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.