zinjanthropus Bosei, a distant ancestor of man believed to be 1.8 million years old, and Australopithecus Bosei, the ‘Nutcracker Man’ a species that became extinct about 1 million years ago.  There were 3.5 million year old fossilized footprints preserved by volcanic ash and remains of ancient tools and bones from extinct prehistoric species.  Many, anthropologist believe that the Homo habilis (‘handy man’) is one of the earliest examples of modern humans with an ability to develop skills to make and use basic tools.

See photos of the Serengeti National Park 

The name ‘Serengeti’ comes from the Maasai language and means the ‘Extended Place’.  The National Park has an area of 12,950 square kilometers. Serengeti National Park is the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world.  The Serengeti wildlife sanctuary has more than two million wildebeest, half a million Thomson’s gazelle, and a quarter of a million zebra which composes the greatest concentration in Africa.  The diverse habitat of the Serengeti supports more than 30 species of large mammals

and nearly 500 species of birds.

 

The Serengeti’s climate is usually warm and dry.  The main rainy season is from March to May, with short rains falling from October to November.

 

 

 

Animals within the Serengeti

 

Wildebeest, zebra, lion, cheetah, hyena, warthog, Grants and Thomson’s gazelle, ostriche.