MOUNTAIN CLIMBING IN
THE EAST AFRICAN LARGEST MOUNTAINS
CLIMBING
MOUNT KENYA (KENYA)
Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain
in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Most of the peaks; Batian, Nelion and
Lenana on Mount Kenya have been summited. Mount Kenya offers a wealth of
excellent and diverse climbing possibilities on rock, snow and ice.
The
highest peak that can be ascended without rock climbing is Point Lenana;4,985 metres which requires a scramble or a walk. The other two (Batian5,199m, Nelion 5,188m) are for technical climbers. To combine this
ascent with a circumnavigation of the main peaks, Nelion and Batian requires at
least an extra day.
There
are three main walking climbing routes up to the main peaks, Sirimon, Chogoria,
and Naro Moru.
Climbing
Mount Kenya Sirimon Route: Sirimon route is Mount Kenya`s most
gradual ascent route profile and best acclimatisation options most interesting route since it’s on the
drier side on the mountain. The route passes through impressive Yellowwood
forests in the lower reaches and features abundant wildlife and beautiful
alpine scenery higher up.
Mount
Kenya Climbing Naro Moru Route :Naro Moru route though not as scenic as the
other two, it is the fastest route to point Lenana, Naro Moru route has many
climbers since it's the most popular route compared to Chogoria route and
Sirimon route.
Climbing
Mount Kenya Chogoria Route: Chogoria route is the Best route on descent,
quite scenic and interesting of the three main routes on the mountain. The
route passes the enchanting Hall Tarns and looks down sheer cliffs into the
spectacular Gorges Valley and onto the beautiful Lake Michaelson.
Mount
Kenya Climate, Mount Kenya's climbing Seasons:
Mount
Kenya has wet seasons and dry seasons,
From mid-March to June is the heavy rain season, followed by the dry seasons which lasts until September.
October
to December short rains when the mountain receives approximately a third of its
rainfall total. Finally from December to mid-March is the dry, dry season when
the mountain experiences the least rain.
Weather
on Mount Kenya is mostly clear mornings with mist closing in from 10:00am
although this can clear by evening. So early morning starts are preferable by
climbers with a 2am start for the final ascent to summit point Lenana, if you
want to catch the sunrise.
NB:
It is easy to gain height too quickly on the mountain and high altitude related
illness or considerable discomfort is experienced by climbers who try climbing
too fast. It is recommended to allow acclimatization time on ascent.
Mount
Kenya is home to one of the Global Atmosphere Watch's atmospheric monitoring
stations.
CLIMBING
MOUNT TKILIMANJARO (TANZANIA)
Africa
Adventure Climbing, Mount Kilimanjaro climb also known as Kili climb, climbing
Mt Kilimanjaro to Africa Highest peak uhuru peak in Mt Kilimanjaro National park
where Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is an awesome and magnificent African
mountain, the highest mountain in Africa. Kilimanjaro is one of the largest
single freestanding mountains in the world, composed of one extinct volcano;
Shira (3962m) and two dormant volcanoes, Mawenzi (5149m) and Kibo (5894). Mount
Kilimanjaro Climbing routes are Marangu route, Machame, Rongai, Umbwe, Lemosho and
Western Breach Route.
The trek
to Uhuru Peak is considered to be a relatively straightforward endeavour;
however, ample time must still be provided for proper acclimatization to
prevent altitude sickness. The three shortest routes, Marangu, Rongai, and Machame,
are less challenging and are often trekked by individuals with limited
mountaineering experience. Some trekkers employ altitude-sickness medication,
including acetazolamide, but taking at least seven days is the best way to
avoid altitude sickness.
Route
travel times range from five to nine days to summit and return to the base of
the mountain. Huts with cooking facilities, bathrooms, and electricity are
available on the Marangu route, and camps with fewer facilities are available
on many other routes. All huts and many camps have rangers stationed at them
with rescue facilities (modified wheelbarrows to transport trekkers stricken
with altitude sickness to lower altitudes).
Summit
attempts are generally begun at midnight so that trekkers can reach the rim of
the crater to view the sunrise. Walking overnight also means the ground (loose
gravel) is frozen, making the going significantly easier.
Trekkers
on the Marangu route first encounter Gilman's Point on the rim of the crater,
which is roughly a 1.5 hour hike from Uhuru Peak. Trekkers who follow the
Southern Circuit will reach the summit via Stella Point which is about an hour
from the summit. Both these compare with the Rongai route where the trip from
where you reach the rim to the summit can be over two hours making for a very
long summit day.
Another
route is the Western Breach, which includes short sections of scrambling (where
hands are required for balance and support). The rock on Kilimanjaro though is
highly fragmented and deaths from rockfall from above have happened.
On all
the southern routes and on the Western Breach climb it is possible to sleep
overnight in the crater. This has three major advantages. First, you can summit
during the day, avoiding the midnight rush. Second, you have time to visit the
crater and explore the glaciers. Finally, you can get back to the rim very
early the next day to see the sunrise. The Furtwangler Glacier on Kilimanjaro
is a remnant of the ice cap that once covered the mountain. This has retreated
dramatically over the last century with over 80 percent glacial retreat. The
glacier is named after Walter Furtwangler, who along with Ziegfried Koenig,
were the fourth to ascend to the summit of Kilimanjaro in 1912.
