Kilimanjaro is a superb mountaineering destination, but for rock climbers there are only few interesting crags in the vicinity. Maybe the best is Mt. Longido, easily accessible from Arusha via the well-paved "Nairobi Road." Its sharp western summit consists of solid granite faces up to 300m high. While some of the west face is covered in lichen, Gaby Lappe, Clemens Pischel, and I found a beautiful line on the east face in early January 2017 and established the first climbing route up this side of the mountain. (At least two long routes climb the west face.) Endalata Orpukely (“Savannah View,” 215m, UIAA V, fully bolted) starts next to Longido's Northern Trail, a wild jungle path leading up from Kimokouwa village, and offers six pitches of pleasurable slab climbing with a few steeper sections. A topo guide to the route can be downloaded here.

– Kai Maluck