Tag: tanzania

Ice Climbing the Glaciers at the Top of Kilimanjaro

ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (2)

 

Late last year, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Will Gadd, ascended to the highest point in Africa, taking matters one step further by climbing the famous glaciers found at the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
 
Photograph above by Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool

 

ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (4)

 
 

At 19,341 ft (5,895 meters) above sea level, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. According to NASA:

“Between 1912 and 2011, the mass of ice on the summit decreased by more than 85 percent. Researchers say it’s no longer a question of whether the ice will disappear but when. Estimates vary, but several scientists predict it will be gone by 2060.”

 
 
ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (6)

 
 

According to The Guardian, Gadd set out to climb ice on every continent about 10 years ago. With only Africa and Antarctica left on his list, he opted for Africa as he wasn’t sure how long the glaciers would be around for. Although the ice atop Kilimanjaro has been there for over 12,000 years it could all be gone in a matter of decades.

 
 
ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (1)

 

ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (3)

 

ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (5)

 
 

Gadd tells Red Bull that the altitude made the climb much more challenging. As for the weather, Gadd explains:

“We would literally climb stuff that wouldn’t be there the next day. I’ve climbed a lot of ice, but this was the last of its kind. The glaciers are just small remnants truly in their last gasp. I felt very lucky to be there!”

 
 
ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (9)

 

ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (8)

 

ice climbing at the summit of kilimanjaro will gadd red bull (7)

 

 

 

If you enjoyed this post, the Sifter
highly recommends:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Close Encounter With A Curious Cheetah

 

Australian wedding and wildlife photographer Bobby-Jo Clow had the experience of a lifetime while on safari at Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. A young male cheetah decided to check out their vehicle, getting closer than you can possibly imagine.

She tells Africa Geographic that her and her group came across a mother cheetah and two juvenile offspring. The two young cheetah approached the vehicle and one of them hopped on the hood and peered into the vehicle through the roof. She said the experience lasted almost five minutes before the mother called her children back and they continued on their way. An incredible encounter she will never forget!

After the positive feedback Bobby-Jo has received online she has recently launched her own photo safari tours in Africa, offering planned itineraries centered around photography, including tutorials on capturing and editing wildlife images. You can find out more info here and here.

[via Africa Geographic, Daily Mail, NY Post]

 

 

 

1.

close encounter with a curious cheetah (2)

 

2.

close encounter with a curious cheetah (3)

 

3.

close encounter with a curious cheetah (1)

 

4.

close encounter with a curious cheetah (4)

 

 

 

If you enjoyed this post, the Sifter
highly recommends:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You Can Now Stay at an Underwater Hotel Room and Sleep with the Fishes

 

At the Manta Resort on the island of Pemba, Tanzania, you will find a hotel room unlike any other. Designed by Mikael Genberg of Genberg Underwater Hotels AB, is Africa’s first underwater hotel room.

The Swedish-engineered, floating structure provides three distinct levels. The landing deck, at sea level, has a lounge area and bathroom facility. A ladder leads up to the roof which has a lounging area for sun worshipping by day and stargazing at night. Downstairs is the bedroom, surrounded by panes of glass affording near 360 degree views. Some creatures have even taken up residence around the room which affords some protection from predation.

At night, underwater spotlights beneath each window attract the shyer and more unusual creatures like squid. Coral is already establishing itself on the anchoring lines and around the underwater structure. Octopus and even Spanish dancers have been observed attaching themselves to the glass panes.

Visible from this special room is the Blue Hole, an anomaly in the coral reef approximately 250 meters off shore. It falls to 12 meters deep at high tide and is roughly 50 meters wide in diameter. The circular hole is inhabited by a number of large coral heads and abundant marine life.

For pricing and availability please visit: http://www.themantaresort.com/

 

1.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (8)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

2.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (3)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

3.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (2)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

4.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (9)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

5.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (1)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

6.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (7)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

7.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (6)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

8.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (5)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

9.

underwater hotel room pemba island tanzania africa (4)

Photograph by Jesper Anhede | Facebook | Instagram
Courtesy of THE MANTA RESORT

 

 

 

If you enjoyed this post, the Sifter
highly recommends:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture of the Day: Giraffe Umbrella

 

GIRAFFE UMBRELLA

 

giraffe-getting-shade-under-acacia-tree-serengeti-national-park-by-twistedsifter

 

I took this photo in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. It was the middle of the afternoon and the sun was scorching. We drove past this lone giraffe that was getting shade and shelter from the sun by standing under this beautiful Acacia tree.

We stayed there for a couple of minutes admiring the beautiful animal in complete silence. It was a peaceful moment and one I’ll always remember, as it gave me time to reflect and appreciate how fortunate I was to be in such a location in the presence of such a beautiful creature.