Overview

At the heart of the Kilimanjaro Park in northeastern Tanzania is 5,891 meter Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak and one of the continent's most magnificent sights. It is also one of the highest volcanoes in Africa and among the highest freestanding mountains in the world; its three volcanic cones are called Kibo, Shira and Mawenzi.

This stratovolcano rises from cultivated farmlands on the lower levels, through lush rainforest to alpine meadows, and finally across a barren lunar landscape to the twin summits of Kibo and Mawenzi. Kilimanjaro has been an extremely popular tourist destination for a long time, as well as the site of many adventure enthusiasts who are determined to scale the monstrous mountain in Africa.

Activities & Attractions

The main attractions for tourists visiting Kilimanjaro are the great tours that take them close to the mountain. Guides are available to help lead hikers and climbers to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. These tours can be customized to your preferences depending on how serious you are about reaching the summit of the mountain, which usually takes six to seven days. If you do not feel like spending the week hiking there are also many other activities and exercises for people to do in and around the hotels.

Though weather patterns are notoriously erratic and difficult to predict, Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of year. During November, March and April it is more likely that the paths through the forest will be slippery and that routes up to the summit, especially in the Western Breach, will be covered by snow. Therefore, the best time for climbing the mountain is in the dry season, from late June to October, and from late December to February, just after the short rains and right before the long rains.

Lodging

When it comes to lodging near Kilimanjaro, there are a few different options available. Some of the best options are Springlands Hotel, Arusha Hotel, Keys Hotel, and Mount Kilimanjaro View Hotel. For more information on accommodations in Kilimanjaro, visit thewebsites found below in the resources section.

Transportation

One of the things you have to think about when visiting Kilimanjaro is transportation. You have to make sure you have appropriate transportation for getting to and from the hotel and airport. The good news is that most of the tour packages available for people travelling to Kilimanjaro will supply transportation free of charge. This is, by far, the easiest and most convenient way of having your transportation needs covered. However, if you do not have one of these packages, you can take any number of buses and mini buses to get around.