- Rainforest -
Zone 2: Rain Forest
Altitude: roughly 1,830 to 2,804 meters
MUC Field Guide Classification - 0232 (Montane Forest)
Accumulating about two meters of rain each year, the rain forest is dripping, humid, and bursting with life. The temperature generally ranges between 21°C and 27°C throughout the year. A thin layer of poor soil covers a thick layer of clay on the forest floor. There are a number of different tree species in the forest. In the lower forest, sycamore figs and palms festooned with hanging mosses crowd river gorges, while higher up, huge camphorwood trees soar to 40 meters. The branches of the trees interlock to form a canopy above the forest. Mosses, lichens, ferns, and orchids are other common plants. At about 2,440 meters, a layer of cloud often forms, which blankets the forest throughout most of the day. These clouds are an important source of water for the areas below the mountain.
( Members of the 2008 Xpedition heading into the Rainforest )
( A member of the 2008 Xpedition hiking in the Rainforest )
( Hanging mosses along the trail in the Rainforest )
( The 2008 Xpedition heading to the Rainforest Camp on Day One )
Click on Orbie to learn
more about the Life on Kilimanjaro