You can find Mount Kilimanjaro unavoidably on the bucket list of every other traveler, and it’s one of the more daunting items someone hopes to cross off. With an astounding height of 5,895 meters, it is one of the beautiful mountains and a major trekking destination.
To give you a dose of motivation, information, and inspiration, here is a list of some of the Best Mountain Climbing documentaries to watch and books to read created by professionals who’ve shared their own experiences and provided useful tips for people who want to summit Mount Kilimanjaro?
Made and directed by a mountaineer himself, it is among the best documentaries to have created on Mount Kilimanjaro. Throughout the length of the documentary, a guide named Jacob who has climbed the mountain more than 250 times will narrate the scenes to us the significance of the places. Starring supermodel Heidi Albertsen and Nicole Wineland-Thomson who Climb Mount Kilimanjaro at the age of 12, it brings on a different charm to the documentary and makes it special. Just about 40 minutes long, it’s well worth a watch if you’re planning to trek Kili anytime soon.
Another excellent documentary made on Mount Kilimanjaro by popular American TV series, NOVA, this one walks us through the future of Africa’s tallest mountain and the prospect of its eruption. Geologists think similar to Mount St. Helens in America where a volcanic activity destroyed hundreds of square miles of forest area, Kilimanjaro might be heading towards the same fate. The documentary also investigates the issue of its shrinking and disappearing glaciers which many believe to a great extent contributes to climate change.
One of the most inspirational movies themed on Mount Kilimanjaro, it is a story of a stubborn and determined amateur climber Bonner Paddock suffering from Cerebral Palsy who braves on an adventurous mission to conquer the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Over the course of eight days, Paddock shrugs off the antagonists towering cliffs, harsh weather, thinning oxygen, to make it to the top in a noble bid to raise funds for charity. Narrated by academy award-nominated actor Michael Duncan, every single shot of the film is moving.
Consider this book as a complete playbook for anyone who wants to Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing irrespective of whether he or she is a novice or a pro mountaineer. Henry Stedman who is a hiker having climbed Kilimanjaro multiple times imparts his wisdom and 15 years of trekking experience through this book and has done excellent work in presenting it in an easily digestible format. Apart from Kilimanjaro, it also includes information on Mt. Meru, Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi, and Marangu which signifies that the book is not just about the mountain and mountaineering, but rather details the local history, town, people, and other practical details.
Hilariously penned down by ex-pat blogger Eva Thieme, the book is considered a down-to-earth guide book on Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro by some, while on other hand it is used as a joke book which some inferior travellers feel when they’re summiting Kilimanjaro or are in Africa. A mother of three, Eva shares her experience of her lifelong journey wish of trekking Kilimanjaro at least once in her lifetime and what challenges she faced in doing so. The witty sense of writing and remarks will make reading this book an even more joyful affair.
Pictures speak louder than words and our brain processes images a thousand times faster than sentences. Perhaps the authors were well aware of that. Through a spectacular collection of images accompanied by descriptive words and personal essays, this is another detailed guide on trekking Africa’s highest mountain. Over 200 mesmerizing pictures of Kilimanjaro that they’ve encountered along the trekking routes are the main ingredients of this book. A fun read for anyone looking to hike the mountain.
Born in South Africa and practising medicine in New York, USA, Joel Batzofin shares his personal experience of Trekking Kilimanjaro when he led a group of trekker comprising of his wife, daughter, three of his daughter’s friend, and a co-worker all based on his personal knowledge and experience of climbing Kilimanjaro before. This book also focuses on the strength (both mental and physical), enthusiasm, and thoughtfulness one require to successfully trekking the mountain.
Ending our list with a book intended for kids, this book is a full-on entertainer for third and fourth graders with colorful design and easy-to-understand text while being very simple, informative, and at times, silly (exactly what excites children).
With just a normal Google search, you’d come across many more to read if you wish for. And the more you read, the more you watch, better you hone your understanding and prepare yourself accordingly all of which will ensure that you reach to the Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.
But embarking on it alone may prove to get costly, moreover pose threat to your security. Therefore, it is always a wise decision to choose a reputed tour agent. With more than a decade of experience handing Kilimanjaro trekking tours, Big Expedition & Safaris has established itself as a firm leader in the space. Contact Us today for booking Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing tours and turns your wish into a reality.
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