A snowy mountain on the distant horizon is a rare sight in Africa. Yet Mount Kilimanjaro is just as African as the lions and giraffes. Because of its privileged location, the Roof of Africa is very popular with hikers and climbers. Those who would rather not undertake the long journey to the summit can still enjoy the spectacular landscape around it.
Mount Kilimanjaro in fact comprises 3 volcanoes, and along with the surrounding area became part of the Kilimanjaro National Park in 1973. Today, the park covers 75,575 hectares with rainforest, highland deserts and glaciers. The highest peak (at an altitude of 5,895 metres) towers 5 kilometres above the surrounding landscape, earning Mount Kilimanjaro the title of the highest freestanding mountain in the world.