Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park, in the East African country of Tanzania, is home to the continent’s highest mountain, snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro. Around the base of its tallest peak, relatively accessible hiking trails wind through rainforest inhabited by colobus monkeys and past the volcanic caldera of Lake Chala. Approaching the summit of Uhuru Peak, the slopes steepen and are studded with glacial ice fields.

Main Attractions in Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park is a beautiful area around the highest peak of Africa. Some of its main attractions are:

Fulfill your dream and hike to the summit of the world’s highest free-standing mountain
After you finished your trek to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro National Park you can spoil your body by having a dip in the nearby Kikuletwa hot springs
Immerse yourself in the local Chagga culture and visit the Chagga Live Museum and the nearby Chagga caves
Relax at the beautiful crater Lake Chala, on the north-eastern

Summit the highest peak of Africa, Kilimanjaro National Park

Mount Kilimanjaro has lured thousands of people young and old, from far and wide to reach its summit since the first recorded ascent by Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller, and a local guide called Lauwo in 1889.

There are 6 routes to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, with some routes partially overlapping the final stages and the Mweka route only used for the descent. Most people take between 6 and 8 days to reach the summit and come back down again, depending on route choice and fitness level.

The most popular routes are the Marangu, Rongai Route, and the Machame route. The Marangu Route is the only one that offers the option of sleeping in huts every night. The Machame route is considered one of the most scenics and has a good acclimatization profile.

The Machame is presently the most popular route despite its higher degree of difficulty, so you can expect to not be the only one climbing.

Guides are compulsory and porters are available to turn this trek into a less arduous journey, even carrying portable toilets on the more luxurious tours. You do not need crampons and oxygen. However, falls, rock slides and altitude sickness can be fatal and should be considered seriously. Take as long as possible to make your ascent and use the advice of your guide and go ‘pole pole’, meaning slowly in Swahili.

The Kikuletwa hot springs after your hike to the top of Kilimanjaro

Post climb you can soak your weary legs in the hot spring pools at Kikuletwa. Surrounded by large fig trees, it is a true natural oasis.

Cultural visits near Kilimanjaro

The Chagga people traditionally live in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. If you are interested to find out more about this local tribe you can visit the Chagga Live Museum and the nearby Chagga caves.

Relax at Lake Chala

You can relax after your hike to the top of Kilimanjaro National Park by taking a dip in Lake Chala, a crater lake on the south-eastern side of Kilimanjaro national park. Or experience the birdlife there whilst out for a paddle.

Get Direction

Information for visitors

How To Get There ?

Kilimanjaro has an international airport with flights directly coming from many countries. Another option is to fly to Arusha airport. Most accommodation is in or near Arusha town and many trips to the top of Africa start there.

Book your cheap flight to Kilimanjaro with us today and feel what it is like to stand on top of the world.

Drive to Kilimanjaro NP

From Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport you will have to drive to the start of your hike. From the gate of the national park, you can start the hike to the top.

Depending on the route you take to the top, there are several villages that can be used as a base as well, for example, Marangu village which sits not far from the start of the most popular Marangu route.

Best Time To Visit

The cool, dry months of spring from June to October and the hot and dry summer months of December to February are the best times to visit.

High season

Any time of the year is a great time to visit the Serengeti National Park. The months from June to October are ideal for predator viewing. If you want to see a specific event of the annual migration, you can plan your trip according to the best months to experience it.

Low season

The low season in the Serengeti is the long rains period in April and May as this is the time most people avoid. Some areas in the Serengeti might become harder to get to, or sometimes impassable if tracks become waterlogged due to heavy rains.

The best time to see the annual wildebeest migration in the Serengeti National Park

The wildebeest migration in the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is an annual loop and is continuous. It is ‘not happening’.

February and March

Most people say it starts in February and March when thousands of wildebeest calves are born on the Ndutu plains spread over the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). So to see the calving happening you need to be on the Ndutu plains in February or March (depending on the rainfall, this is not possible to predict).

Once the wildebeest calves are a little stronger, the migration starts in search of the green grasses as the rains move across different areas of this vast wilderness.

May and June

The wildebeest slowly migrate up towards the Kenyan border and around May and June they will be crossing the famous Mara River, a sight many of us know from the National Geographic images on television and in print.

July and August

In July and August, the migration of the wildebeest moves into the Masai Mara, across the border in Kenya. The wildebeest don’t need a passport, but unfortunately, you do, and it is not possible to follow them from the Serengeti into the Masai Mara. This doesn’t mean you won’t see any wildebeest or zebra in the Serengeti during this time, as there are still plenty of resident wildebeest and zebras that are there year-round.

September and October

Then, in September and October, they cross back into the Serengeti, crossing the treacherous Mara River once again. From there they slowly make their way south again. All the way to the Ndutu Plains where they will give birth again to thousands of wildebeest calves within just a few weeks. This completes the annual migration of the wildebeest and it will start afresh again.

Where are the wildebeest on the way north and when they move back south

When traveling from the south of the Serengeti (the Ndutu Plains) to the north, they pass by the central area (Seronera) and western area (Grumeti) on the way up. On the way back down they pass by the central area, but also the more eastern side of the Serengeti including Loliondo and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

During the times that the wildebeest are in an area, you will be able to see thousands and thousands of wildebeest on the grasslands. That alone is a seriously impressive sight.

So no matter what time of the year you want to visit the Serengeti, there is always something going on.

Popular Activities

Hiking to the highest point of Africa, Uhuru peak at 5,895m / 19,340 ft
Camping
Hiking in general, not specifically to the top
Visiting the Kikuletwa hot springs
Photography
Cultural visits

Are You Aware?

Swiss Karl Egloff holds the record for the fastest ascent and descent of Mount Kilimanjaro in 6 hours 42 minutes for the men and German Anne-Marie Flammersfeld holds the record for the ladies with 12 hours and 58 minutes
Russian Angela Vorobeva is the oldest person to have reached the summit at the age of 86, the oldest male to summit is Robert Wheeler at age 85
It is not certain where the name originates from, but a fact is that ‘kilima’ is the Swahili word for ‘little mountain’
The highest game of cricket was played in the crater at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro

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