Northern Tanzania - Tanzania - page 302

THE CHAGGA
Traditional Chagga-style houses are windowless, built in a round beehive form
and covered with thick thatching that needs to be changed every few years. In-
side, one half of the house is used for cattle, and the other side for parents' and
childrens' sleeping areas, with a cooking area in the middle. Unlike in Sukuma-
land by Lake Victoria, where similar thatched houses are still widely used,
Chagga houses these days are more modern constructions.
The Chagga, who are widely spread around the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro,
have absorbed numerous influences over the past two centuries, including
blacksmithing skills from the neighbouring Pares. Traditionally, most Chagga
have been farmers and also owned cattle, which historically led to conflict with
the Maasai, who were notorious for entering Chagga lands to raid their cattle
and, according to the Chagga, their women. The period, dating to about 200
years ago, is referred to by many Chagga as the Chagga-Maasai war.
Mt Kilimanjaro National Park
Since its official opening in 1977, Kilimanjaro National Park has become one of Tanzania's
most visited parks. Unlike the other northern parks, this isn't for the wildlife, although it's
there. Rather, it's to gaze in awe at a mountain on the equator capped with snow, and to
climb to the top of Africa.
At the heart of the park is the 5896m Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain and
one of the continent's magnificent sights. It's also one of the highest volcanoes and among
the highest freestanding mountains in the world, rising from cultivated farmlands on the
lower levels, through lush rainforest to alpine meadows, and finally across a barren lunar
landscape to the twin summits of Kibo and Mawenzi. (Kilimanjaro's third volcanic cone,
Shira, is on the mountain's western side.) The lower rainforest is home to many animals,
including buffaloes, elephants, leopards and monkeys, and elands are occasionally seen in
the saddle area between Kibo and Mawenzi.
A trek up Kili lures around 25,000 trekkers each year, in part because it's possible to
walk to the summit without ropes or technical climbing experience. Yet, non-technical does
not mean easy. The climb is a serious (and expensive) undertaking, and only worth do-
ing with the right preparation. There are also many opportunities to explore the mountain's
lower slopes and learn about the Maasai and the Chagga, two of the main tribes in the area.
For some ideas, see the sections on Marangu ( Click here ) and West Kilimanjaro ( Click
here ) .
There are entry gates at Machame, Marangu (which is also the site of park headquarters),
Londorosi and several other points. Trekkers using the Rongai Route should pay their fees
at Marangu gate.