Kilimanjaro truly stands alone among the mountains of the world. The huge, solitary volcano is unaccompanied by any mountain chain. People who are in good shape can make the ascent to its summit in a matter of days, passing through five distinct ecological zones along the way. The lower slopes of the mountain are defined by coffee and banana fields that rise up and end where the mountains forest begins. An average of 80 inches of rainfall a year make the forest home to some botanical treats. Tree ferns in this region are known to grow up to 20 feet, and giant lobelia often reach 30 feet. At an altitude of about 9,000 feet, the forest gives way to grasslands and shrubbery, and elephant can sometimes be spotted roaming the high slopes.   Made with Xara