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Snow on Kilimanjaro in October

One of the strangest things to experience in hot humid October in Africa, is Mount Kilimanjaro Snow Season! The only reason for it is altitude, yet it still is strange! Coming from overseas, it is cold already and snow is normal, but for us Africans, this is not normal at all, even temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius is most parts of Africa! As seen in the pictures below the landscape of Kilimanjaro changes completely and the beauty of it does not disappoint.

Two beautiful young ladies completed their bucket list item in the Mount Kilimanjaro Snow Season! Starting in the raging heat and humidity of Moshi, they started the gradual climb, first to the base of Kilimanjaro where they met the team that would help them summit the largest free-standing mountain in the world. Acquiring on the permits and park fees etc takes several hours, before you start climbing the mountain at lunchtime. Now the distance to the summit on the popular Machame route is but is takes several days to it, due to the elevation increase. Doing an average of 7km a day, the climb up the mountain is physically draining on the body. So up the mountain they climbed, slowly and steadily under the watchful eye of our guide Amir.

Taking many stops along the way, to eat or just take shorts rests to catch your breath on the ever less oxygen availability. Hiding behind rocks and large boulders, these women re-hydrated on water and replenished their belly’s with snacks. From the stunning photos you can see the change in vegetation to the lack thereof. From the rain forest at the base and light showers, to the barren lands with harsh winds and snow; the scenery has the ability to make you hold your breath in each of these places on the way up and down the mountain.

Close to the summit one has to climb over and around a glacier, one of the few left in Africa. Mount Kilimanjaro Snow Season encompasses the entire peak of the mountain, temperatures drop well before zero. Starting in the early morning, 3 a.m. to be exact, with an all dawn trek, they get to see the sunrise right at the peak of the mountain. Stopping to take stunning shots of the landscape, that this elevation provides. The pictures below show you that this is certainly true. It takes 6 days to climb and about a day to decline. The same day you summit you are back in Moshi, stoked beyond belief. The climb down is fast, and much shorter than most. It is a long day but most likely the one you will remember for a lifetime to come!

Climbing this mountain does require some level of fitness, when preparing to Climb Kilimanjaro make sure you have it a good hiking fitness is good. At Shadows Of Africa, we make sure you are kept safe and healthy all the way up and down, our guide and porters are there to assist you with any need. If you haven’t climbed any of the mountains in East Africa yet, contact us today to get details.