Kilimanjaro national park

Kilimanjaro national park is a destination which is found in the northern part of Tanzania along the border with Kenya. The highest mountain in Africa which is Mount Kilimanjaro is also found in the national park and is a major attraction at the destination. Mount Kilimanjaro is at a height of 5895 meters and is among the seven summits of the world.

During tours to Kilimanjaro national park, there are a number of activities which are carried out at the destination and they include hiking which is done around the six different routes such as Marangu route, Lemosho route, Machame route, Rongai route, Umbwe route and the Shira route.

Hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro can be carried out at different times of the year and when hiking about 5 days are the minimum number of days to hike to the summit and back. The duration of the hike however depends on the route which is used for hiking since time is needed for acclimatization and this also increases the success rate for hikes on Kilimanjaro.

Guides, porters and cooks go with tourists during their hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro national park is made up of the cultivated zone or bush land zone, rainforest zone, moorland zone, alpine desert zone and also the arctic zone.

Wildlife viewing can also be carried out during safaris in Kilimanjaro national park and these wildlife species which can be spotted include colobus monkeys, elephants, buffalos and also antelopes. the wildlife at this destination are not so many and can be spotted around the bush land and rainforest zone but if you want to engage in a wildlife experience during a safari to Tanzania, tourists can visit any of the other safari parks in the northern part of Tanzania such as Serengeti national park where the wildebeest migration can be seen, Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park, the Ngorongoro conservation area and also around Arusha national park.

Different bird species can also be seen during the tours around Kilimanjaro national park and they include hornbills, starlings, crowned eagles, vultures, sunbirds among others.

Attractions which can be seen around Kilimanjaro national park include waterfalls such as Marangu waterfalls, among others which can be seen during tours around the destination. These waterfalls can also be visited during day tours that are carried out on Mount Kilimanjaro along the different hiking routes.

Many tourists visiting Kilimanjaro national park strive to hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro which is the Uhuru peak. Uhuru peak is considered the highest point in Africa and it is found on Kibo which is among the volcanic cones found on Mount Kilimanjaro and other volcano cones found on the mountain include Mawenzi and Shira.

Mount Kilimanjaro is also a UNESCO world heritage site and is also a snowcapped mountain. Kilimanjaro national park is managed by Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) which maintains the national park and also regulates the park fees and other costs charged to tourists visiting the national park.

Kilimanjaro national park entrance fees

Park entrance fees for Kilimanjaro national park are as follows excluding the 18% tax charged;

Non East African citizens visiting Kilimanjaro national park during safaris in Tanzania are charged park entrance fee of 70 USD for those above the age of 16 years while children aged between 5 and 15 years are charged entrance fee of 20 USD.

Expatriates or residents visiting Kilimanjaro national park are charged park entrance fee of 35 USD for adults above the age of 16 years while children aged between 5 and 15 years are charged entrance fee of 10 USD during safaris around the destination.

Tanzanians and East African citizens visiting Kilimanjaro national park are charged park entrance fee of 10,000 Tanzania shillings for those above the age of 16 years while children aged between 5 and 15 years are charged park entrance fee of 2,000 Tanzania shillings.

Around Mount Kilimanjaro

When visiting Kilimanjaro national park, the nearest town to the destination is Moshi town. The locals around Moshi act as guides during Tanzania tours to the destination and have greatly benefited from tourism around Mount Kilimanjaro.

Another activity which is carried out by the locals like the Chagga people is agriculture which is done on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and some of the crops which are grown include bananas, coffee, cassava, maize among others.

After completing a tour around Kilimanjaro national park, tourists can visit other parks around the northern part of Tanzania or visit Zanzibar island and enjoy a holiday relaxing along the white sand beaches.

When to visit Kilimanjaro national park

Kilimanjaro national park is a safari destination in Tanzania which can be visited at any time of the year. The best time to visit the national park is during the dry season around June to October when the weather is good and the hiking conditions are favorable and tourists can enjoy beautiful views during their hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro.

During the rainy season around March, April and May and around November a few hikers visit Kilimanjaro national park for tours due to the rains which make it difficult to hike along the different trails on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Where to stay during tours to Kilimanjaro national park

There are different places to stay during tours to Kilimanjaro national park and during hikes on the mountain, there are different campsites to stay at and these vary depending on the route which is used for hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Marangu route is the only hiking route on Mount Kilimanjaro which has hut accommodation at Kibo hut, Mandara hut and Horombo hut. Other campsites to stay at when visiting Kilimanjaro national park include Machame camp, Shira camp, Barranco camp, Barafu camp, Mweka camp, Mti Mkubwa campsite, Simba campsite, Kikelewa campsite, Karanga camp, Umbwe camp among others.

In the neighboring town of Moshi, there are luxury accommodations, midrange accommodations and also budget accommodations to stay at during their tours to Kilimanjaro national park.

Visit Tanzania and explore Kilimanjaro national park and enjoy an unforgettable experience during your safari.