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Mountains
of East Africa - Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The most spectacular trekking in Africa exists on Mount
Kenya: seldom trodden valleys and gorges, mountain lakes,
prehistoric alpine vegetation, and dense equatorial rain
forest, rich in mammal life combine to make Mount Kenya
Africa's most important mountain. To reach the highest summit
requires technical skills, but the views from the summit
of Point Lenana are as breathtaking as those from the nearby
technical highest point. Mbango Safaris treks across
the eastern moorlands, and the Nithi Gorge, to the summit
of Point Lenana (16,355 feet) takes us through the lower
equatorial rain forest, over gently rising moorlands to
a world of high tarns and glaciers.
Africa’s highest peak, and the worlds tallest free-standing
mountain, Kilimanjaro dominates the sky at a height of 19,340
feet. The glaciers and snows of Kilimanjaro perplexed the
European scientific community in the late nineteenth century.
Johann Rebman, a German missionary who was the first European
to lay eyes upon it in 1848 wrote on 11th of May “
This morning, at ten o’clock, we obtained a clearer
view of the mountains of Jagga (Chagga), the summit of one
of which was covered by what looked like a beautiful white
cloud.” It was only when Baron Von der Decken
reached the altitude of 14,000 feet in his 1862 attempt
on the mountain that indisputable evidence satisfied the
indignant scientists. The first successful ascent of Kilimanjaro
by Dr. Hans Meyer in 1889 brought to a close the enduring
struggle for this prized peak of East Africa.
Kilimanjaro is comprised of three volcanic centers: Kibo
(19,340 feet), Mawenzi (16,893 feet) and Shira (13,143 feet).
The Chagga people living at the foot of this mountain tell
many legends of its more active volcanic days. Today it
lies dormant, casting its shadow over the plains below,
its melting snows quenching the thirst of Amboseli’s
wildlife. Scientists predict that the glaciers of Kilimanjaro
will disappear within the next twenty years, unfortunately
this time they are probably correct.
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