Discovering The Beautiful Floras Of Mount Kilimanjaro

There is no secret in the fact that hundreds & thousands of mountaineers climb Kilimanjaro to get the best hiking experience. But trekking Kilimanjaro is just the tip of the iceberg. Kilimanjaro is a heavenly place that has a lot more for us to watch & explore. Besides, being a physical challenge it is also a sensory journey for numerous travelers who harbor immense love for nature. Anyone who is scaling the heights will be able to take note of its immensely unique flora & fauna. So Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is going to be a remarkable experience. 

Now let’s have a short discussion about the conditions that are the main reason for the availability of the floras on the mountain:-

1)  The variety of flora found on Kilimanjaro can be credited to the mountain’s tremendous        height.

2)  Its proximity to both the equator & the Indian Ocean.

3)  Even the solar radiation & temperature plays its part from the top of the mountain to the 

bottom providing the perfect conditions for the growth of highly differentiated & distinctive vegetation zones that trekkers enjoy while Climbing Kilimanjaro.  

Now, here are all those different climatic zones that are known for showcasing different types of flora on the mountain:

Montane Forest Zone

a)  This forest zone is known for housing the greatest mixture of both flora & fauna that comes in the range of 800m to 2800m.

b)  Anyway, the star of the montane forest is the beautiful flower ‘Impatiens Kilimanjaro’ an endemic fleck of dazzling red & yellow in the shape of an inch-long tuba. It is also known as the Elephant’s trunk flower by the locals.

c)  Hikers can see the flower blossoming by the side of Kilimanjaro path on the southern side of the mountain. You can also go for the elegant flowers including the beautiful violet Viola eminii & Impatiens pseudo viola. 

Heath & Moorland Zone

a)  Together, these two zones occupy the area immediately above the forest that starts from the height of 2800m-4000m. Some trekkers also know it as low Alpine Zone.      

b)  Just above the moorland forest zone, climbers can come across the Alpine Heath. Here, rainfall is around 1300mm per year. Here, visitors can come across some spectacular wildflowers such as yellow-flowered ‘Protea kilimandscharica’.

c)  Another most prominent flower is every backpacker’s personal favorite also known as ‘Kniphofia thomsonii’ also known as the red-hot poker. Besides that, you can moreover get your hands on Tree Groundsel. They are mostly seen at the Barranco Campsite.  

Alpine Desert Zone

a)  By the time people Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro reach up to the saddle, only three species of tussock grass and little everlasting vegetation can withstand such extreme conditions.

b)  This entire region coming under 4000m-5000m range is known as Alpine Desert. This is a region where plants are capable of surviving even in drought conditions.     

c)  In this desert range, you can easily spot Asteraceae, a bright yellow daisy-like flower.

Ice Cap Zone

a)  There is no end to weird forms of flora that you are going to watch here. From 5000-5895m, you will solely witness that nothing lives here. In fact, it is a place where the snow & the region of glaciers start.

b)  Here, you will get plants like Helichrysum newii- an everlasting vegetative plant that truly deserves that name found near fumaroles in the Reusch Crater.

c)  There is another plant also known as lichen which is said to exist right up to the summit which can also be seen by the climbers when they Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

While Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro every trekker is going to realize that this mountain is truly a gift of nature and with each different zone, a new thing pops out of the wild to surprise you. You can visit our site @ mwangazasafaris.co.tz to explore and know more about Kilimanjaro.

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