Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park, located in northern Tanzania, is a truly remarkable destination.

What sets it apart is its status as the home of Africa’s tallest peak—Mount Kilimanjaro, towering at an impressive 5,895 meters. What makes this even more extraordinary is how the mountain emerges from an expansive, flat plain.

Unlike many iconic peaks that are part of vast mountain ranges, such as Mount Everest in the Himalayas or Mount Aconcagua in the Andes, Mount Kilimanjaro stands alone. This is because it was once a volcano, allowing it to rise prominently in a flat landscape. Its isolated position means you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the majestic mountain from miles away, even across the border in Kenya.

Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, reaches an impressive height of 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level.

It also holds the title of the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising 4,900 meters (16,076 feet) from its plateau base. To put that into perspective, that’s five vertical kilometers of towering majesty!

From a distance, it’s hard to grasp the sheer scale of this iconic peak. The true enormity of Kilimanjaro becomes apparent only when you’re on the mountain itself, taking step after step toward the summit and experiencing its vastness firsthand.

The most convenient way to reach Kilimanjaro National Park is by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport. From there, it’s a 75 km drive to the park, taking approximately 90 minutes.

Another option is to travel from Julius Nyerere International Airport, located just outside Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city on the eastern coast. However, this journey covers over 500 km and takes about nine hours by car.

Alternatively, you could fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. The drive to the park from Nairobi is around 200 km. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need a Kenyan visa and will have to go through border control to enter Tanzania.