Mount Kilimanjaro National Park covers an area of 1668 sq km and is located in northern Tanzania close to the town of Moshi, 200 miles South of the Equator.
The Park has been a game reserve since 1921 and was designated a National Park in 1973. The park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
The rainforest is home to many species of animals and birds including, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo.
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, reaching a height of 5895 meters (19,336 feet). It is a dormant volcano, with the diameter at its base being 40 miles. There are two main snow capped peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi.
The vegetation around and up the mountain is very diverse and varied. Montane forest occurs between 1700 m and 2800m.
From about 2800m to 4000m it is a Semi-Desert where giant groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjari) that seem to guard the heights, are abundant.
Above 4000m the landscape is alpine desert which supports little life other than mosses and lichen. From here to the summit the land gradually changes into barren, bare rock and loose scree slopes.
The summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m), is on the volcanic crater rim, with glaciers on the surrounding slopes and in the crater are several ice fields.
Most people visit the region for the purpose of climbing the mountain. There are six main routes up the mountain ranging in degree of difficulty: