The highest mountain in Africa, located in Northeast Tanzania, near the Kenya border. Born of the catastrophic movements in the Earth's crust that created the Great Rift Valley that runs from the Red Sea through Tanzania to Southern Africa, Kilimanjaro is an extinct volcano, and is one of the most massive in the world.
This great mountain creates a micro-climate around itself and the rain-shadow created to the South and East supplies the beautiful and superbly fertile lands. For the adventurous, a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro is a must taking you through the mists of equatorial jungle to reach the snows and breath-taking views from the summit.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park comprises all of the mountain above the tree line and six forest corridors that stretch through the montane forest belt.
The climb up Mount Kilimanjaro is a very rewarding experience, and is a must for fit adventure-seekers. Experienced guides, accompanied by porters, lead visitors to the top of the mountain via various routes, passing through a variety of vegetation - forests, alpine vegetation, semi-desert, moorland - before reaching the icy top. Visitors can arrange such tours from Moshi or Arusha. The climbs can take anywhere from 5-8 days. While the mountain can be climbed all the year round, the most popular time is around December-January. April, May and November should be avoided, because rainfall is heavy at that time.
Mt Kilimanjaro Tanzania is the Everest of Africa, with its summit close to the altitude of Mt. Everest's base camp. Yet Kilimanjaro does not stand out as the highest peak in a snow-capped mountain range. It rises in complete isolation in a land of flat plains grazed by elephants, zebras and other African animals. Few large animals are found in this zone though colobus and blue monkeys can often be seen but other inhabitants such as smaller antelopes an leopards are very shy. Many colourful birds are found here, the most noticeable being the Hornbill and the Turaco with its dark red wing markings. Eagles and buzzards soar high above and smaller birds such as the alpine chat and streaky seed eater can also be seen.