RWENZORI
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING (UGANDA)
The
Rwenzori Mountains popularly referred to as “Mountains of the Moon” are
permanently snow-capped peaks that offer great trekking experiences for
Mountain climbers. The Rwenzori Mountains lie along the western border of
Uganda and rise to a height of 5,100 metres.
Rwenzori
is the highest mountain range in Africa with the highest peaks; Margherita(5,109m) and Alexandra (5083m) on Mount Stanley. These are exceeded in
altitude elsewhere in Africa only by Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya which are extinct
volcanoes standing in isolation above the surrounding plains.
The
Rwenzori Mountains are unique among East Africa's major peaks in that they are
not Volcanic in origin, but they do rise directly from the Rift valley floor.
Their formation, like that of Kilimanjaro and Kenya, was
linked to the
geological glacial peaks in the Rwenzori’s: Mt Speke (4,890M), Mount Emin
(4,727m), Mount Gessi (4,715m) and Mount Luigi da Savoia (4,627m).
The
Rwenzori’s are Known primarily for their challenging hiking and climbing
possibilities but the range also supports a diversity of animals including
mammals and over 170 bird species ,several of the latter being Albertine Rift
endemics.
The
Rwenzori are known for their vegetation, ranging from tropical rainforest
through alpine meadows to snow; and for their animal population, including
forest elephants, several primate species and many endemic birds. The range
supports its own species and varieties of giant groundsel and giant lobelia and
even has a six metre high heather covered in moss that lives on one of its
peaks. Most of the range is now a World Heritage Site and is covered jointly by
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda and the Parc National des
Virunga in Congo.
Although
the flora in the Rwenzori is closely related to that of other East-African high
mountains it is much more luxuriant here. This is mainly a result of the high
and regular rainfall in the area. The distribution of vegetation is for a good
deal determined by the altitude. At higher elevations, certain genera of plants
grow unusually large. Most surprising are the giant heathers, senecios and
lobelias, to which the Swedish botanist Olov Hedberg from the Uppsala
University referred to as “botanical big game”. As the altitude increases,
temperatures drop. The air also grows thinner, provoking intense radiation,
even on clouded days. During the day the incoming radiation of ultraviolet and
infrared light is fierce, while at night the outward radiation under a clear
sky has a considerable cooling effect. The equatorial location dictates marked
diurnal variations in temperature, whereas the seasonal differences are less
important, as if it were summer every day, winter every night.
There is
no water shortage in the Rwenzori. Yet several members of the afroalpine family
bear resemblance with species that normally thrive in desert climates. The
reason lies in their similar water economy. Although abundantly present, water
is not always readily available to the afroalpine plants when they need it. The
nightly frosts affect the sap transport in the plants, and the intake of water
by its roots. As the day begins, the air temperature and radiation level rise
rapidly, putting strenuous demands on the exposed parts of the plants. It is
vital to meet the transpiration demands of the leaves, and maintain a proper
water balance. To counter the effects of freezing, the afroalpine plants have
developed the insulation systems which give them such a striking appearance. As
a rule, these adaptive trends become more prominent as the altitude rises.
CLIMBING
MOUNT HEHA (BURUNDI)
Mount
Heha is the highest mountain in Burundi and the highest point in the Burundi
Highlands mountain range. It is located in the Bujumbura Rural province of
Burundi and it lies approximately 20 km to the east of Lake Tanganyika and
about 30 km to the southeast of Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.
Mountain
biking in Burundi is getting increasingly popular, offering some great rolling
countryside and a large network of unmetalled roads. It’s possible to ride down
parts of Mount Heha, just south of the capital at almost 2700 meters.
Additionally, there is a nice route parallel heading south Lake Tanganyika,
though a support vehicle is needed, as towns are few and farther between. This
route heads south of the capital Bujumbura.
CLIMBING
MOUNT KARISIMBI (RWANDA)
MountKarisimbi is the highest of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. It is
a huge dome, now dormant, that dominates the range, more in girth than in
height. Its name in Kinyaruanda means white shell, which refers to its often
white-capped summit. Interestingly, this cap results not from snow but from
hail and sleet which accumulate in the higher elevations from its frequent
storms. It is located within the Parc National Des Volcans, and many of the
volcanoes are connected by good trails.
The
going is quite steep and good navigation is required not only through the lower
slopes, but also on the mountain itself. It consists of secondary jungle and in
the most gives an aerie appearance. It is close the jungle HQ of Dianne Fossey
the renowned gorilla expert.
The
ascent of Karisimbi (at 4,507m the sixth-highest mountain in Africa, after
Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Ruwenzori, Mount Meru (Tanzania) and Ras Dashen in
Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains) is a two-day excursion; trekkers should have
suitable clothing and equipment.
