1:With its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira,
Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa
at 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level (the Uhuru Peak/Kibo Peak).
Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Kibo 5,895 m (19,341 ft); Mawenzi 5,149 m (16,893 ft); and Shira 3,962 m (13,000 ft). Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim.
Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano that began forming a million years ago, when lava spilled from the Rift Valley zone. Two of its three peaks, Mawenzi and Shira, are extinct while Kibo (the highest peak) is dormant and could erupt again.
3: The Lake has a great diversity of life. From lush lake shore forest to
stunning volcanic savannah; from river beds marvelously carved through ancient
rock, to thick bush or open ‘mbuga’. Walking at Lake Chala is a magical
experience that will put you back in touch with nature.
The lake is fed by groundwater flows, which come from Mount Kilimanjaro, fed and drained underground with a rate of about 10 million m³ / year. Depending on the time of year, it ranges in color from deep blue to turquoise and green, it is surrounded by a 100 meters high crater rim.
Chala has a huge variety of amazing trees, grasses and plants; some are unique to the area. According to the time of year there are hundreds of species of butterflies and birds, including spectacular birds of prey. The African Fish Eagle, with its haunting techniques, Verreaux’s Eagle, Augur Buzzards and many other species of birds can be seen around the crater walls. Wild mammals do vary including Blue Monkeys, Colobus Monkeys, baboons, dik-dik, kudu and elephant. Chala is an untouched part of a truly ancient land and a must visit place.
Activities at this lake: walking safaris, canoeing, swimming and fishing.
Being an Afromontane sky island, Kilimanjaro has an enormous biodiversity while low in endemic species. However endemics include the giant groundsels in the bunchgrass tussock grasslands, and other flora adapted to living in alpine plant conditions.
Kilimanjaro has a large variety of forest types over an altitudinal range of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) containing over 1,200 vascular plant species. Montane Ocotea forests occur on the wet southern slope. Cassipourea and Juniperus forests grow on the dry northern slope. Subalpine Erica forests at 4,100 m (13,451 ft) represent the highest elevation cloud forests in Africa. In contrast to this enormous biodiversity, the degree of endemism is low. However, forest relicts in the deepest valleys of the cultivated lower areas suggest that a rich forest flora inhabited Mt Kilimanjaro in the past, with restricted-range species otherwise only known from the Eastern Arc Mountains. The low degree of endemism on Kilimanjaro may result from destruction of lower elevation forest rather than the relatively young age of the mountain.
Another feature of the forests of Kilimanjaro is the absence of a bamboo zone, which occurs on all other tall mountains in East Africa with a similarly high rainfall. Sinarundinaria alpina stands are favored by elephants and African Buffalos elsewhere. On Kilimanjaro these mega herbivores occur on the northern slopes, where it is too dry for a large bamboo zone to develop. They are excluded from the wet southern slope forests by topography and humans, who have cultivated the foothills for at least 2000 years.
This interplay of biotic and biotic factors could explain not only the lack of a bamboo zone on Kilimanjaro but also offers possible explanations for the patterns of diversity and endemism. If true, Kilimanjaro forests would serve as a striking example of the large and long-lasting influence of both animals and humans on the African landscape.
Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Kibo 5,895 m (19,341 ft); Mawenzi 5,149 m (16,893 ft); and Shira 3,962 m (13,000 ft). Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim.
Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano that began forming a million years ago, when lava spilled from the Rift Valley zone. Two of its three peaks, Mawenzi and Shira, are extinct while Kibo (the highest peak) is dormant and could erupt again.
The last major eruption has been dated to 360,000 years ago, while the
most recent activity was recorded just 200 years ago. Although it is dormant,
Kibo has fumaroles that emit gas in the crater. Scientists concluded in 2003
that molten magma is just 400 m (1,310 ft) below the summit crater. Several
collapses and landslides have occurred on Kibo in the past, one creating the
area known as the Western Breach.
2: Animal Attraction
Most of the rain on the mountain falls in the south and the east, causing the forest to be much thicker here than to the north on the side of the mountain. Monkeys (both Blue and Colobus) are prevalent on certain routes but are seen or heard from a distance, while olive baboons, elephants and buffaloes are known to visit the mountains slopes though they are rarely seen. The best places to see wildlife are just above the thinner jungle on the Rongai Route and on the edges of the Shira Plateau elephants and buffalos are known to migrate to and from arusha,Kilimanjaro,and Amboseli (in Kenya)national parks respectively.
