AUTHENTIC SAFARIS & PERSONALIZED TOURS IN MOUNT KILIMANJARO WITH AFRICANMECCA

Each camp offers it own specialized activities, bird-watching safaris, nature walks, game drives including off-road and night safaris and visits to native villages. There is even a chance to go on speciality trout fishing, and for really hardy AfricanMecca adventurers, to hike on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. The mountain is readily accessible, but preparation is essential and an attempt on the summit is a thoughtful undertaking necessitating months of foresight and many days and nights of sheer endurance, not to be taken lightly but attainable.

Before the West knew of Kilimanjaro, Wachagga natives of the region and Swahili Arab storytellers related tales of a ferocious giant atop the mighty white mountain that formed a landmark on the major slave routes. This invisible punished trespassers by mutilating their hands and feet and robbing them of feeling. Quite a graphic description of frost-bite, you will agree.



Stick to the lower Kili slopes for fantastic bird and terrestrial game-spotting opportunities, or take a trip in South Amboseli in the western border of Kilimanjaro National Park for the best views of the elusive peak which reveals itself in the evening or early morning, floating on a sea of mist, a surreal multi-faceted diamond reflecting the sun.

Game drives in customized four wheel drive vehicles will permit you to visit a number of different terrains at different times. Early morning is best to visit the Amboseli – Western Kilimanjaro plains in search of elephant herds, whilst evening, after traditional sundowners in the bush, gives a privileged view of the nocturnal life of this amazing part of the natural world. Lovable, round-eyed bush babies cling to the stems of acacia trees.

Aardvark and pangolin lurk around their bases, genet and mongoose hang out near conical red termite hills and leopard are elusively seen only when their green eyes reflect the glare of your headlights. Photography is also major lure for AfricanMecca adventurers to the Kilimanjaro Amboseli plains. The birds, the terrestrial fauna, the distinctive landscape and speckled floral life, all offer images to excite the visual artist especially when you have the wildlife in the foreground and the clear majestic mountain in the background (read more on where to stay in Kilimanjaro).



The fabulous Maasai people, hardy warriors, herders and craftsmen par excellence, own this territory and contribute to its protection and conservation in return for income and assistance in areas like education, health and cultural preservation. They welcome guests to their villages and share their customs and cultural heritage with enthusiastic visitors who travel in East Africa for tribal enlightenment.

They are a fun-loving people, fond of music and dancing, ever ready to share their knowledge, language and their laughter, especially with children. They are a proud and beautiful tribe, unfailingly courteous, and must be treated with respect. Some still believe that taking their photograph will trap their spirit, so never attempt this without permission.