Wildlife in Kilimanjaro national park

Wildlife in Kilimanjaro national park : Kilimanjaro national park is among the destinations which are found in the northern part of Tanzania. This national park is not as highly visited for wildlife viewing compared to other destinations of Tanzania. Kilimanjaro national park is more known for climbing on Mount Kilimanjaro which is the highest mountain in Africa.

Spotting of wildlife species during a hiking excursion on Mount Kilimanjaro is not a guarantee. The various wildlife species found in Kilimanjaro national park can be seen around the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and they include elands, colobus monkeys, serval cats, duikers, hyrax, white tailed mongoose, bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys among others.

Wildlife species can also be spotted during hiking experiences on Mount Kilimanjaro along the Marangu route, at the start of Lemosho route, Shira route and Rongai route around the rainforest area.

Different bird species can also be seen during safaris to Kilimanjaro national park and they include sunbirds that can be spotted around the heath and moorland, around the Karanga valley, silvery cheeked hornbills, ravens, abbot starlings among others.

The type of vegetation which is found in Kilimanjaro national park consist of bushland zone, rainforest zone, moorland zone, alpine desert zone and the arctic zone. The montane forest is home to a variety of wildlife species such as primates, carnivores, antelopes among others. this is because of the presence of food and water for the wildlife around the lush rainforests.

Above the tree line in Kilimanjaro national park wildlife species which can be spotted include hyrax, duikers, elands, bushbucks and forest duikers. Primates which are found in the montane forest in the national park include black and white colobus monkeys and the blue monkeys. About 128 species of mammals were recorded in the national park.

The different wildlife species that are spotted around Kilimanjaro national park roam freely. Using the Rongai route, wildlife species such as elephants can be spotted and this is on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The higher you hike on Mount Kilimanjaro however, the lesser the chances of seeing wildlife species. There are however no predators that have been sighted around Kilimanjaro national park during hiking safaris at the destination.

Solitary wildlife species such as serval cats can also be spotted during Tanzania safaris to Kilimanjaro national park and can be spotted as they hunt. The forested area of the national park is also home to the tree hyrax which lives among the trees.

In the heavily wooded areas of Kilimanjaro national park, wildlife species which can be spotted include the duikers which can be spotted from their diving like movement as they leap from the bushes.

Apart from the different wildlife and bird species found in Kilimanjaro national park, tourists also engage in hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro and this is done along different hiking routes such as Marangu route, Lemosho route, Machame route, Rongai route, Shira route, the northern route, and Umbwe route.

It takes about 6 days or more to hike to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and this depends on the hiking route which is used. Marangu route is the only one with hut accommodation during hiking on the mountain.

A visit to Kilimanjaro national park can also involve interacting with the local community that live around the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro such as the Chagga people. The Chagga practice agriculture on the slopes of the mountain and they have plantations that cover about 12% of the forested area on the mountain.

Neighboring Mount Kilimanjaro species can also be spotted in Amboseli national park which lies at the foot of the mountain in Kenya and these the species can be seen during a climb using the Rongai route.

Another destination is located close to Mount Kilimanjaro is Mount Meru which is another hiking destination of Tanzania that is also home to wildlife species such as giraffes, water buffalos, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, bush bucks, dik dik and many other wildlife species. Mount Meru is among the attractions found in Arusha national park.

During safaris to Kilimanjaro national park, guides, porters, cooks also accompany tourists as they engage in their hiking safaris on Mount Kilimanjaro and spot wildlife species along their way through the rainforest.

Visit Kilimanjaro national park and enjoy hiking and also spotting various wildlife and bird species during your safari in Tanzania.