The
climbing starts from about 2,600m ASL. At about 2,067m ASL, you reach close to
the Dian Fossey tomb and gorilla graveyards (but visiting would require you pay
an extra fee). Your will then traverse different vegetation zones: bamboo and
wild celery on the lower slopes, ideal food for gorillas. Then hagenia forest,
with old man’s beard moss on the branches. Then above 3,000m, the marvelous
giand groundsel and giant lobelia. Your first camp is at 3,700, a similar
altitude to Bisoke, clearly visible behind the camp.
The
trail gets steeper, much as the fog closes in and ground gets muddy. The
terrain gets more tougher here. At about 4,000m, you are above the tree line,
the slopes become more exposed and here you need to wear your gloves and hat.
After about 2 hours ascent, you start on your last hundred meters of climbing,
walking on volcanic scree (more like grey gravel but not loose). The wind
starts getting harder and visibility drops to 25m. Suddenly, you realize you
cannot climb the anymore – you are at the summit! The Congolese border is just
within a few feet from here. The descent back to the car park takes about 6
hours.
CLIMBING
MOUNT MERU (TANZANIA)
Mount
Meru is an active stratovolcano located 70 kilometres west of Mount Kilimanjaro
in the nation of Tanzania. At a height of 4,565 metres (14,977 ft), it is
visible from Mt Kilimanjaro on a clear day and is the ninth or tenth highest
mountain in Africa, dependent on definition.
Mount
Meru is the topographic centerpiece of Arusha National Park. Its fertile slopes
rise above the surrounding savanna and support a forest that hosts diverse
wildlife, including nearly 400 species of birds, and also monkeys and leopards.
Mount
Meru, situated east of the Great Rift Valley and about 40 km southwest of
Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania's Arusha National Park, is considered an active
volcano and is Tanzania`s second highest mountain. It is also considered the
fourth highest mountain in all of Africa by some (after Kilimanjaro, Mount
Kenya, and the Rwenzoris - aka the Mountains of the Moon). 500,000+ years ago,
Mount Meru erupted in a tremendous explosion that destroyed its cone shape and
resulted in a horseshoe crater with the eastern side removed. The resulting
mountain has its summit on the west side with its inner walls rising over 1,500m
from the crater floor, making them among the tallest cliffs in Africa. In the
past 100 years, eruptions have been reported as the Ash Cone continues to build
inside the crater. The first ascent is still in dispute and credited to either
Carl Uhlig in 1901 or Fritz Jaeger in 1904.
Although
this is a spectacular mountain with amazing scenery and wildlife, it's location
in East Africa means that most international visitors will visit Mount Meru as
a secondary trip in conjunction with their primary destination, usually
Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, or the Ngorongoro Crater. Reasons to do this summit
include: amazing views into the summit crater and ash cone, hiking along the
crest of the crater rim, nice, but distant, views of Kilimanjaro from the
summit, the ability to see a lot of wildlife on the lower slopes in the form of
a walking safari, the chance to escape the tourist crowds, and for Americans,
the ability to summit another peak taller than Mount Whitney. Arusha National
Park provides certificates for people who summit the Little Meru sub-peak
(3,820 m / 12,533 ft) or Socialist Peak - aka the Mount Meru summit.
Although the name Socialist Peak is listed on the summit certificate, this name
was rarely used and given that the Tanzanian government is moving more towards
capitalism, it will probably never be more than a curiosity.
The 14
km or 19 km YDS class 2 Momella Route is the primary and only official route to
the summit today. This route starts at the Momella Gate (1,500 m / 4,921 ft)
and uses one of two tracks to Miriakamba Hut (2,514 m / 8,250 ft), either a
shorter 5 km YDS class 1 route or a longer 10 km YDS class 1 route that allows
one to see more wildlife, scenery including waterfalls, and old huts. From the
Miriakamba Hut, you take a 4 km YDS class 1 trail through some forests up to
the Saddle Hut (3,566 m / 11,700 ft). From Saddle Hut, you can either summit
Little Meru (3,820 m / 12,533 ft) or follow the route another 5 km YDS class 2
to the Mount Meru Summit, aka Socialist Peak. On the way up to the summit from
Saddle Hut, the first notable bald area you'll reach is Rhino Point where you
can get amazing views of the summit and the
inner crater walls, providing there
are no clouds. You'll know you are at Rhino Point because there is a pile of
bones in the center of the clearing. The easy YDS class 2 portion of the hike
involves crossing two moderately long low-angle rock slabs above Rhino Point.
Also from Rhino Point to the summit, there are green blazes and arrows painted
on the rocks to show you the way, however, these can be hard to see at night.
There is a metal flag of the United Republic of Tanzania on the summit as well
as a wood box and summit register.
Before
Mount Meru was included in Arusha National Park in 1967 it was also possible to
reach the summit via the North and West Slopes, however, use of these trails to
enter the park (and reach the summit) is now illegal. It is, however, legal to
climb the inner Ash Cone but the park only recommends this for researchers and
issues a special permit for this
activity.
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