Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro. The name itself is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It might mean Mountain of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans. Or it might not. The local people, the Wachagga, don’t even have a name for the mountain, only the name Kipoo (now known as Kibo) stands for the familiar snowy peak that stands imperious, the overseer of the continent this is truly the summit of Africa.

Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa. When you see it, you understand why. Not only is this the highest peak on the African continent; it is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland – elevation is around 900 meters rising to an imperious 5,895 meters (19,336 feet).