Explore Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park, officially gazetted in 1973 and opened for tourism in 1977, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and was recognized as a Natural Wonder of Africa in 2013. Spanning 1,712 km², the park is renowned for its diverse landscapes, from lush montane forests to icy glaciers atop the mountain's peaks. Dominating the park is Mount Kilimanjaro, with Kibo (5,895m) as the highest, snow-capped year-round despite being near the equator. Mawenzi (5,149m) offers a rugged, technical climb, while Shira (3,962m) features a scenic plateau that supports large migratory mammals like elephants, buffaloes, and elands. The park is divided into five eco-climatic zones that mirror a journey from the tropics to the Arctic, with changing vegetation and climates as altitude increases. A rich montane forest belt, between 1,800m and 2,800m, is home to unique plant species including the endemic flower-Impatiens kilimanjari. Over 179 bird species and 140 types of mammals, including rare primates and endemic species like elephant shrew-Myosorex zinkii, thrive in the park’s varying zones. Sacred to the local Chagga people, especially along the Marangu route, Kilimanjaro also holds cultural significance, having been a site for traditional rituals