Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park is one of the best places in Tanzania straddling the country’s border with Kenya, it engulfs a significant feature of Africa Mountain Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa covered in glaciers, it is also the world’s largest standalone peak formed by 3 mountains Mawenzi, Kibo, and Shira, its highest peak is on Kibo known as Uhuru, these are dormant volcanoes, the mountain is one of the best 7 summits of the world, part of the dormant volcanic peaks is considered to still be active and that it can erupt anytime. Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park was gazette in 1973 as a national park by the British government and by 2005 it was regarded as an important UNESCO World Heritage site as a way of protecting the ecosystem.
Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park is home to abundant wildlife, despite it not having as many species compared to the Serengeti National Park or even the Tarangire National Park, the main thing to do while in the ecosystem is climbing the Mountain Kilimanjaro, there are several routes developed for hikers to use to the summit, the different vegetation zones ranging from the farmlands of the Chagga people through the montane forest, to the alpine and glaciers is magical to experience. The conservation area is being managed by the Tanzania Parks Authority.
How to reach Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park can be by road or by flight, the conservation area is located near Moshi one of the busiest tourism centres of Tanzania, it can be easily accessed by road from either Moshi or Arusha, the park is about 2 hours’ drive from the city, the drives can be private drives by a tour operator or using private cars, normally with private cars you will be advised to hire a guide from the park entrance. It is possible to connect from other protected ecosystems along the northern circuit of the country by road for example the Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, and the Ngorongoro conservation area, when it is wise to consider using a 4×4-wheel car to beat the tough terrain of the African wilderness.
By flight, all international flights land at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is the best airport serving both domestic and international flights, popular airlines landing here include Uganda Airlines, and Kenya Airways, to mention a few, domestic flight companies include Precision Air, coastal air, air Tanzania which fly from other destinations like the Seronera airstrip in the Serengeti National Park. Flying is the most convenient way of reaching the national park. To be granted access into the country you will need a Tanzania visa, a valid passport of at least six months to expiry, a travel plan, and a yellow fever vaccination card.
How to reach Kilimanjaro National Park is easier during the dry season, when the park trails are drier and easy to access, that being said it is possible to visit Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park throughout the year.