TOURING THE KILIMANJARO DURING FESTIVAL SEASON

In recent years there has been a trend whereby many tourists opt to spend Christmas and New Year holidays on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. This is such a thrilling experience and now pulling a lot of travelers from different parts of the World to this part of the African Continent. Many visitors try their luck to conquer the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest Mountain in Africa, while others spend their holidays in villages on the Mountain slopes to enjoy and share the festival moods and joy with local communities living on their very well established home gardens. Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania is an iconic landmark of Africa: A towering, snow-capped mountain just south of the Equator. To many mountaineers and hikers, climbing this mountain is a lifetime adventure. Having been named among other top 28 leading tourist destinations in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro cool weather had attracted construction of modern lodges and very well arranged home stays on its foothills, ready to accommodate big numbers of visitors looking to spend their holidays on the mountainside. Christmas is a big holiday pulling thousands of families from Africa, North America, Europe and the rest of the world to converge on the Mountain slopes to share their joys with local communities. Bearing the pride of the Mountain, Kilimanjaro Region stands among the places in Africa established with tourist hotels and lodges in its all places where local communities welcome foreign visitors from Africa and other parts of the world to enjoy Christmas and new year together. From the villages, tourists can take their chance to enjoy viewing the two peaks of the mountain, Mawenzi and Kibo. In days of clear weather one can very well observe the snow capped Kibo peak, the highest point in Africa shines with snow which creates golden colors during morning and evening hours. Visitors will arrive via the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), located close to the Mountain slopes, then taken to various standard hotels/lodges and very decent homes for accommodation and meals. Tourists can easily visit the villages in Rombo, Moshi Rural and Hai in  Machame but also different experience from the Maasai dry land in the western leeward slopes of the mountain. Arrangements can be made for visitors to visit and experience a different treatment such as birding, kayaking and camping at the magnificent Chala Crater Lake. The Region is one among African localities with a long outstanding history blended with modern lifestyles enough to attract high-class tourists and other visitors looking to relax and mingle with local communities in real African traditional setup. Hiking through the villages, rich with lush home gardens (a private fenced piece of land) comprised of banana and coffee plantations could be an exciting safari experience outside the wildlife parks; the popular tourist attractions in East Africa. Rombo Cultural and Ecotourism Enterprise abbreviated “ROCTE” is a community based tourism venture established and operating in Kilimanjaro that offers authentic village cultural tours and hiking the agro-forestry belt. Other day tours and a combination of safaris can be well arranged to nearest attractions surrounding the area such Lake Chala, Mkomazi National Park/Rhino Sanctuary, Arusha National Park, Enduimet Wildlife Management Area and Serval Wildlife Sanctuary in west Kilimanjaro