Kilimanjaro National Park is located in Tanzania after the busy town of Moshi and prominently known to offer remarkable Trekking/ Hiking Adventures to all travelers from all over the globe. The Park is known for the majestic Mountain Kilimanjaro with the highest point in Africa (Uhuru peak). The park offers unforgettable climbing adventures with diverse ecosystems, rich biodiversity and beautiful terrain landscapes. The Park is ideal for nature lovers, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Overview of Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park is located in the North Eastern part of Tanzania close to Moshi Town that acts as the gateway to the park. The park covers an area of 1,688 square kilometers (652 square miles) and surrounds Mount Kilimanjaro elevated at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level.

The park was founded in 1973 to initially protect Mount Kilimanjaro’s ecosystem i.e rainforests, alpine meadows, glaciers, flora and fauna animal species which stay within the zones.

Key Features of Kilimanjaro National Park

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is the most prominent safari attraction in the park attracting many travelers from all over the world interested in hiking the majestic Mountain (Africa’s highest Mountain).

The Mountain is a free standing peak with a snow capped peak (Uhuru) that is worth exploring by all hikers from all over the world.

The mountain comprises of three volcanic cones i.e Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. The trek to the summit is challenging but offers hikers the chance to experience a wide variety of ecosystems, from tropical rainforests at the base to alpine deserts near the summit.

Diverse Ecosystems

Kilimanjaro National Park’s ecosystems vary from dense tropical rainforests at lower elevations to alpine deserts at higher altitudes. Along the mountain are a variety of flora and fauna which travelers experience as they get to the top. The vegetation changes as you ascend through the varying ecological zones which include;

• Rainforest Zone (800 to 3,000 meters) consists of verdant greenery, mosses and waterfalls. It is home to various species of birds, monkeys and other wildlife.
• Heather and Moorland Zone (3,000 to 4,000 meters) includes heather shrubs, giant groundsel and lobelia. While hiking through this zone, hikers begin to feel the effects of altitude as you watch the endangered colobus monkeys.
• Alpine Desert Zone (4,000 to 5,000 meters) includes a barren terrain landscape with sparse vegetation, mainly low shrubs, grasses and moss. As hikers continue to the summit, the temperature drops significantly and the air becomes thinner.
• Arctic Summit Zone (above 5,000 meters) is cold and snowy with glaciers and icefields despite being located close to the equator.

Flora and Fauna

Kilimanjaro National Park includes various plant and animal species which can be seen. At lower elevations, the rainforest includes plants such as orchids, ferns and giant trees like the African pencil cedar. As you ascend, the vegetation becomes more sparse, but the park is still home to unique plants like the giant groundsel and lobelia.

Various wildlife animals can be watched too in the park and these include; elephants, buffalo, leopards, giraffes, black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys. You can also watch birds like the Kirk’s dik-dik, white-necked ravens and various species of hornbills, eagles, and vultures. There are also insects like  butterflies and bees.

Activities in Kilimanjaro National Park

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Initially, Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the most prominent safari adventure in the park and getting to the highest point Uhuru, you shall need to follow varying hiking routes which include

• Marangu Route known as the “Coca-Cola” route. This is the most popular offering hut accommodation along the way.
• Machame Route also referred to as the “Whiskey” route is one of the most scenic and challenging routes, with camping along the way.
• Lemosho Route is a more remote and scenic route, known for its beautiful terrain landscapes and less crowds. hence offering hikers a quiet and rewarding hike to the top of the Mountain at Uhuru.
• Rongai Route is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the North offering hikers a less crowded ascent.
• Umbwe Route is a short yet difficult route to follow to the top of the Mountain requiring travelers to be physically fit to get to Uhuru.

Getting to the summit (Uhuru Peak) takes climbers/ hikers approximately 5 to 10 Days depending on the physical fitness of the group. It also depends on the route taken and the acclimatization.

Wildlife Viewing

While hiking the majestic Mountain, you shall watch various wildlife animals like elephants, buffalo, monkeys as well as bird species as they fly around their natural vegetation habitat.

Cultural Experiences

While at Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, travelers can engage in cultural encounters as they visit the local communities of the Chaga people who have a rich history and culture related to the Mountain Peak. On reaching their communities, engage in cultural tours, visiting villages and learning about the traditions, history and daily life of these people.

Best Time to Visit Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park can be visited anytime around the year by travelers although the best time to visit and climb the Mountain is during the months of June to October and December to February. During these months, the weather is clear, rainfall is less making navigation along the trails easier as well as photography which is clearer.