Location
The lodge is located in the Maasai village TingaTinga in West Kilimanjaro – Longido district.
Wild animals are our next door neighbors and giraffes and other animals are often seen around the huts. Situated in the midst of Mt.
Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Mount Longido the lodge is a perfect
starting /relaxing point before and after a safari or a mountain climb.
Location on Google Maps:
Googlemaps – Maasailand Milele Tembo Lodge
Altitude: 1234 Meters / 4048 Feet
Distances:
Kilimanjaro airport: 1-1,5 hours drive
Arusha National park: 1,5 -2 hours drive
Mt. Longido: 2,5 hours drive
Londrosi gate to Mt. Kilimanjaro: 1,5 hours drive /Lemosho gate: 2hours
Wildlife commonly seen in the west Kilimanjaro area includes buffalo, giraffe, gerenuk, impala,
warthog, zebra, wildebeest and lesser kudus. Predators are shy, however the area is known to have
hyenas, jackals, leopards, cheetahs and occasionally lions. Thanks to the conservation efforts the big cats are returning to the area. The rich birdlife in West Kilimanjaro makes for great birdwatching. Some of the notable species are Masai ostrich, kori bustards, crested francolins, white headed buffalo weavers, tawny eagles and white-bellied go-away birds.
West Kilimanjaro has a huge potential, there are currently up to 2000 Maasai’s living in the area and the local authorities are trying to work with them to help with conservation efforts as well as setting up anti-poaching units.
WEST-KILIMANJARO
This area is bordered in the north by the famous Amboseli National Park in Kenya, and in the east it is shadowed by the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro.
The area is home to the nomadic Maasai people who live with their cattle among the wildlife. Most
of the area is made up of open savannah, mineral-rich flat pans, acacia woodlands and flat grass land and there are several small mountains that range in height from 1000m to 2000m.
West Kilimanjaro at first seems barren and does not have the same animal density as in the national
parks but promises adventures nonetheless. The whole area is considered an important wildlife
corridor, used especially by elephants coming down from Amboseli National Park in Kenya. They walk to Mt Kilimanjaro and Arusha National Park. These elephants of west Kilimanjaro are amongst the finest specimens in the country.
MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Kilimanjaro. The name itself is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It might mean Mountain of Light,
Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans. Or it might not. The local people, the Wachagga,
don’t even have a name for the whole massif, only Kipoo (now known as Kibo) for the familiar snowy peak that stands imperious, overseer of the continent, the summit of Africa.
Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa. When you see it, you understand why. Not only is this the highest peak on the African continent; it is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland, elevation around 900 metres, to an imperious 5,895 metres (19,336 feet).
Uhuru Point
Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s most accessible high summits, a beacon for visitors from around the world. Most climbers reach the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing, and determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual summit, or Gillman’s Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned their climbing certificates. And their memories…
But there is so much more to Kili than her summit. The ascent of the slopes is a virtual climatic world tour, from the tropics to the Arctic. Even before you cross the national park boundary (at the 2,700m contour), the cultivated foot slopes give way to lush montane forest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the endangered Abbot’s duiker, and other small antelope and primates. Higher still lays the moorland zone, where a cover of giant heather is studded with otherworldly giant lobelias.
Above 4,000m, a surreal alpine desert supports little life other than a few hardy mosses and lichen. Then, finally, the last vestigial vegetation gives way to a winter wonderland of ice and snow – and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent.
MOUNT MERU
Meru is a spectacular vulcano. Once upon a very long time ago, it rose higher than the Kilimanjaro, the legend says. However tall it once was, it certainly erupted sideways a few million years ago, leaving the northern, southern, and western slopes intact, but obliterating the eastern slope of the volcanic cone. From above, Meru is now shaped like a horseshoe opening east, with a tiny new cinder cone forming in the bottom of the devastated crater, and huge cliffs extending up the crater walls almost to the summit. The crater floor and the lower slopes are densely forested, but the upper slopes are barren expanses of black volcanic ash and occasional massive boulders of lava.
MOUNT LONGIDO
Mount Longido, located in northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, is a majestic and culturally
rich destination offering a range of attractions for tourists. Its peak has an elevation of 2,637 m / 8,652 ft above sea level. The mountain rises dramatically from the surrounding plains, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Maasai Steppe and Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. While not a major wildlife area, Mount Longido is home to a variety of bird species and some wildlife, providing opportunities for bird watching and occasional wildlife sightings. The mountain offers excellent hiking and trekking opportunities, with trails that lead through diverse landscapes, including forests, grasslands, and rocky terrain.
The name “Longido” is derived from the Maasai word “Oloong’idong’idong,” meaning “mountain with the steep ridges.” The mountain is part of the ancient East African Rift system, with geological formations dating back millions of years. Mount Longido is an important water catchment area, with several springs and streams that support local communities and wildlife.
