Amboseli & Mt. Kilimanjaro

At each of the three camps where we stayed, we had many unique experiences. The first location – Amboseli – is situated in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa and the world’s highest free-standing mountain. A dormant volcano, Kili’s soil is rich with nutrients and salt from volcanic ash. The seasonal melting snow from Kili’s peak supplies the surrounding land with fresh water and balances out the Ph of the land making it a rich oasis in the middle of the desert for many species of plants and animals. Since 1912, Kilimanjaro has lost 82% of its ice cap due to global warming and deforestation in the surrounding area. It is predicted within the next 30 to 40 years to be the first glacier in the world to melt completely. Since so much of the balance of the ecosystem depends upon this glacier, it is devastating to think about what might happen to the life in this area – human, plant, animal, etc.