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Kilimanjaro National Park Dominated by Africa's highest mountain, one of the largest free-standing mountains in the world, Kilimanjaro National Park was opened to visitors in 1977. The mountain is one of the few ecosystems located near the equator that has large areas of glaciation, and of those that do it has the greatest extent of alpine desert. The proximity to the equator lends Kilimanjaro's snow-capped summit a quite exceptional beauty. Kilimanjaro consists of one extinct volcano, Shira (3962m) and two dormant volcanos, Mawenzi (5149) and Kibo (5898.7m). The climate on the mountain is influenced by the prevailing trade winds which bring the heaviest rainfall to the south east forested slopes during March and May and short rains in November to December. Rainfall and temperatures normally decrease with altitude. There are six official climbing routes of varying complexity and bookings must always be made well in advance - there are no last minute bookings. Non-summit climbers hike from Park Headquarters at Marangu to Mandara Hut. Nature trails at Mandara provide the non-summit hikers with the opportunity to experience both the montane forest and the heath and moorland vegetation zones. There is a recently designated wilderness area of the park, where 'evidence of man and man's activities are minimal', at the core of which is the 20,250 hectare Shira Plateau, the flattest portion of Africa's highest mountain. A new hiking trail system has been introduced which provide access to a volcanic ridge that gives a commanding view of majestic Kibo Peak, the plateau and giant senecios and lobelias. |
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