Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park
Location	Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
Coordinates	3°04′S 37°22′E / 3.067°S 37.367°E / -3.067; 37.367Coordinates: 3°04′S 37°22′E / 3.067°S 37.367°E / -3.067; 37.367
Area	1,688 square kilometres (652 sq mi)
Established	1973[1]
Visitors	c. 52,000 per year[2]
Governing body	Tanzania National Parks Authority
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii
Designated	1987 (11th session)
Reference no.	403
State Party	Tanzania
Region	Africa

Kilimanjaro National Park is a Tanzanian national park, located 300 kilometres (190 mi) south of the equator^[1] and in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. The park is located near the city of Moshi.^[3] The park includes the whole of Mount Kilimanjaro above the tree line and the surrounding montane forest belt above 1,820 metres (5,970 ft).^[3][1] It covers an area of 1,688 square kilometres (652 sq mi), 2°50'–3°10'S latitude, 37°10'–37°40'E longitude.^[1] The park is administered by the Tanzania National Parks Authority.^[4]

History

In the early twentieth century, Mount Kilimanjaro and the adjacent forests were declared a game reserve by the German colonial government.^[3] In 1921, it was designated a forest reserve.^[3] In 1973, the mountain above the tree line (about 2,700 metres (8,900 ft)) was reclassified as a national park.^[1] The park was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1987.^[3] In 2005, the park was expanded to include the entire montane forest, which previously was under the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve.^[1][3]

Fauna

A variety of animals can be found in the park. Above the timberline, the Kilimanjaro tree hyrax, the grey duiker, and rodents are frequently encountered.^[3] The bushbuck and red duiker appear above the timerline in places.^[3] Cape buffalo are found in the montane forest and occasionally in the moorland and grassland.^[3] Elephants can be found between the Namwai and Tarakia rivers and sometimes occur at higher elevations.^[3] In the montane forests, blue monkey, western black and white colobus, bushbaby, and leopards can be found.^[3]

See also

• List of protected areas of Tanzania
• Marangu
• Chaga

References

World Heritage Sites in Tanzania Kilimanjaro National Park Kondoa Irangi Rock Paintings Ngorongoro Conservation Area Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara Selous Game Reserve Serengeti National Park Stone Town of Zanzibar