History of the mountain
While the African people have known and used Mt. Kilimanjaro for hundreds of generations, the first recorded reference to the mountain were made by foreigners. Oddly enough, even though Kilimanjaro is a very large mountain and close enough to the trading caravan routes to be a key landmark for outsiders, there seems to be very few historical records. The first published note was written by Ptolemy, an Alexandrian Geographer and Astronomer some 18 centuries ago. He mentioned a ‘great snow mountain’ lying inland from a place called Rhapta (nowadays known as Pangani, in Tanga, North east at the coast of Tanzania).
This situation changed with the arrival of European missionaries and explorers. Rebman a Christian missionary is credited with bringing Kilimanjaro to the attention of Europe when his account of a snow caped mountain near the equator was published in 1849. In 1861 Baron Von Der Beckon visited and explored the mountain. In 1886 Queen Victoria gave the mountain to her Nephew Kaiser William II as a birthday gift (by then a ruler of Tanganyika).
After several attempts by various people to explore, map or climb to the summit. Hans Mayer finally reachedthe summit of Kilimanjaro in 1889.
A Chagga story of Mt. Kilimanjaro
The Wachagga people, traditionally agriculturists on the slopes of the mountain, claim they had no namefor mountain itself, just two peaks which they call KIPOO (Kibo) and MAWENZI. Some historians also feelthat outsiders may have changed the Chagga word to "Kilema kyaro" which means "difficult journey to Kilimanjaro".
Another theory is that the travellers to the mountain may have asked the Maasai living on the plains what they called the mountain, and the Maasai may have answered that it was the source of water using the word “Ngare” that then evolved to “Njare” or “Njaro”.
The Chagga people, who live on the lower slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, have a large number of stories about the Mountain. This one is commonly told and relates to a quarrel between two sisters Kibo and Mawenzi, which are the names of the two peaks of the mountain.
There were two sisters who lived in different huts and each cooked and ate her meals in her own hut. Kibo was the more careful of the two sisters and always had a store of food in case of rainy days. Mawenzi however was much more extravagant and often finished her food before the next harvest. To fill the gap in her food supplies, she decided that at meal time she would go to her sister and pretend her fire went out and ask for embers to restart her flames. She knew that when she goes to her sister for embers, her sister would offer to share her food. Sure enough, whenever Mawenzi went over to Kibo to ask for embers, Kibo offered her some food.
However, one day she went too far asking three times for embers. Each time she was offered food until finally on the third visit, Kibo grew angry and hit Mawenzi across her back with a big ladle. It is this that explains the jagged appearance on the Mawenzi peak. There is also a moral that too much spoon-feeding is a bad thing. After this incident, Mawenzi decided that she had better look after herself and she never allowed her fire to go out again.
What you need when you hike to Mount Kilimanjaro
Good equipment is very important for a safe and enjoyable climb. Remember to make fewer layers by getting the right gear, for example, you should look for a Jacket with the following three important characteristics:
1. 100% waterproof
2. Breathable
3. Critically Seam Sealed
The following is a list of basic essentials:
1: Warm sleeping bag
2:Good and sturdy trekking boots
3:Walking poles
4: Water purifying tabs/drops
5:Waterproof/windproof Jacket, Waterproof/windproof Trousers
6:Warm Head cover (warm balaclava or beanie), Warm gloves
7:4 or more pairs of warm socks.
8:Torch (head lamp)
9:Sun protection 30spf or better, Sunglasses
10:Boot Gaiters
11: Mattress (sleeping pad)
Health Cautions
Altitude sickness
From my experience on the mountain, anybody can get Altitude sicknes,s it doesn't matter if you are a guide or client; if you don’t follow the proper procedures.
The rapid change in altitude may cause some discomfort such as: loss of appetite, headache, nausea, vomiting, and exhaustion, rapid pulse, swelling of hands, legs, and face. Sometimes light urine output.
The drug Diamox can sometimes help, but if the conditions are severe, the climber must descend to 600m and rest until recovery. If symptoms persist, the climber must descend immediately to the gate and off the mountain. Drinking 5 liters of water a day and practicing Pole Pole (Swahili for slowly) will help keep you healthy, strong and safe.
Drink enough water two days before you start hiking and keep drinking, don’t wait to be thirsty.
Don’t rush, competition, everybody is different so don’t go fast because your friend is going fast.
Listen to your Guide and respect his ideas and suggestions about your health conditions.