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Kilimanjaro National Park

Coordinates: 3°04′S 37°22′E / 3.067°S 37.367°E / -3.067; 37.367
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kilimanjaro National Park
The entrance to Kilimanjaro national park
Map showing the location of Kilimanjaro National Park
Map showing the location of Kilimanjaro National Park
LocationKilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
Nearest cityMoshi
Coordinates3°04′S 37°22′E / 3.067°S 37.367°E / -3.067; 37.367
Area1,688 km2 (652 sq mi)
Established1973[1]
Visitorsc. 52,000 per year[2]
Governing bodyTanzania National Parks Authority
Websitewww.tanzaniaparks.go.tz
TypeNatural
Criteriavii
Designated1987 (11th session)
Reference no.403
RegionAfrica

Kilimanjaro National Park is a Tanzanian national park located 300 kilometres (190 mi) south of the equator[1] in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. The park is located near the region 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).[1][3] It covers an area of 1,688 square kilometres (652 sq mi), 2°50'–3°10'S 37°10'–37°40'E.[1] The park is administered by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).[4] It was established as a national park in 1973. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987 and Natural Wonder of Africa in 2013.[5]

The Park Headquarters is at Marangu, about 44 Km from Moshi town and 86km from Kilimanjaro International Airport

The park generated US$51 million in revenue in 2013,[6]: 285  the second-most of any Tanzanian national park,[7]: 258  and was one of only two Tanzanian national parks to generate a surplus during the 2012–2013 budget year.[8] (The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which includes the heavily visited Ngorongoro Crater, is not a national park.) TANAPA has reported that the park recorded 58,460 tourists during the 2012–2013 budget year, of whom 54,584 were foreigners.[8] Of the park's 57,456 tourists during the 2011–2012 budget year, 16,425 hiked the mountain, which was well below the capacity of 28,470 as specified in the park's General Management Plan.[9]

History

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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 had been part of the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve.[1][3]

Fauna

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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 timberline in places.[3] Cape buffaloes 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 monkeys, eastern black and white colobuses, bushbabies, and leopards can be found.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Kilimanjaro National Park World Heritage Site, Tanzania National Parks". Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Wings of Kili: Paragliding from Arica's highest peak". Daily News (Tanzania). Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kilimanjaro National Park, World Heritage Center, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  4. ^ Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania National Parks Authority Archived 2012-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Kilimanjaro National Park". Climbing Kilimanjaro. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  6. ^ Ghazali Musa; James Higham; Anna Thompson-Carr, eds. (5 June 2015). Mountaineering Tourism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-66874-9.
  7. ^ Ian Christie; Eneida Fernandes; Hannah Messerli; Louise Twining-Ward (2014). Tourism in Africa: Harnessing Tourism for Growth and Improved Livelihoods. World Bank Publications. ISBN 9781464801976.
  8. ^ a b Park arrivals highlights, Tourism Performance, Corporate Information, Tanzania National Parks, accessed 9 November 2015 Archived 20 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "PRESS STATEMENT: NUMBER OF MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMBERS NOT A THREAT", Tanzania National Parks, 5 March 2014, accessed 31 July 2015 Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
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