Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Region contains gorgeous national park known as Kilimanjaro National Park, which is located 300 km south of the equator. The park is near the Kenyan border and Moshi town. Kilimanjaro National Park, is located between latitudes 2°50′ and 3°10’S and longitudes 37°10′ and 37°40’E and set on 1,688 kilometers. The major objective of the park, which is protected by Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), is to preserve and protect Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, as well as its habitats, ecology, and wildlife and biodiversity.
Kilimanjaro National Park Authority, or KINAPA, is responsible for protecting and conserving Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 metres. This volcanic peak rises majestically over the surrounding plains, its snowy top rising above the savannah. Numerous endangered kinds of mammals can be found in the park.
Mount Kilimanjaro’s three main volcanic summits are Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It has a snow-capped peak and glaciers, making it the highest mountain in Africa. There are five main vegetation zones on a mountain, from the lowest to the highest: lower slopes, montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert, and summit. A rare mix of attributes, including Mount Kilimanjaro’s height, physical makeup, and snow crown, as well as its isolation from the nearby plains, make it a standout example of a superlative natural phenomena.
History and formation of Kilimanjaro National Park.
Three volcanic cones that were the product of massive continental rifting make up Mount Kilimanjaro. It is thought that volcanic activity first began about 1 million years ago when molten lava started to burst through lithosphere fractures brought on by the crust’s weakening. This lava initially had a low viscosity and spread out to create a base with a gentle slope. The Shira volcanic cone was finally formed as a result of continued eruptions that generated heavier, more viscous lava. Shira Ridge was created when Shira cone collapsed into a massive caldera, which is a cauldron-like hole that is significantly larger than the original volcano. Kilimanjaro’s two more large volcanic cones, Mawenzi and the now dormant Kibo, as well as smaller parasitic cones, were created as a result of eruptions.
After Tanzanian colonisation, Kilimanjaro was a part of German Protectorate in 1885. Hans Meyer reached the peak of Kibo in October 1889, making him the first European to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The phrase “Germany’s highest peak” was actually used at the time. The German colonial administration declared Mount Kilimanjaro and the surrounding woods as a wildlife reserve, and it remained such until it was given to the British as a Protectorate under the League of Nations, where it remained until Tanzanian independence in 1961. Established in 1973, Kilimanjaro National Park covers 1668 square kilometres of the mountain above 800 metres and a forest reserve above the foothills. The entire tropical forest, where specific species discovered on a Mt. Kilimanjaro climbing fieldtrip are found nowhere else on Earth, was added to the 1987 United Nations World Heritage Site designation in 2005. The lower mountain slopes are still farmed by the local Chagga population.
When is the best time to visit Kilimanjaro National Park?Â
The attractions and tourist safari activities you want to partake in the park will determine the best time to visit Kilimanjaro National Park. There are certain seasons that are better for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, despite the fact that temperatures do not fluctuate considerably. The most comfortable hiking conditions are found in January and February, when temperatures are at their highest. Any time of year, with temperatures that are close to or below freezing and chilly winds, it can be extremely cold.
August and September are the driest months, making them ideal for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The coldest months are June and July, therefore the summit may be much colder at those times. Climbing is still a fantastic idea right now. The wettest months are April and May, which are rainy season months. So, stay away from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in those months. During these months, climbing in the rain is possible, but it is riskier, more challenging, and less comfortable.
More animals can survive in the lush tropical rainforests at Kilimanjaro’s foot than in the highlands due to the quantity of water and food, therefore the further you go up the mountain, the less wild animals you will see. Kilimanjaro national park is a home to a wide variety of creatures, including elephants, Cape buffaloes, black rhinos, giraffes, leopards, servals, hyenas, baboons, monkeys, antelopes, aardvarks, mongooses, porcupines, honey badgers, ree hyraxes, and bush babies and ,and many more.
Things to do in Kilimanjaro National Park.Â
Hiking to Uhuru Peak.Â
Kibo/Uhuru summit is one of the three highest peaks in Kilimanjaro National Park. Depending on the path you take up, the hike to Uhuru Peak might take anything from 5 to 8 days. You should be aware that some routes are simple and others are challenging, that some routes require a lot of time to trek while others just require a few days, that some routes are expensive while others are not, and that the majority of routes reward you with a good view of Mount Kilimanjaro and the surrounding wildlife. In light of this, if you’re thinking about climbing to Uhuru Peak, be careful to choose a reasonable and manageable path based on your interest in the views you want to see and your degree of energy.
Bird watching.
More than 179 distinct bird species may be seen in the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, some of which are migratory and others unique to this region. As you climb the mountain through various types of vegetation, you may also witness mountain birds and forest birds. In Kilimanjaro National Park, you can see the Narina trogon, trumpeter hornbill, African pitta, black-shouldered kite, grey hornbill, white checked barbet, African eagles, mouse birds, white-necked raven, local black-shouldered kites, long-tailed kites, and a variety of other species. The rainy season, which lasts from November to April, is the ideal time to go bird watching safari in the park since it attracts migratory birds from Europe and Asia.
Wildlife viewing.
The lush tropical rainforests near Kilimanjaro’s foot are home to more of these species than the mountain’s highlands, therefore the higher you hike or climb the mountain, the less animals you will observe. Vervet monkeys, genet cats, honey badgers, aardvarks, baboons, Columbus monkeys, bush babies, elands, elephants, and other wild species are a few of the creatures that may be found in the Kilimanjaro national park.
Cycling.
Cycling the Kilema path to Africa’s highest peak is another well-liked safari experience in Kilimanjaro national park; there may be an additional cost for this activity. There are three main stations available. You can travel through the Chagga people’s agricultural land by bicycle. However, only seasoned mountain bikers under the guidance of an expert tour leader should perform this practice.
Nature guides walks.Â
Get the chance to get up close and personal with Africa’s wildness, especially in Kilimanjaro National Park, where you may observe and engage with a range of wild animals, insects, and flora species. Visitors can take guided nature walks through the Mount Kilimanjaro forest canopy to see a variety of primates, including red-tailed monkey, olive baboon, and white- and black-faced Columbus monkeys, as well as a wide range of plant species and panoramic views of the Chagga farmlands and nearby settlements. You will be escorted by a park ranger who will watch out for potentially harmful animals as you participate in this wonderful tourist safari activity in Kilimanjaro National Park.
Other visitor safari activities in Kilimanjaro National Park include camping in various places across the park, cultural trips that include going to the Chagga people who live in the vicinity of the park, picnicking, videotaping, and photographing, as well as others.
Where to stay in Kilimanjaro National Park/ Accommodations.
 In order to meet the demands of diverse visitors, Kilimanjaro National Park offers a range of accommodations options, from camping where you may spend the night to huts along the road as you approach the mountain as well as some outstanding lodges that vary from budget, mid-range to luxury lodges. To locate a range of accommodations options, you can choose to drive a short distance to the nearby towns of Moshi and Arusha after viewing and finishing your safari inside the park because they are close to the park. Here are a few of the places to stay that come highly recommended when visiting Kilimanjaro National Park.
Kaliwa lodge, Mai Kilimanjaro home stay, Teule guest house, Pink flamingo, Babylon lodge, Mount Kilimanjaro view lodge, Kilemakyalo Mt. Lodge, Elerai camp, Aishi Machame hotel, Kilimanjaro white house hotel and among others.