Kilimanjaro Region in Tanzania is well-known for its abundance of natural attractions, especially for its Mount Kilimanjaro which is the highest of its kind in Africa. Found at Kilimanjaro National Park, it has been subject to multiple scientific studies due to the unique phenomenon of shrinking glaciers and disappearing ice fields. As part of the 31 administrative regions of Tanzania with postcode number 25000, the region is divided into six districts with the regional capital being the Moshi municipality. Kilimanjaro is the eighth most populated region and is included in the Northern Tourism Circuit in Tanzania.
Kilimanjaro International Airport is the international airport in northern Tanzania serving the cities of Arusha and Moshi. It is located in Hai District, Kilimanjaro which is about 52 kilometers away from Arusha and 65.8 kilometers away from Moshi. It is open to the public for civilian flights since 1971 with the cost of US$13 million’s worth to construct it, in which this was financed by a long term loan from the Italian government. Despite its smaller size, the airport can accommodate large aircrafts such as the Boeing 747s and Antonov 124s. Later in 1998, it is privatized and operated by Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company and become the main entry point for the tourists wanting to go to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park and many more. Hence it is unsurprising for the airport to promote itself as the "Gateway to Africa's Wildlife Heritage. There are various connecting flights to Kilimanjaro from Manila via Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad and Qatar Airways with a budget ranging from 57,471 pesos to 99,132 pesos.
Arusha Airport is another airport that serves the town of Arusha and could also be used as a gateway to Kilimanjaro especially if you are coming from the nearby Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam. This domestic airport is the hub for Air Excel and Regional Air.
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The Kilimanjaro Region is suitable for visits all year round and as such, the mountain is also good to trek all year around. However, some periods are less ideal than others. The off-peak month is around September, where tourists are unlikely to come over. Consequently, price cuts tend to happen around this period, so it is a good time if you want to save money. As for the peak season in Kilimanjaro, it is during December, August and March where flight and hotel prices may escalate. Therefore, if you plan on coming to Kilimanjaro, please note of these periods and plan accordingly so that you can enjoy Kilimanjaro without causing troubles to your finances.
For the Kilimanjaro Region, the climate is generally of a tropical wet and dry climate, in which the weather is usually affected by the flow of the monsoon. Generally, there is the northeast monsoon which occurs from December to March, resulting in the highest temperatures throughout the year, and southeast monsoon is usually from June to September. The average low is generally from 17 degree Celsius, whereas the average high is around 29 degree Celsius. However, the climate on the Mount Kilimanjaro may be different from the one at the lowlands, with different climate zones to be encountered from the base to the summit.
1. Mount Kilimanjaro – Being the highest mountain of its kind in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro is about 4,900 meters from the base and is 5,895 meters above the sea level. It is a part of the Kilimanjaro National Park and is a popular climbing destination. It has three volcanic cones, namely “Kibo”, “Mawenzi” and “Shira”.
2. Mount Meru – Mount Meru is another dormant stratovolcano which is about 70 kilometers west of Mount Kilimanjaro, being the fifth-highest mountain in Africa. It had a minor eruption in 1910 and has been dormant ever since. Mount Meru is the centerpiece of the Arusha National Park, with fertile slopes and a forest with diverse wildlife including 400 species of birds, monkeys and leopards.
3. Lake Chala – Also known as Lake Challa, it is a crater lake found east of Mount Kilimanjaro, it is about 55 kilometers away from the city of Moshi and covering a catchment area of 1.38 to 1.43 square kilometers. The lake is surrounded by steep crater rim that has a maximum height of 170 meters.