Kilimanjaro National Park covers an area of 1,864sq km (720sq miles) of Africa’s highest mountain, extending from m1,824m (6,000ft) to the summit at 5,894m (19,340ft). At lower altitudes the Park consists of mountain rain forest, giving way to scrub-there is no bamboo zone on Kilimanjaro-then alpine moorland and finally icefields.

Easiest access to the mountain is from Marangu on the southern slopes, whence the Marangu mountain track, passable for four-wheel-drive vehicles, leads to the upper edge of the forest at 3,895m (9,500ft). There are huts on the mountain for mountain climbers and hotels at Marangu.

The most interesting mammal in the mountain forest is Abbot’s Duiker, an extremely local and uncommon antelope restricted to a few mountain forests in northern Tanzania. In addition Elephant, Buffalo, Black Rhinoceros, Eland, Leopard, Black and White Colobus and Blue Monkey occur in the Park.

Of special note among Kilimanjaro birds in the alpine zone are Lammergeyer, Mountain Chat and Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird. Back to Tanzania National Parks

• 7 days Mount Kilimanjaro Hiking/Climbing Using the Machame Route
• 8 days Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing/Hiking Safari Using the  Marangu Route

• Serengeti national park
• Ngorongoro crater conservation area
• Kilimanjaro national park
• Tarangire national park
• Lake Manyara national Park
• Selous game reserve