Tanzania: background information

Some 80% of the population depend on subsistence level farming.

Credit: WaterAid / Alex Macro

Over 30 million people populate this East African state, four times the size of the UK.

Geographically, its diverse countryside and coastlines are unequivocally beautiful. The Ngorogoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro feature particularly, and there is a unique abundance and diversity of wildlife, especially within the Serengeti National Park.

The climate ranges from tropical near the coast to temperate in the highlands, whilst the land consists of coastal plains, a central plateau and highlands in the north and south.

Some 80% of the population depend on subsistence level farming, and Tanzania remains one of the poorest countries of the world (156 of 174 in the UN's Human Development Index), with huge external debt.

Reaching Uhuru Peak Mt. Kilimanjaro will be The Ultimate Goal

Mount Kilimanjaro Updated Countdown is:
12 (wk), 5 (d), 5 (h), 17 (m), 35 (s)

Time for some background on the mountain I plan on climbing.


Snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most famous and highest freestanding mountains in the world, rising from the north-eastern part of Tanzania. Kilimanjaro stands at 5,895 metres (19,336 feet) high above sea level. Kilimanjaro comprises 3 volcanoes of which the most famous (and the most recent), snow-capped dormant Kibo stands at 5,895 m (19,455 ft). The mountain is situated in the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. The trek crosses five distinct vegetation zones, namely lower slopes, rainforest, heath and moorland, alpine and desert and the glaciers/summit. Within each zone there is an association between altitude, rainfall, temperature, plants and animals. The name Kilimanjaro, is thought to be a combination of the Swahili word Kilima, meaning “mountain,” and the Kichagga vernacular language word ’Njaro’, translated as “whiteness,” giving the name White Mountain itself.

Yellow Fever Shot went according to plan. Painless and now I can request my Tanzania Visa for entry in their country.

The Tanzania Government requires that US citizens apply for a visa prior to entry in their country and one of the requirements for a visa is proof that the traveler received their Yellow Fever vaccination. I will be getting mind this Friday on may 25, 2012.

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
The trip begins with Flying to Tanzania, Africa on August 22, 2012
The countdown is:
13 (wk), 3 (d), 5 (h), 49 (m), 56 (s)