1: Cultivation Zone (800 m — 1800 m)
The cultivation zone is the first zone of the mountain you pass through as you drive to Kilimanjaro’s gates.
This cultivation zone receives enough rainfall. Coupled with many rivers formed by merging streams of glacier run-off on the mountain.
Villagers cultivate bananas, coffee, maize, avocados, and vegetables. In fact, some of Africa’s best coffee comes from the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.
They use bananas to produce banana wine and local beers. This is one of the most preferred wines and foods by the Chagga people.
2: Rainforest Zone (1800 m — 2800 m)
The forest zone begins at the park gates. Climbers spend their first day walking through the forest. This zone supports plant, bird, and animal life.
Because of the forest, this area receives adequate rainfall. compared to other climatic zones of this mountain.
You should expect to see animals and birds. The common animals in this area are black-and-white colobus monkeys and Olive Baboons. Birds of different species are also present, including the Hartlaub’s turaco.
This zone is covered by tall trees, including old man bared, climbing through the clouds toward the upper limits of the forest. This makes for some very beautiful atmospheric photography.
The forest is usually mild; the real hiking adventure begins here. If you climb during the rainy season, you’d better know that the trail can get muddy and slippery. Your gaiters and walking poles are very important for climbing.
3: Heather and Moorland Zone (2800 m — 4000 m)
From this zone, you start to experience your presence on the mountain. The weather on the mountain is always unpredictable.
During the day, the temperature above the forest can exceed 40 °C, and at night it can drop below 0 °C.
With increased winds and decreased rainfall, the giant heathers, wild grasses, and a rocky trail replace the trees. Some heathers can grow to over 10 m in height, dwarfing a person.
But as you climb higher, the flora decreases in size, and grasses become much more predominant.
Large fields of wildflowers cover sections of the mountain, and you will often see clouds floating at your eye level. Expect vivid blue skies and sun at the upper end of this zone, with only a few clouds to shield you from the sun’s rays.
It is important to take your sunglasses and hat. Also, remember to apply sunscreen to protect your skin in this zone.
4: Alpine Desert (4000 m — 5000 m)
The alpine desert zone receives little rainfall, less than 200 mm a year. The plant life that exists at this altitude is sparse. It has to endure scorching sunshine and subzero temperatures.
This zone also showcases its violent past through fields of volcanic rock of all shapes and sizes. You are now close enough to the cone of Kibo.
You will see vast glaciers clinging to deep gorges on the slopes and breaches in the crater rim. This is where molten lava punched through during ancient eruptions.
It is also one of the most dramatic landscapes you will ever see. At this altitude, the mercury drops well below freezing, and you may wake to frost on the ground.
Water is scarce, and the zone’s thin soils keep little of what materializes. Plants that withstand such harsh conditions are tussock grasses and moss balls.
5: Summit or Arctic Zone (5000 m — 5895 m)
The Summit zone is the last zone of Kilimanjaro; the oxygen level at the top is roughly half that at sea level. The thin atmosphere offers little protection against the sun’s fierce rays.
The lower section of this zone is a scree slope that is quite difficult to climb. Hence, the summit bid is made at night, when the evening dew has settled and frozen, knitting the scree together and making it more stable underfoot.
As you climb, ice will begin to appear in patches and soon in large fields. As you approach the lower reaches of the summit glaciers, it does precipitate on rare occasions. The porous, volcanic rock absorbs the moisture in an instant.
Hikers from the Marangu and Rongai routes meet up with those from other routes. Hikers from the Machame, Lemosho, and Umbwe routes meet at Stella Point.
They all follow the same trail to Uhuru Peak! It takes 1 hour or less to reach the top of Africa. This is where you can see the yellow sign at the top, telling you that you are now reaching the top of Africa.
Most of the time, the weather in this zone is crazy, but you will feel much better when you go down to lower altitude
