Mount Kilimanjaro national park

Mount Kilimanjaro national park : Kilimanjaro national park is a national park which is found in the northern part of Tanzania. In Kilimanjaro national park, the highest mountain in Africa and one of the most popular hiking destinations in Tanzania is found at this location. Mount Kilimanjaro is at an altitude of 5895 meters and is also one of the seven summits of the world.

Hiking is among the major activities which tourists take part in when visiting Kilimanjaro national park and there are different routes which are Machame route, Marangu route, Lemosho route, Shira route, Umbwe route and Rongai route.

Machame route in Kilimanjaro national park is among the best routes for hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. It takes about 7 days to hike along this route and the hike along Machame route starts from Machame gate to Machame camp, Machame camp to Shira 2 camp, Shira 2 camp to Lava tower and then Barranco camp, Barranco camp to Karanga camp, Karanga camp to Barafu camp, Barafu camp to Uhuru peak and back to Mweka camp and then hike back to Mweka gate.

Another route which is used for hiking in Kilimanjaro national park is the Marangu route which is the only route which has hut accommodation at Horombo hut, Kibo hut and Mandara hut. This hike starts from Marangu gate to Mandara hut, Mandara hut to Horombo hut, Horombo hut to Kibo hut, Kibo hut to Uhuru peak and back to Horombo hut and from Horombo hut back to Marangu gate.

Lemosho route is another hiking route which can be used during a tour of Kilimanjaro national park and hikes along this route start on the western part of the mountain. During a hike along this route, you also join the Machame route along the way and descend via the Mweka route. this hike starts from Londrossi gate to Mti Mkubwa camp, Mti Mkubwa camp to Shira 1 camp, Shira 1 camp to Moir hut, Moir hut to Lava tower and then to Barranco camp, Barranco camp to Karanga camp, Karanga camp to Barafu camp, Barafu camp to Uhuru peak and hike to Mweka camp and the last day hike starts from Mweka camp to Mweka gate.

The number of days it takes to get to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro also depends on the route which is used during a safari to Kilimanjaro national park. The least number of days which it takes to get to the Uhuru peak on Mount Kilimanjaro is 5 days which can be along the Marangu route.

Tours to Kilimanjaro national park can also take a shorter time like 4 days and day tours can also be carried out when visiting the national park. These day hikes can be done along the Marangu route and the Lemosho route.

During tours in Kilimanjaro national park, wildlife species like black and white colobus monkeys, forest elephants, buffalos and also antelopes can also be encountered along the way especially in the rainforest zone. There are also different bird species found in Kilimanjaro national park which can be seen during a tour.

Hikers can also enjoy beautiful views as they hike through the different climatic zones on the mountain like the bush land zone, rainforest zone, moorland zone, alpine desert zone and also the arctic zone.

When hiking Mount Kilimanjaro during a tour in Tanzania, the hikers are accompanied by a crew of guides, potters and a chef who ensure that the hike is successful and everything is set up for the hike.

Other attractions which can be seen around Kilimanjaro national park include waterfalls like Marangu waterfalls. The national park is also made up of forests, moorland and the mountain in this national park is also snowcapped.

Apart from being a snow capped mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro is also a strato volcano with 3 volcanic cones such as Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi. The highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro is Uhuru peak which is found on Kibo. It is important to plan and be well prepared before taking on the hike on Mount Kilimanjaro in order to hike up to the summit and descend successfully.

Tanzania National Park’s Authority manages Kilimanjaro national park and other national parks of Tanzania. Some of the national parks in the northern part of Tanzania include Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park and also Arusha national park which are good locations to take part in wildlife viewing experiences during any month of the year as you search for wildlife species like elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, elands, antelopes, giraffes, impalas, gazelles, kudu, waterbucks, hyenas, cheetahs, rhinos, buffalos, hippos, hartebeests and many others.

When visiting Kilimanjaro national park, tourists can also interact with the locals who live at the foothills of the mountain and also in the neighboring towns like Moshi town. The Chagga people are among the people who live at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and they have a unique way of life and during an interaction with the Chagga, you can enjoy the local food and learn how to prepare the food, taste the local banana beer which is known as Mbege. The Chagga are also farmers and during tours to their villages, you can also visit the plantations.

How to get to Kilimanjaro national park

Kilimanjaro national park can be accessed by flights to Kilimanjaro international airport which is a short drive to the national park. Another way to access the national park is by driving from Arusha town or Moshi town.

Safaris to Kilimanjaro national park can also be combined with tours to other destinations around the northern part of Tanzania. The best time for hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro is during the dry season from June to October when the weather is favorable and the trails for hiking are also in good conditions for hiking.

Some people however also visit Kilimanjaro national park for hikes during the rainy season around March to May and also in November although they are usually few in numbers since it is the low season and the trails for hiking are usually slippery.

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