Welcome to Kilimanjaro National Park, popular with both – experienced hikers and the first-time adventurers because it’s the easiest of the seven summits.

About Kilimanjaro National Park

Covering an area of some 75,575 ha, Kilimanjaro National Park protects the largest free-standing volcanic mass in the world and the highest mountain in Africa, rising 4877m above surrounding plains to 5895m at its peak.

With its snow-capped peak and glaciers, it is the highest mountain in Africa.

Famous for:

Mount Kili is very popular with both experienced hikers and first-time adventurers because it is considered to be the easiest of the seven summits.

Kilimanjaro is not only Africa’s tallest peak, it is also the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.

Interesting Facts

It is one of the seven summits. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, making it one of the seven summits. Here are the seven summits in order from highest to lowest.

1. Asia: Everest (29,035’/8850m)
2. South America: Aconcagua (22,834’/6960m)
3. North America: Denali (20,310’/6,190m)
4. Africa: Kilimanjaro (19,340’/5895m)
5. Europe: Elbrus (18,513’/5642m)
6. Oceania: Carstensz Pyramid (16,023’/4884m).

Mount Kilimanjaro

• Kilimanjaro stands on its own. Kilimanjaro is not only Africa’s tallest peak, but also the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. The summit, named Uhuru Point, is 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level.
• The mountain is on the equator, yet it has glaciers on its top.
• Three volcanoes created it, – Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.
• Kibo is the tallest cone and also the central cone. This is where Kilimanjaro’s summit lies. It was formed 460,000 years ago.
• Mawenzi is a craggy peak that ranks as the third highest peak in Africa, after Kibo and Mount Kenya (12,549’/3825m). You will have good views of Mawenzi on the Rongai and Northern Circuit routes.
• Shira is no longer a peak. It is estimated to have been about 16,000 feet high before it collapsed, creating the Shira Plateau on the western side of the mountain. The Machame, Lemosho and Shira routes trek across this feature.

Stratovolcano

• Kilimanjaro isn’t dead, it is dormant. Mount Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano – a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock. Shira and Mawenzi are extinct volcanoes, meaning that there is no activity underneath these cones. In short, they are cut off from their supply of lava.
• Mount Kilimanjaro was first climbed in 1889 by German geologist Hans Meyer, Austrian climber Ludwig Purtscheller and a local guide Yohani Kinyala Lauwo.

Best Time to Visit Kilimanjaro National Park

The best times to climb Kilimanjaro are the months of January through early March and June through October. The clear skies, great views, and sunshine make it the best comfortable hiking conditions.

However, there is always the possibility of weather changing dramatically, regardless of the season.

You can climb Kilimanjaro at any time of the year, but certain months are better than others. We recommend best to climb Mount Kilimanjaro during the dry months.

We avoid April and November as these are the main rainy seasons, making the trails more dangerous.

Getting There

To get to Kilimanjaro you need to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO): which is served daily by many airlines. The closest major cities to Kilimanjaro National Park are the city of Arusha and the town of Moshi. Depending on where you are travelling from, you can usually fly direct to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) via the Gulf (Qatar airlines, Emirates) or via Europe (KLM). Follow this link for flight option:

Alternatively, you can fly into Tanzania’s capital, Dar-Es-Salaam (DAR), for a short internal flight to (JRO), or to Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) airport for a connection to JRO (Kenya Airways, Precision Air).

Things to See in Kilimanjaro National Park

• Mountain  Kilimanjaro
• Uhuru peak
• Kikuletwa hot spring (maji moto)
• Kilimanjaro summit
• Mont shira
• Kibo peak
• Chagga museum
• Ndoro waterfalls
• Mawenzi peak
• Marangu falls kinukamori
• Arrow glacier
• Lemosho route
• Maundi crater
• Chagga villages in mount kilimanjaro cycling day trip
• Private Materuni waterfall

Things to Do

• Hike to Materuni Waterfall and swim in its pool.
• Go on a Kilimanjaro coffee plantation tour.
• Take a dip in Kikuletwa Hot Springs.
• Explore the treasures of Moshi.
• Visit Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village.
• Mountain bike or hike in Rau Forest Reserve.
• Climb kibo peak.
• Walk with shira plateau.
• Witness chala crater lake.
• Bird watching
• Animal viewing
• Hiking to Uhuru peak

Mid-range accommodation:

Babylon lodge,  Chanya lodge, Mount Kilimanjaro view lodge, Barafu hut campsite, Barranco campsite, Kibo crater campsite

Luxury hotels:

Kilimanjaro white house hotel, Panama garden resort, Kaliwa lodge.

If you liked Kilimanjaro National Park, you might also like Ruaha National Park.

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