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Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Overview
Facts
Things to do
Best time
Where to stay
Accessbility
Overview
Kilimanjaro National Park is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, snow caped despite being on the equator and world’s highest free-standing volcano. The park is 1,712Km2, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987 and Natural Wonder of Africa in 2013. One can never forget this lifetime experience of ascending to the summit.
The summit, named Uhuru Point, is 5,895m (19,341 feet) above sea level. It comprises of two dormant volcanoes: Kibo 5,895m and Mawenzi 5,149m and one extinct volcano Shira 3,962m. Mount Kilimanjaro, kibo peak isn’t dead but dormant while Mawenzi and Shira are extinct volcanoes
Weather & Climate
The park is located at an altitude of 5895m with annual average rainfall ranging from 828 mm at alpine desert to 2500 mm at Montane Forest.
There are two rainy seasons in a year.
Wet season: March to May- it rains around the mountain base and snow accumulates on its peak.
Dry season: June to September – the nights are cool and the days completely clear.
Famous for
- Best destination for hiking/ trekking for both first time hiker and experienced because it considered the easiest of the other seven summits.
Interesting Facts
Interesting facts about Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
- It is one of the seven summits. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, making it one of the seven summits.
- Mount Kilimanjaro was first climbed in 1889 by German geologist Hans Meyer, Austrian climber Ludwig Purtscheller and a local guide Yohani Kinyala Lauwo.
Attractions found at Mt.Kilimanjaro
- Mount Kilimanjaro (Uhuru/Kibo) peak
- Shira Plateau
- Montane forest
- Birds and Wild animals
- Lauwo Waterfall
- Maundi Crater
- Kifinika cultural site
- Arrow glacier
- Private Materuni waterfall
Things to do at Mt.Kilimanjaro National Park
- Mountain climbing
- Mountain cycling
- Paragliding
- Bird watching
- Animal viewing
- Walking in Shira plateau and the montane forest
- Cultural tourism in Moshi and neighboring areas.
- Visit Lauwo and Materuni waterfall
- Coffee plantation tour
- Kikuletwa Hot Springs tour.
Best time to visit Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro can be climbed throughout the year, but some months are better to others. The ideal time to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro is during the dry season. Regardless of the season, the likelihood of a significant weather change always exists.
The months of January through early March and June through October are ideal for climbing Kilimanjaro. It’s the most pleasant weather for trekking because of the bright skies, stunning views, and sunshine. As the two main wet seasons, April and November, make the trails more dangerous, we stay away from them.
Where to stay at Mt Kilimanjaro National Park
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Accessbility
The park can be accessed by road or flight via Kilimanjaro International Airport –
Road- it is 86km from Kilimanjaro International Airport to the Park Headquarters and one of the ascending gates are at Marangu. The other entrance gates are Machame, Rongai, Mweka, Londorosi, Lemosho, Kilema, and Umbwe are located around the mountain base and can also be reached by road.
Air: Kilimanjaro International Airport
