Mount Kilimanjaro is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is located in Tanzania along the northern border of Kenya and covers an area of 1,688 km², which includes the montane forest that surrounds the mountain. On a clear day, the slopes and shimmering snowy peak of Kilimanjaro can be seen above the clouds.
Kilimanjaro National Park is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the highest peak in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. The summit – Uhuru Peak – stands at an altitude of 5,895 meters and is part of the Kibo cone, which is one of three volcanic cones found on the mountain. The other two cones are Shira and Mawenzi.
Mount Kilimanjaro is located near the town of Moshi and is a protected area. The mountain’s ecosystems are as strikingly beautiful as they are varied and diverse. On the lowland slopes, much of the mountain is farmland, with coffee, banana, cassava, and maize crops. Once inside the park, thick lowland forest covers the lower altitudes and breaks into alpine meadows once the air begins to thin. Near the peak, the landscape is harsh and barren, with rocks and ice as the predominant features.
Wildlife is not abundant in this area; however, elephants, leopards, and buffalo may be seen in the montane forest as well as colobus monkeys.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the highlight of most travellers’ experiences while visiting Tanzania. Few other mountains can claim the grandeur and the breath-taking views that Kilimanjaro offers. From the panoramas over Amboseli National Park in Kenya, to the Great Rift Valley and the Masaai Steppe, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is without a doubt the adventure of a lifetime! And if paced well, anyone from seasoned trekkers to first-time enthusiasts can scale her snowy peak.
