Kilimanjaro national park safaris 

Kilimanjaro national park safaris 

Kilimanjaro national park safaris  : Kilimanjaro national park is located in the northern part of Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa is found in this national park.

Safaris to Kilimanjaro national park involve activities such as hiking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro which is at an altitude of 5,895 meters. Mount Kilimanjaro is a strato volcano which is also snowcapped.

Kilimanjaro national park is also a UNESCO world heritage site and is also among the natural wonders of Africa. The national park was established by the Tanzania government to protect the mountain. Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) manages the national park and also other wildlife viewing destinations of Tanzania.

Travellers from all over the world visit Kilimanjaro national park to hike Mount Kilimanjaro which is one of the seven summits of the world. The highest point of the mountain is known as the Uhuru peak. The 3 volcanic cones of Mount Kilimanjaro include Kibo, Shira and Mawenzi. Kibo is dormant while Shira and Mawenzi are extinct.

Different routes are used for trekking on the mountain during a safari in Kilimanjaro national park and they include Lemosho route, Machame route, Marangu route, Umbwe route, Rongai route, Shira route and also the northern route.

Each of the hiking routes offers a unique experience during the safari in Kilimanjaro national park and it take about 5 days or more to hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and descend from the mountain depending on the route used for the hiking experience.

You will be accompanied by guide, porter, cooks and a ranger during the hike on Mount Kilimanjaro. The guides, porter, rangers and cooks ensure your safari experience in Kilimanjaro national park is a success from the time you start the ascent to when you return to the entrance gate of the national park.

A safari to Kilimanjaro national park can be organized for you by a tour operator and this ensures every details of your safari to the destination is in order and a successful safari experience in the national park. Planning a safari on your own to the national park can be challenging.

The town of Moshi is the closest to Kilimanjaro national park and is located at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. To access the national park, you can get there by flights to Kilimanjaro international airport or driving from Arusha town during a Tanzania safari in the northern part of Tanzania.

Kilimanjaro national park can be visited at any time of the year for day tours or for a hiking experience to the summit along the different hiking routes of Mount Kilimanjaro. The months which are recommended for hiking include March to October and also January and February and in August and September. The destination can also be visited at any time of the year during a safari in the northern part of Tanzania.

During some months of the year there are many tourists visiting Kilimanjaro national park to engage in various activities like hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro. For an experience with fewer crowds during a safari in the national park, you can visit the destination during the rainy season.

You can visit Kilimanjaro national park and enjoy a closer view of the main attraction in the park which is Mount Kilimanjaro as you hike through the different climatic zones on the mountain which include the bushland zone, the rainforest zone, moorland zone, alpine desert zone and also the arctic zone.

Apart from hiking in Kilimanjaro national park, you can also enjoy wildlife viewing in the lowland forest where wildlife species such as buffalos, elephants, black and white colobus monkeys, elands among others. You can also engage in cultural tours where you interact with the local people such as the Chagga people who practice agriculture on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Hiking to the summit is at the top of the accomplishments of the various travelers who visit Kilimanjaro national park. The hike to the summit starts as early as midnight and by sunrise you can enjoy views from the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is also important to take time to acclimatize before attempting the summit hike.

After a successful visit to Kilimanjaro national park, you can enjoy a wildlife safari to other destinations in the northern part of Tanzania like Serengeti national park, Tarangire national park, Arusha national park, Lake Manyara national park and also the Ngorongoro conservation area.

During a safari to Kilimanjaro national park, there are various accommodations where you can stay and these include budget lodges, midrange and luxury lodges. While hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro, there are huts available when hiking along the Marangu route and these huts include Horombo hut, Kibo hut and Mandara hut. 

Camping is another form of accommodation during hikes on the mountain and if you don’t have the equipment for camping, you can hire the equipment ahead of your hike on Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Visit Kilimanjaro national park and enjoy more than hiking the highest mountain in Africa as you look out for other attractions at the destination during your safari in Tanzania.