Mount Kilimanjaro...exploring its moods via lighting...

[P_7878]

There is something very unique and mysterious about the "self-standing" (sometimes called "free-standing") mountains. They exist in their lonely habitat, in the middle of vast plains and flatlands, not associated nor identified with other mountains of an extended mountain range. In this category, Mt Kilimanjaro, is one and unique. It's unanimously and unquestionably the highest "free-standing" mountain in the world (Mt Fuji being the world's second highest "free-standing" mountain). Mt Kilimanjaro (see images below) stands isolated amidst the surrounding plains of the African savannah, reaching up impressively to 20,000 ft into the sky.

The geological explanation is that such (free-standing) mountains are formed as a result of intense volcanic activity, when the disturbances within the earth erupt in violent fashion spewing out molten rock that piles high upon the Earth's surface. This is in sharp contrast to the formation of mountain ranges that arise when two (Continental) "Tectonic" Plates collide, creating immense pressure that leads to the uplift of the earth's crust (the Himalayas being one great example of it). Notwithstanding their scientific origin, the free-standing mountains, such as Mt Kilimanjaro, by their very nature of existence, draw us with perpetual awe and inspiration...almost bordering on the spiritual and poetic...🙂...

I have been (lately) reading Hemingway's "UNDER KILIMANJARO", a non-fiction work by the Nobel Laureate. Hemingway has been always one of my favorite authors...more so, because the (globe-trotting) author was born in (local) Oak Park, IL, ~10 miles from where I live, and his Birthplace and Museum was one of the places I'd visited on moving to the Chicago area. This book of his was written as the journal of his final safari in Kenya, under the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro (it was published posthumously). Hemingway is no stranger to Mt Kilimanjaro, having also written a poignant short story "The Snows of Kilimanjaro"...so, I'm glad to visit it here via MSFS...🙂...Please find 15 pictures below, as I travel, from Nairobi airport (HKJK), the 150 miles, across the African savannah, to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro (located in Tanzania 13 miles past the border). There is an airport nearby the mountain, the Kilimanjaro International Airport (HTKJ), just south of the mountain, that I've also used as my springboard to explore my flights to the mountain, under different lighting conditions (see below) ...

As the Sun was setting, the sky-scraping mountain seemed to completely block off the sunlight on a vast swath of land on the opposite side of the mountain. I've captured the screenshots (please see the concluding images), just near the summit of the mountain, as the line of sunlight is receding (progressively) but rapidly across the summit, eventually enveloping it in complete darkness and in the ancient mystery of its origin...🙂...in the last image, this mystified (virtual) visitor is finally heading back home to the local airport...

Hope you enjoy these images...! Thanks for your interest...!

Edited December 6, 2023 by P_7878

[John F]

Beautiful progression of images near the end.

[pmplayer]

Beautiful shots from beginning to the end with a nice atmosphäre in the last shots 👍

cheers 😉

[Alaska738]

Very nice shots! 😉 

[P_7878]

John, pmplayer, Will: Appreciated the comments...🙂...Cheers...!

[bernd1151]

Interesting history of this adventurer and great author and some fine shots to go along with it, P_7878. I think you already know this, Hemingway and his wife survived a plane crash in this part of the world. And the rescue plane that was supposed to take them back to civilisation crashed too. And this crash he and his wife survived too, well, somewhat, because he was badly injured. What an amazing fellow!! And what kind of life he had!! Can you imagine this today, where everybody wants 100% security and safety 🙂🙂 

[P_7878]

Thanks, Bernd. Yes, those are great bits of curious and unfortunate history about Hemingway's final Safari in Africa... Two B2B air accidents.... Apparently, he wrote this book while recovering from those incidences...

Absolutely agree, an amazing and adventurous fellow for sure.... I like reading about his life-story even more than his fictional novels...🙂...

[bernd1151]

8 hours ago, P_7878 said:

. I like reading about his life-story even more than his fictional novels...🙂...

I fully agree with you !