| Mount Kilimanjaro, located in East Africa is a sight to | | | | giant heather, studded with giant lobelias. At 4,000 |
| behold, even from a distance. It is the highest | | | | feet, the terrain turns to an alpine desert, and then |
| mountain in Africa, but the tallest free standing | | | | nearing the top, is the arctic zone, free of |
| Mountain in the world. It rises from the coastal floor a | | | | vegetation, but but on views. |
| whopping 19,336 feet into the air. It is not as steep | | | | Mount Kilimanjaro National Park in in the Northern |
| or treacherous as climbing many of the higher | | | | Section of Tanzania, and near Moshi. You can get |
| elevations in the world, and the record speed to the | | | | there from Arusha, and it about an hour's driving |
| top is around five hours, with the round trip record in | | | | from the Kilimanjaro airport. There are six different |
| just 8. | | | | routes to the summit, as well as more demanding |
| But it isn't just a trip to the top that attracts visitors, | | | | climbing routes. You can choose from day, or |
| but the diversity of the environment that can be | | | | overnight hikes on the Shira Plateau, and there are |
| found all in one place. With the entry to the park, | | | | many nature trails lower along the mountain. You can |
| you have a lush Montane Forest, full of elusive | | | | also trout fish, and visit Chala crater lake on the |
| creatures like leopard, buffalo, elephants and even | | | | Southeastern slopes of the mountain. You can stay |
| the Abbot's Duiker, and endangered species. There | | | | at many campsites, native huts, or even several |
| are also a wide array of primates and small antelope. | | | | different kinds of accommodations outside the park. |
| Then there is the moorland zone, with a cover of | | | | |