It is not necessary to be a climber to enjoy a visit to the stunning Mount Kilimanjaro region. Visitors can ascend about 12,000 feet to the Shira Plateau of West by using a four-wheel drive vehicle! Tours, which pass through beautiful countryside on the way to the plateau, can be arranged. The climate at this altitude is conducive to gentle walks through flowering vegetation and small human settlements. Walkers will be entranced by the birdlife, with its vivid plumage, which can be seen all around them. If you head for the rainforest, which encircles the mountain, you will find yourself in a world of enchantment and mystery. The Kilimanjaro Ecosystem includes monkeys, birds and abundant antelope. Elephants and buffalo range through the forest and sometimes even leopards can occasionally be seen. The rainforest ensures the fertility of the lush, lower-lying ‘Shamba' country, where the Chagga people cultivate their coffee, maize and banana crops. A stroll through the plantations will provide a fascinating insight into the lives of the local population. You may visit local blacksmiths, fruit and vegitable market, and waterfalls and rivers nearby. |
