Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, not to mention the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. It is actually comprised of three volcanoes in one. Kibo the highest of the three, Mawenzi in the east and Shira on the west. There are five notable zones. Zone 1 has an abundant bird life, where the cultivated lands meet the forest providing plenty of food and nesting sites. Zone 2 is where 90% of the water on the mountain originates, making this the richest area of the mountain. Birds are more abundant than mammals here, and you may hear rather than see the colobus monkeys' calls echoing through the lush foliage. Zone 3 is the moorland country. Here you can find giant heathers up to nine meters high creating a forest of their own. At Zone 4 you've made it to the highland desert. The temperatures in this region can become quite cool. Only the hardiest plant and animal life will be found here. Zone 5 brings you to the 16,400 foot level and is characterized by Arctic conditions. Here the beautiful glacial steps on the eastern ice field of Kibo can be seen. Go to the Tours page for a closer look at our sample Mount Kilimanjaro climb itinerary.