Recently I saw the movie, ‘The Bucket List’ again. For those who have not seen the movie, the story line goes like this: On realizing they’ve got only few months to live, two terminally ill men embark on an around-the-world vacation to exotic destinations they never had the chance to visit. After the movie I found myself drawing up a list of African places/wonders everyone must visit before they die, these are my top seven. Make sure you visit at least one of these places before you make the journey home.
1. Mount Kilimanjaro
Rising to 19,340 ft above the plains of Africa, Kili (as Mount Kilimanjaro is popularly known) is the highest mountain in Africa. Unusually for such a lofty peak, the highest point, Uhuru, is accessible to anyone who is moderately fit, and many make the pilgrimage to climb Kili every year. It is definitely one of the highlights of any trip to Tanzania. The mountain is home to an incredible variety of ecosystems: its arctic summit sitting above the slopes of the alpine desert, rugged heartland, a rain forest and even cultivated agricultural areas. That said this eclectic environment is under threat from climate change – with some scientists saying that the peak could be ‘ice free’ within two decades. The scenery at the peak is breathtaking, with the huge glaciers forming a heavenly white landscape. To make this an even more desirable destination, the region around the base of Mount Kilimanjaro is home to some of Africa’s premier wildlife parks and reserves, so it is easy to see why a visit to Kili is indeed an African “must-do”. Are you keen to find out more about Mount Kilimanjaro? Check out these resources:
- Our Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park profile has lots of interesting details and pictures
- Watch this short UNESCO video on Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
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