Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is one of the best places in Tanzania, it is home to Africa’s highest Mount Kilimanjaro rising 5895 meters above sea level it is made up of 3 peaks and the highest point of the Kibo Peak is known as Uhuru, the mountain is very popular for both experienced and unexperienced hikers and has been named among the 7 best summits to hike in the world, it is the only snow-capped mountain and the only free standalone mountain of the world placed about 205 miles away from the equator. The mountain’s beautiful ecological zones have been protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park engulfs the Mountain Kilimanjaro, it is majorly comprised of a beautiful lush green montane forest covering an area space of approximately 75,575 ha, the park was established in 1973 as a way of protecting the world’s largest volcanoes, there are different vegetation zones of the conservation area ranging from the cultivated zone of the Chagga people growing Bananas and coffee, a tropical lush green forest, with a rich biodiversity of trees, plants, and flowers, Heath and moorland, alpine desert zone and the Artic zone this is the highest zone of the region towards the acacia, most of animal species and birds are found within the montane forest area.
Wildlife in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park includes African elephants, African buffaloes, leopards, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, forest elephants, and giant forest hogs to mention a few, despite these being present in the park some are super rare to see, the park hosts more than 300 species of birds, for example abbots starling, African fish eagles, African harrier hawks, among others.
Things to do in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park include climbing the mountain Kilimanjaro, this is the highlight of your African safari to the conservation area, the climb takes 6-7 days to reach the summit, it is most recommendable for experienced hikers, and the summit of the mountain is one of the best challenges in Africa, rumour has it that most of the hikers fail to make it to the top of the mountain. It is best hiked during the dry season between December-February and June-September.
Birding in Mountain Kilimanjaro national park, the ecosystems home to more than 150species of birds some of the bird types are restricted to the region while others tend to be migratory species, example bird types that one can spot here include the African fish eagles, hornbills, long-tailed trogon to mention a few, birds are best seen during the wet season with an experienced guide.
Guided nature walks through the well-distributed trails of the national park, are sparked off with a briefing from the game rangers after which you are accompanied into the lush green forest, tourists will have a chance to get in close contact with tree species on a lucky day you might be chanced to see animals it is more of birds and butterflies in the national park.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is best visited during the dry season between December –and February and June to October, it is also referred to as a high tourism season in the park and the country as well, there is available accommodation around the park areas ranging from the best budget to luxury. It can be easily accessed by air, the main airport serving the region is the Kilimanjaro International Airport.
In conclusion trips to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park can be conducted together with those of the other parks of northern Tanzania for example the Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and the Tarangire National Park.