Kilimanjaro National Park is located in Tanzania Kilimanjaro district along the northern border shared with Kenya. Its 652 square miles (1,688 square kilometers) of size encompasses the montane forest that encircles Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, is located in Kilimanjaro National Park. It reaches a maximum height of 19,341 feet (5,895 m) above sea level at Uhuru Peak. Uhuru peak is part of the Kibo cone, which is one of three volcanic cones found on the mountain.
In contrast to other national parks, Mount Kilimanjaro and its surroundings are special because the region between its base and peak is home to nearly all of the ecosystems. With a climb up the mountain taking visitors through farmed land, rainforest, heath, moorland, and alpine desert, the summit offers an arctic habitat.
The Seven Summits, which are comprised of the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, include Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the easiest to climb. As a result, Mount Kilimanjaro is the mountain that is climbed the most frequently.
The peak can be climbed using seven distinct official routes. The Marangu route, which features communal sleeping huts, is regarded as the simplest and most popular. The most frequent cause of summit failure is inability to adjust to the altitude. The peak was scaled by seven-year-olds and 89-year-olds, respectively.
Although there isn’t a lot of wildlife here, it is possible to spot elephants, leopards, and buffalo in the montane forest. These sightings shouldn’t be expected when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The western black and white colobus monkeys, who hop from tree to tree, are one of the exciting wildlife sightings.
PARK PROTECTION
The tallest peak in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world are both protected by Kilimanjaro National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. The habitats of species like the colobus monkey are also protected by the park. The national park was created by the Tanzanian government to preserve this natural wonder’s clean and majestic state for upcoming generations.
HIGHLIGHTS
Any visitor cannot help but be in amazement when they watch Mount Kilimanjaro emerge from the clouds. Although this is a highlight in and of itself, climbing the mountain is an unforgettable experience for everyone who does so.
MOUNT KILIMANJARO
The Rooftop of Africa is a common nickname for Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. The mountain has several summits, with Uhuru Peak standing as the highest elevation. The mountain’s prominence as the tallest free-standing mountain in the world and the tallest mountain in Africa helped it achieve this classification.
At 19,341 feet (5,895 m), Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit, also known as Uhuru Peak, and a portion of the Mawenzi volcanic cone are located. Mawenzi, which rises to 16,893 feet (5,149 m), and Shira, which is lower at 13,140 feet (4,005 m), are two other volcanic cones. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, although Kibo is dormant and could erupt in the future. Moreover, Kibo, which spans 15 miles, is the tallest and largest of the three volcanic cones (24 km).
Even if you are one of the climbers who succumbs to altitude sickness or potential weariness and does not reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the ascent is still an incredible experience. Travelers will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding plains as they ascend the peak.
A hike to the peak gives a visitor the chance to encounter practically all natural systems in a single expedition. Agricultural areas, a tropical rainforest, heaths, moorland, an alpine desert, and an arctic peak are among the ecosystems.
KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK TRAILS
When discussing routes, you are actually discussing ascent routes up the mountain. The opportunity to go to the summit is offered by seven distinct paths.
- Southern Routes: The three routes that ascent from the south are Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe.
- Western Routes: The three routes that ascend from the west are Lemosho, Shira, and the Northern Circuit.
- Northern Route: The Rongai route is the only one that ascends from the north.
One of the more popular routes for regular visitors is the Marangu Route, also known as the Coca-Cola Route. Along the way, there are sleeping cabins and one of the more gentle slopes. It is the most well-known and historic path.
Each year, over 25,000 individuals try to make the ascent. The main obstacles to a successful climb are altitude sickness and fatigue. About 66% of people who try to climb Mount Kilimanjaro succeed.
HOW DO I GET TO KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK?
Flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport is the easiest way to get to Kilimanjaro National Park. It takes roughly 90 minutes to travel 75 kilometers from the airport to the park. When you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you can reach the park in a few hours by car.
From Tanzania’s primary airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport, you could choose to drive there. The largest city in the nation, Dar es Salaam, which is situated on the country’s eastern coast, is only a short distance from the airport. The drive by automobile from Kilimanjaro National Park to Dar es Salaam takes roughly nine hours.
As an alternative, you could fly into Nairobi, Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. While it’s only 200 kilometers to the south, you will unavoidably need to obtain a visa for Kenya and pass through border control to enter Tanzania.
WE’LL PICK YOU FROM THE AIRPORT.
We will pick you up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) if you decide to climb Kilimanjaro with Focus East Africa Tours.
WHAT WILDLIFE IS IN KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK?
Kilimanjaro has an abundance of fascinating fauna, especially considering that it has five distinct biological bands, which provide a variety of settings for various animal species. Elephants, leopards, giraffes, buffaloes, hyenas, and numerous antelopes can be found in the lower area.
The rainforest zone is the biological zone that offers the most exciting opportunities for wildlife viewing. The monkeys are the main attraction here, especially the rare black-and-white colobus. Watch out for small duikers and klipspringers as well. Moreover, keep an eye out for Jackson’s chameleon, also known as the three-horned chameleon. In Kili’s rainforest, black and white colobus monkeys are frequently spotted.
You can expect to encounter rare and beautiful birds like Hartlaub’s turacos, silvery-cheeked hornbills, African pittas, malachite sunbirds, and African pygmy kingfishers in the jungle.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK
Although Kilimanjaro is reachable throughout the entire year, the weather there is unpredictable and difficult to forecast. The two primary seasons typically last from December through March and June through October, with an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius in Moshi and summit temperatures of about 7 degrees C. But from late June to early October, the dry season, is the greatest time for climbing. Rainfall typically occurs in April, May, and November, although due to climate change, it can occasionally happen earlier or later. As the northern side of the mountain is more protected during the rains, we advise using the Rongai route.
It’s fantastic to combine your trip to Tanzania with a visit to the famed Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and/or the Serengeti National Park, which is home to the largest concentration of lions in Africa and hosts “The Great Migration“ of wildebeests and zebra.
Few places are as well-known or have the ability to display the majesty of our planet in such a conspicuous way as Mount Kilimanjaro, and Focus East Africa Tours offers safaris leaving from Arusha and Moshi traveling to Mt. Kilimanjaro, West Kilimanjaro, and other spectacular Tanzania parks.
Please get in touch with us and let us know what you want to see and do in Tanzania if you want to take on the challenge of climbing the highest mountain in Africa. You won’t put down a deposit until you are confident that the tour is everything you could have hoped for! We will create a custom itinerary just for you!
