The vegetation zones that make up the Kilimanjaro Mountains are diverse. On Kilimanjaro, there are roughly five different species of plants. Among them is the Alpine Desert Region.
Each variety of vegetation is roughly 100 meters long. Human habitation and activities will be found between 800 and 1800 meters in altitude.
Every vegetation zone has distinctive characteristics that set it apart from the others.
Because you have to constantly switch from cold to hot weather, much like when traveling from the north to the south pole, climbing Kilimanjaro is an incredibly tiresome activity.
5,895 meters is how high Kilimanjaro is above sea level. Due to its status as Africa’s tallest mountain, it has the ability to produce unique micro-climates that affect the various plant zones within these ranges.
The fauna and fauna will therefore change with each sub-climate zone that is altered.
There is a significant difference in climate, vegetation, and animal life between the base of the mountain, which is on average roughly 800 meters above sea level, and the peak, which is 5,895 meters above sea level.
Warm temperatures are found at the base, and freezing temperatures are naturally found at the summit due to the snow.
Alpine Desert Zone
The Alpine Desert Zone is a dry zone here. One would assume that there could never be a desert connected to the mountain, given that it has a forest below and snow on top.
There isn’t much vegetation in this area. Because the sun’s rays are so strong here and you have no defense at all, make sure you have taken all the necessary precautions
This place gets extremely hot—it gets as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If you haven’t adjusted to the altitude properly, you will undoubtedly have altitude sickness. To lessen the impact of the sickness, they adhere to the maxim “climb high, sleep low.”
Here, a few flora make it, including everlastings, moss types, and tussock grass. The environment is simply too harsh for any kind of animal life to endure.
- Altitude: 13,200 to 16,500 ft. ASL
- DAY TEMPS: 30s – 40s F
- NIGHT TEMPS: 10s – 30s F
- Precipitation: 10 in (250 mm)
