Kilimanjaro was rumored to belong to Kenya until the colonial era. Queen Victoria gave it to her grandson Kaiser Wilhelm, who ruled to become Tanzania, as a rather extravagant birthday present. (Obviously, the iTunes map hasn’t been found yet.) Some say it explains the rigidity of the Kilimanjaro rule that separates Kenya and Tanzania. Whether true or not, Mount Kilimanjaro is a treasure in Tanzania and a popular attraction for tourists looking to conquer Africa’s highest mountains. With the exception of altitude sickness, the trek attracts more than 16,000 climbers a year due to its fame and relatively easy climbing. If you need a relatively easy hike, take advantage of the short cuts on the Northern Circuit to avoid crowded trails.
