Mount Kilimanjaro is a peak that piques your curiosity in more ways than most people know of. The region comes with an irresistible goodie bag of little and big surprises. A little comes with a lot. While chasing the lot, don’t miss out on the little.
The sought-after mountain is sure to quench your wanderlust with flamboyant sightings like glaciers, lakes, wildlife, hot springs and others. But your trek can mean a lot more if you keep your eyes open for detail. Never bypass anything you pass by. Watch out for the entrails of the trail to contribute more value to your tour.
Mt. Kilimanjaro – photo by t3rmin4t0r on Flickr CC
It’s said that the world isn’t black or white, but a million shades of grey. Kilimanjaro however, favors you with streaks of black and white accentuated against the grey. The Zebra rocks are a collection of patterned rocks formed over the years due to the flow of rainwater rich with minerals.
It’s an interesting phenomenon where salt seeps in through the porous rock, furnishing it with gorgeous markings resembling that of a zebra. Sitting by the Marangu route, the rocks paint a marvelous picture and can fairly be addressed as a mineral miracle. Apart from being one of the highlights of the Marangu route, it is also a favored acclimatization hike destination.
Trekkers with more days on their schedule generally choose to hike up to these zebra rocks before coming back down to the Horombo huts campsite, thus giving themselves more time to naturally acclimatize while also relishing these spectacular rock formations. Zebra rocks are definitely something to look out for, rather than to overlook. Get high on the zebra rocks before getting any higher on your trail.
The picturesque landscape on Kilimanjaro is truly a sight to behold. The mountain promises a multitude of flora and fauna. With the evergreen forests at the lower part of Kilimanjaro greeting you, soak in the exuberance of its plush green and feel one with nature. The coniferous leaves of the evergreen trees,the tropical rain forests and Alpine deserts proffers a lustrous view across the massive mountain background entirely responsible in invoking the Wordsworth in you.
on the trek up Kilimanjaro – photo by Stig Nygaard on flickr CC
The trek to Kilimanjaro is that one ticket to experience an extremely diverse weather conditions enabling you to traverse and bask in the aesthetic beauty of rainforests, shrub land setting, lunar landscapes and even witness glacial scree/ silt dessert setting.
What makes Kilimanjaro more interesting is that it is partially snow-capped with large glaciers interspersed between the volcanic craters. With the glaciers constantly receding over the past 40 years, a visit to these craters before it surrenders to Mother Earth, definitely bag ours vote. One thing to watch out for are the wild buffaloes, elephants and the leopards which can be quite a showstealer while travelling along Lemosho route.
What must truly be on your list and the one thing you can’t miss on is the Chala Crater lake. The Chala Crater lake is located on the edge of Mt. Kilimanjaro garnering immense attention for its crystalline clear water placed inside a higher crater rim. With the lake reflecting varied hues of blues spanning from turquoise to royal emerald depending on the time of year, this scintillating marvel of nature transcends all other remarkable experiences Mt. Kilimanjaro offers and will truly find a place in your travel memoirs reinforcing your faith in Mother Earth and her ethereal beauty.
Blessed with as many as 5 ecological zones,witness a myriad set of flora and fauna, hot springs, clean lakes and some soul stirring moments. Climbing Kilimanjaro, unlike any other mountain refuses to fade into the background,raises the bar high and promises to weave its magic with its sheer magnificence and surreal beauty.
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Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
