Why are you interested in Mt. Kilimanjaro? What makes it so different from other mountains that its such a popular place?

I'm trying to understand as its something I've yet to figure out.

I can't answer why people are interested, but there are probably many reasons why it is popular

- its one of the seven summits
- the trade (easiest) routes on the mountain are probably the easiest anywhere in the world for a mountain of its size, so its likely the highest point most people will ever get to in their lifetime
- its not out of the way to get to as its basically on the way from the Serengeti to Zanzibar which is a route most people are taking through Tanzania.

For me, part if it was that it was one of the 7 summits. I had this odd vision that I'd climb 6 of 7..obviously leaving Everest out. So why not start with the easiest?

Well anyways, learning from that experience, I know mountaineering and high altitude are not in my blood, so I can nix most of the 7 summits. If I were do to another one, I'd either do Mt. Elbrus or Carstensz Pyramid (I would *love* to do that one). But now I've become more interested in other mountains and volcanos as well -- especially in Mexico and South America.

Maybe because you do not need to be mountaineer to climb it. No special equipment needed. Very accessible to the average hiker. Doable.

quote:

Why are you interested in Mt. Kilimanjaro?

I'm a bit like that too landire, especially on reading some descriptions of the climb after which you could be forgiven for thinking of Kili slopes as being a human conveyor belt.

If I'm to be doing some trekking in future I'd be more considering other locations high and lower, and there's just heaps of other interesting experiences about to be had.

M AND M sum it up pretty well in that it's there to be done, sort of a rite of passage mentality with some I imagine and it's accessible but then not your walk in the park as some do find out.

Whilst I imagine there are some scenic views, a lot of photographs I've seen do not give me great excitement on that aspect.