National Parks | TANZANIA

Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania

Visit Kilimanjaro National Park for an adventurous wilderness experience with stunning scenery and crafted itineraries, including Mount Kilimanjaro.

Hiking
Big game
Game drives
Canoeing
Hiking
Big game
Game drives
Canoeing

Everything you need to know:

Explore Kilimanjaro National Park, home to majestic elephants, rare birds, and wildebeest herds. With perfect weather year-round, it’s an excellent destination for a unique African experience. Climb the peaks and witness the wildlife migration. Ker & Downey Africa offers expertly curated itineraries for the most memorable and comfortable trip. Kilimanjaro is derived from the Swahili word for mountain ‘Kilima’ and the KiChagga word for white ‘Njaro.’

Where is the reserve located?

Kilimanjaro National Park is a renowned destination situated in the northern region of Tanzania, bordering Kenya at approximately 3.0674° S, 37.3556°E. 

The park covers an extensive area across three inactive volcanoes, namely Shira situated in the west, Kilbo in the middle, and Mawenzi in the east. Kilimanjaro International Airport, situated to the southwest of Kilimanjaro, between the towns of Arusha and Moshi, is the nearest airport to the park.

About the reserve

What type of wildlife will we see?

The park boasts of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, towering at 5,895 metres tall. The panoramic views from this mountain of the plains of Tanzania and Kenya are absolutely breathtaking. 

The park offers more than just rugged mountain peaks and windswept grassy plains as there are several untamed rainforests and impressive ice fields waiting to be explored.

Top experiences to enjoy in Kilimanjaro National Park

If you are interested in adventure travel in Tanzania, we offer exhilarating multi-day Kilimanjaro climbing itineraries. Climbing Kilimanjaro is a once-in-a-lifetime activity that takes at least six days, depending on which of the three main trekking routes you choose. The Lemosho Route crosses the spectacular Shira Plateau over eight days. 

The six-day Machame trek passes through tropical rainforests, endless heather, and moorland to the peak. The Grand Traverse route takes you between the towering Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. We also offer more manageable day-long hikes along the shores of Lake Duluti near Arusha, sheltered from the sun’s rays by the wildlife-rich forest canopy. 

You can explore the culture of the authentic Mto Wa Mbu village, brave the surprisingly choppy waters of Momella Lake in Arusha National Park with a canoe, or spend the day cycling over the rough terrain of the national park on a mountain bike.

When to visit

Kilimanjaro’s favorable location on the equator provides optimal weather condition year-round, however, certain months are better suited for mountain climbing or wildlife tracking activities. Ideally, the dry season between January and March presents a more favorable climbing and hiking condition as it witnesses lesser rainfall. 

For wildlife enthusiasts willing to track elephants and giraffes, planning the journey between June and October is advisable when the wildebeests migrate and the big 5 concentrate around watering holes.

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