A snowy Kibo peak of Mt Kilimanjaro peeking out from the clouds.
Standing at a staggering 5895m above the sea level, it is the single highest point on the African continental crust…and what I believe to be the world’s most beautiful highest point of the earth’s continental plates.
This photograph, taken early this year (January 2021) over a scenic flight, showcases how beautiful the peak would have been had it been permanently covered with snow throughout the year. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The thin layer of snow seen here will quickly melt away on a hot day exposing the black volcanic rock underneath with small patches of the remnant glaciers that are also melting away at a record breaking pace. The glaciers of Mount Kilimanjaro glaciers have been on a rapid decline in under half a century almost getting to their expected age of extinction before 2030 unless a drastic change is made in curbing the effects of environmental and climatic changes.
I remember, as a child, sitting outside our house in the early mornings during the school breaks and look out into the mountain, a view that time will never beat. Mount Kilimanjaro, back then, was always fully covered in white with the snow line seating very low. I always told myself that even if I would never have the chance to travel beyond the tropical zones, I still would be content that I would be able to see and tell others what snow feels like in my palms right at home in Tanzania. But it seems that I may have been building mountains out of molehills as days go by as I keep seeing the rapidly receding snow line everytime I sit from our porch with my old folks over an evening cut of tea.
In wake of the mass realisation of losing this startling world heritage, it is highly encouraging seeing efforts being put out by both the private and public sectors in Tanzania to restore the snowy peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro through re-greening efforts of the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is our hope, and the hope of the future generations, that the efforts will keep a healthy environmental balance that maintains Mount Kilimanjaro as the jewel of aspiration and inspiration that it has been for ages.