This is a spectacular jungle-like place for a hike. Deep gorges fall away to each side of the well-kept trail as you climb ridges, surrounded by some of the tallest trees you have ever seen. The forest is usually mild and might probably rain during your mid day climb, through the clouds towards the upper limits of the forest for spectacular sceneries.
Most of the rain on the mountain falls in the south and the east, causing the forest to be much thicker here than to the north on the side of the mountain. Monkeys (both Blue and Colobus) are prevalent on certain routes but are seen or heard from a distance, while olive baboons, elephants and buffaloes are known to visit the mountains slopes though they are rarely seen. The best places to see wildlife are just above the thinner jungle on the Rongai Route and on the edges of the Shira Plateau elephants and buffalos are known to migrate to and from arusha,Kilimanjaro,and Amboseli (in Kenya)national parks respectively.
This is a spectacular jungle-like place for a hike. Deep gorges fall away to each side of the well-kept trail as you climb ridges, surrounded by some of the tallest trees you have ever seen. The forest is usually mild and might probably rain during your mid day climb, through the clouds towards the upper limits of the forest for spectacular sceneries.
The lake is fed by groundwater flows, which come from Mount Kilimanjaro, fed and drained underground with a rate of about 10 million m³ / year. Depending on the time of year, it ranges in color from deep blue to turquoise and green, it is surrounded by a 100 meters high crater rim.
Chala has a huge variety of amazing trees, grasses and plants; some are unique to the area. According to the time of year there are hundreds of species of butterflies and birds, including spectacular birds of prey. The African Fish Eagle, with its haunting techniques, Verreaux’s Eagle, Augur Buzzards and many other species of birds can be seen around the crater walls. Wild mammals do vary including Blue Monkeys, Colobus Monkeys, baboons, dik-dik, kudu and elephant. Chala is an untouched part of a truly ancient land and a must visit place.
Activities at this lake: walking safaris, canoeing, swimming and fishing.
4: Unique Vegetation
Being an Afromontane sky island, Kilimanjaro has an enormous biodiversity while low in endemic species. However endemics include the giant groundsels in the bunchgrass tussock grasslands, and other flora adapted to living in alpine plant conditions.
Kilimanjaro has a large variety of forest types over an altitudinal range of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) containing over 1,200 vascular plant species. Montane Ocotea forests occur on the wet southern slope. Cassipourea and Juniperus forests grow on the dry northern slope. Subalpine Erica forests at 4,100 m (13,451 ft) represent the highest elevation cloud forests in Africa. In contrast to this enormous biodiversity, the degree of endemism is low. However, forest relicts in the deepest valleys of the cultivated lower areas suggest that a rich forest flora inhabited Mt Kilimanjaro in the past, with restricted-range species otherwise only known from the Eastern Arc Mountains. The low degree of endemism on Kilimanjaro may result from destruction of lower elevation forest rather than the relatively young age of the mountain.
Another feature of the forests of Kilimanjaro is the absence of a bamboo zone, which occurs on all other tall mountains in East Africa with a similarly high rainfall. Sinarundinaria alpina stands are favored by elephants and African Buffalos elsewhere. On Kilimanjaro these mega herbivores occur on the northern slopes, where it is too dry for a large bamboo zone to develop. They are excluded from the wet southern slope forests by topography and humans, who have cultivated the foothills for at least 2000 years.
This interplay of biotic and biotic factors could explain not only the lack of a bamboo zone on Kilimanjaro but also offers possible explanations for the patterns of diversity and endemism. If true, Kilimanjaro forests would serve as a striking example of the large and long-lasting influence of both animals and humans on the African landscape.
5:Moundi crater
This crater is about 15 minutes walk past mandara huts on
the marangu route. on clear days the crater provides a panorama view on lakes
chala,jipe and nyumba ya mungu-all o which derive their waters from the
majestic Kilimanjaro.
6:KIFINIKA
CULTURAL SITE!!
This is a site along mar
Marangu route that is sacred by the local chagga people.
Historically the site was used for cultural rituals. Several sites in the
western part of the mountain areas also used by the masaai tribe for ritual
purpose.
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