Mount Kilimanjaro

I am a very, very big mountain in a warm, sunny land. Monkeys chatter in my trees. Elephants wander near my feet. The sun shines brightly here. But I have a secret. Even when it is hot, I wear a sparkly, white hat. My hat is made of snow and ice, and it stays on all year round. It glitters way up high, so high it touches the clouds. Can you guess who I am? I am Mount Kilimanjaro. I am the tallest mountain in all of Africa.

A long, long time ago, I was not a mountain. I was born from fire deep in the earth. Three fiery volcanoes rumbled and grumbled. They pushed up and up and up until I could say hello to the sky. Now, I am a sleepy, gentle giant. For many years, kind people called the Chagga have lived on my green sides. They plant yummy bananas and coffee beans and tell stories about me. Then, one day in 1889, two brave friends came to visit. A guide named Yohani Kinyala Lauwo and an explorer named Hans Meyer wanted to climb all the way to my tippy-top. It was a long, long walk, but they helped each other. They were the very first people to reach my snowy peak.

Today, friends from all over the world come to see me. They laugh and sing as they walk up my paths. They want to see the world from my top, just like the birds do. Climbing me is a big adventure. It shows them they can do hard things if they try. I love watching them feel so proud and happy when they touch my snowy hat. I will always be here, standing tall and strong. I am here to remind you to dream big and reach for the clouds.