Kilimanjaro National Park 

The largest free-standing volcanic mass in the world and Africa's highest mountain, rising 4877 meters above surrounding plains to 5895 meters at its peak, is protected by a 75,575-hectare park. The Kilimanjaro is a magnificent natural wonder, standing alone above the surrounding plains and overlooking the savannah with its snow-capped top.

The entire mountain, including the montane forest belt, is abundant with species, particularly animals, many of which are endangered. Mount Kilimanjaro is regarded as an outstanding example of a superlative natural phenomena because of its unique combination of characteristics, particularly its height, physical form, and snow crown, as well as its isolation from the surrounding plains.

The original boundaries of Kilimanjaro National Park, established in 1973, included the entire mountain above the tree line as well as six forest corridors that ran down through the montane forest zone. The primary stresses at the time of inscription in 1987 affected mostly the forest reserve, which served as a buffer zone for the park. The World Heritage Committee proposed that the national park be expanded to incorporate more montane forest areas.

The National Park now encompasses the entire mountain above the tree line, as well as the natural forest (montane forest) that was previously part of the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve, and so meets the criterion for integrity. It is critical that the National Park's expansion be reflected in the property's limits.

Although the property is not inscribed in respect to biodiversity standards, the wildlife on the site is vital to the Kilimanjaro experience. At the time of inscription, elephant, buffalo and antelope pressures, as well as logging in the Forest Reserve region, were identified as integrity problems. The park is connected to Amboseli National Park, although wildlife migration has been hampered by encroachment on corridors to Arusha National Park and Tsavo National Park.

Human pressure on the land must be handled, as it may otherwise result in unlawful resource harvesting, park boundary encroachment, and restriction of migratory routes and dispersal regions.

Kilimanjaro National Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

(Source UNESCO)