Uhuru peak Kilimanjaro

Uhuru peak Kilimanjaro : Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest free standing mountain in Africa and it is also a popular hiking destination found in the northern part of Tanzania.

The mountain is also among the seven summits of the world and is a hiking destination that can be visited by both experienced and non experienced hikers during their Tanzania Safaris. The Uhuru peak is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and also in Africa.

The Uhuru peak is found on Kibo which is one of the volcanic cones on Mount Kilimanjaro and also the highest of the 3 peaks. Uhuru means freedom in Swahili and this peak was named in 1961 when Tanganyika got its independence. Other volcanic cones on the mountain include Shira and Mawenzi which are extinct.

Hiking to the top of the mountain is the end goal for most hikers as they enjoy the beautiful views around. Mount Kilimanjaro is a snow capped mountain and also a strato volcano in Tanzania.

Hiking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and to the Uhuru peak is a great achievement for many hikers who go to Tanzania. This activity however requires preparation before the actual hike on the mountain.

About 40% of the hikers who visit Mount Kilimanjaro get to the Uhuru peak each year that the many tourists visit the destination while on safari in Tanzania. There are different routes which are used when hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Some routes which are used for hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro have a higher success rates compared to others. The remaining percentage of the hikers who visit the mountain may not make it to the top but still enjoy their hike.

In preparation for a hike on Mount Kilimanjaro, it is recommended that hikers spend more days on the hike which also increases the success rate. Training prior to the hiking trip on the mountain, getting health checkups and vaccinations is also among the things hikers are encouraged to do as they prepare for their trips. This is because while hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro, altitude sickness is among the challenges faced by hikers as they explore the mountain and hike to the summit.

Trusting a tour operator to organize for you a hiking excursion on Mount Kilimanjaro is also recommended when planning for the trip as these tour operators are aware of which hiking routes are good for hiking depending on their client’s needs.

When engaging in the hike, packing lightly and including the essential for the hike is also encouraged as this increases the comfort level when hiking. Incase of any extra luggage, porters are available and can carry the luggage during the trip on Mount Kilimanjaro as you hike to the Uhuru peak.

These hiking routes include Lemosho route, Marangu route, Machame route, Rongai route, Umbwe route, Shira route, and also the northern route and each of these routes lead to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro from different sides of the mountain.

While hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro, the hikers spend their nights at different camps. For those who donot have equipment, it can be hired before the hike.

When hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro to get to the Uhuru peak, there are 5 different climatic zones which travelers go through before getting to the summit and they include the bushland zone, moorland zone, rainforest zone, alpine desert zone and the arctic zone.

Hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro also involve guided tours and the hikers are accompanied by porters, guides and also chefs or cooks who prepare meals while on the mountain. The number of days it takes to hike on the mountain also depends on the route used for hiking.

A hike on Mount Kilimanjaro can take about 5 days or more depending on the route used for hiking. The more days spent on the mountain the higher the chances of hiking to the summit and descending successfully.

The summit attempt on Mount Kilimanjaro starts as early as midnight and by sunset the hikers are at the crater rim and they can enjoy the sunrise and also the beautiful views from the Uhuru peak. The summit of the mountain is the highest point on the Kibo crater rim.

Those who also have a limited time to visit Tanzania and also want to visit Mount Kilimanjaro can engage in day tours on the mountain before returning to the entrance gates of Kilimanjaro national park.

Another unique feature about Mount Kilimanjaro is that the mountain is crossed by the equator. Simply knowing that you are hiking on the highest mountain in Africa makes a hike on Kilimanjaro an exciting experience.

At the crater rim, some of the points which hikers get to at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro include Stella point, Gilman’s point when hiking along the Marangu route and for those who are hiking on the western side of the crater rim, they get to the leopard point.

Temperature on Mount Kilimanjaro ranges between 21 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius. Around the summit, temperature is about -7 degrees to -29 degrees. During nights while hiking on the mountain, it gets cold.

Weather on Mount Kilimanjaro also varies depending on the altitude. For hiking on the mountain certain months of the year are recommended for safari including the dry season around June to October.

January and February are also favorable for hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro. And from April and May, rain is received on Mount Kilimanjaro. At any time of the year, hikers can visit the mountain and engage in hiking to the summit.

How to get to Mount Kilimanjaro

Hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro start from Moshi town which is found at the base of the mountain. Most of the hiking activity is organized from Moshi before continuing to the entrance gates of Kilimanjaro national park.

When planning a safari to Tanzania, you can get flights to Kilimanjaro international airport which is about 45 Kilometers away from Moshi.

Visit Mount Kilimanjaro and enjoy hiking to the Uhuru peak as you explore Tanzania during a Tanzania safari.